VRBO issue

Another fyi for those who use VRBO. Most of you know I work at a resort in North Myrtle Beach, I try to be objective in my opinions, I will be more then happy to discuss my resort with you, but I usually direct you to the main office for questions or reservations, meaning I get nothing if you reserve from the main office but thats okay. SO here is the point, we have a VRBO unit across the hall from our office, meaning the owners rent direct thru VRBO and do not use any other rental company. The guests are given a code to use to get the key from the lockbox attached to the door. 3 couples arrived this morning, they were told they could get in the room this morning when they arrived. They tried the code, it did not work, we tried the code as well, no luck. So they are standing outside trying to get in touch with the owner to get the correct code# or find out what is going on. Not a good way to start your vacation. They have zero recourse at this time, if they can%26#39;t get the owner to call them back they have no room.

VRBO issue

Seen a similar situation once at Forest Dunes.You must research very carefully when you go thru VRBO.

VRBO issue

I use VRBO to personally advertise my rental and to find rental homes. I%26#39;m sure people appreciate the warning, but it%26#39;s a little unfair to group all VRBO renters in the same boat because of a few bad rentals. I%26#39;m sure almost every rental agency has had a few mix ups as well, but it doesn%26#39;t mean that they are all bad.

I think the lesson for concerned renters to take away from this is to make sure that you have a contract in writing. If your renter won%26#39;t provide this, than I wouldn%26#39;t use them. I have my customers mail in a signed lease agreement with their deposit and then I mail it back to them signed by me with receipt of payment initialed that way everyone is clear that there is a reservation, how much is due, etc. I doubt these renters did that and that is why they may have no recourse - Buyer Beware!

A confirmation call before you start packing and hop in the car is probably a good idea too.

Agree with previous poster. One bad VRBO person doesn%26#39;t mean we%26#39;re all bad. I too have a property listed exclusively with VRBO. I have had several communications already with my future renters. I too have a rental agreement and will contact each renter prior to their arrival as well as be available to them via cell phone at all times.

Many of my friends have used VRBO and not had any problems.

We have posters on TripAdvisor that have been inappropriate, that doesn%26#39;t mean all of us should be judged by those bad posters.

Get it in writing, double check with a phone call before leaving.

I do truly hope that those unfortunate vacationers get answers.

Might I add that many of us chose to use VRBO because we were tired of getting ripped off by rental companies who were taking advantage of both renters and owners.

I%26#39;d suggest that owner have a standard document that he/she sends every renter as part of his/her rental agreement containing the numbers to his/her lock box. I%26#39;d also suggest 3-5 telephone numbers to different people that could answer such problems. I can%26#39;t imagine how those numbers got misconstrued unless is was done verbally and misunderstood or done separately and mistyped. Some lock boxes don%26#39;t work perfectly either; maybe the owner should have another plan? I know some realty companies use lock boxes with some of the vacation rentals too....even at Crescent Shores! As a matter of fact, if you%26#39;re speaking of Unit 111 (condo in front of the office)....that lock box was put there by Elliott Realty; just as the other 7 condos they rent there have lock boxes. Maybe the owner should totally do his/her own thing instead of playing the realty game too?

Personally I prefer sending 1-4 keys out 35 days in advance, along with needed parking passes and any directions necessary for the vacation; after full payment has been made, policy pages printed out and rental agreement signed by both parties with refundable security deposit documentation.

To each his/her own. Hopefully they got in without too much hassle; I%26#39;m sure they will enjoy the condo. If they still are having problems; Elliott knows the lock box code.....1-888-272-2023...Crescent office.

I agree, you will find ';horror'; stories regarding property mgmt companies, no argument there. I only brought it up as another warning to be sure you have contact info and maintance issues info. Who do you contact, should AC go out, refrig go out, etc. Many renters do not know those things.

I am sure anyone who posts on here who does VRBO is considerate, if you take the time to post to make sure people have a good travel experience, I have no doubt you would not make sure your guests have everything they need.

NO I am not speaking of 111 and there is no lock box on the door, the property mgmt companies have keys to that particular unit.

You said in front of the office....I guess if it is not 111 it must be 109, 110 or 112? Neither of these condos are advertised on vrbo.com.; none of the 1st floor condos of the north or south tower are. Unit 106 is rented through Condolux but then they are right across the road beside the CS parking building...that should not be a lock box problem. The reason I know which condos are for rent in Crescent Shores at VRBO.com is because I%26#39;ve emailed or called them all to work out possible large group stays with more than one condo....including mine of course.

Maybe that owner uses something other than VRBO.com?

vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/鈥?505

It is the end unit. Every person that rents that unit comes into our office because they can%26#39;t get the door open. Our office manager was told it was a VRBO unit, its not ours and not on any other property mgmt company that we know of. It doesn%26#39;t matter, whomever, its a lock box, they are given NO instructions on how to open their doors, since there is a bit of a trick, they are not told where to park, they get zero information. We try to be as helpful as we can to people that don%26#39;t rent from us, but we can only do so much, and you would be surprised how many people come in our office with issues that are not our responsibility and become very unhappy with us that we can not help them.

Good advice for renters: Always be sure that you have a local contact number - management company, housekeeper, maintenance personel, neighbor, etc.

I%26#39;m mistaken...Mr./Mrs. Belk own 2 condos in Crescent Shores and advertises them in 1 VRBO ad. He owns 10 condo rentals in NMB that he advertises on VRBO. I emailed him and told him people were having a problem with his 112 lock box; of course he should know that if several people had problems? I%26#39;m sure he wants repeat customers. Hopefully he%26#39;ll take care of the problem.