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How to Avoid a Vacation Rental Nightmare

By U.S. News & World Report

You scoured vacation rental sites and reviews for weeks to find the right place for your upcoming getaway. The home listing said it’s “steps from the beach” and the rooms looked spacious and clean. You’ve paid in full and are ready to start relaxing only to arrive at the property to find a completely different image than the photos you’ve been gazing at for weeks. It’s not steps from the beach; it’s more like miles. And two of the rooms are more like closets. Now what?

In 2013, Phocuswright reported that Americans spent $23 billion on vacation rentals in 2012. Though the boom in the vacation rental industry has provided travelers with a wealth of new, budget-friendly lodging options, it’s also created more headaches. Without a front desk staff, who can you call if something breaks? If the property is completely different than its online profile, can you get a full refund? Before you book your next vacation rental, read these tips to understand your consumer rights and what you can do if the property isn’t what you expected.

Investigate if the property is legal

The legality of short-term rentals is murky. As of now, there are no uniform laws that regulate the short-term rental industry. It’s up to individual states and cities to enact and enforce their own laws to protect consumers and simultaneously stymie the loss of hotel and occupancy tax revenue. Laws can vary widely, but if an owner or tenant would like to list his or her property as a short-term rental, typically he or she must obtain a business license or operating permit, pass a safety code inspection and pay an application fee. If you’re just hoping to rent, this probably seems like somebody else’s problem. Why should you care if the property is a registered short-term rental or not? After all, you’re only staying at the property for a few days.

For starters, you’ll have more peace of mind knowing that the property you’re staying in has recently undergone a safety inspection and is on the up and up with regulators. Second, if something should go awry with your rental and you file a complaint with the state or city, you’ll be more likely to recoup any monetary loss. In short: You’ll be more empowered as a consumer with the state or city on your side. Before you rent, check with the local attorney general’s consumer affairs department to see what protections are in place for short-term renters. Though sites like HomeAway (the parent company that encompasses other popular sites like VRBO.com and Bookabach) and Airbnb do offer protections for travelers who are unsatisfied with their vacation rental experience, the companies do not provide a 100 percent guarantee that you’ll receive a full refund. TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals does provide full protection, however, if you book a property covered by its Peace of Mind protection. This guarantee provides payment protection on your booking against a variety of issues, including property misrepresentation, double bookings and the inability to access the property, among other hiccups. But since the amount of protection can vary widely across vacation rental sites, many consumers are choosing to book their rentals through a travel agent.

Enlist a travel agent

Sites like TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals, Airbnb and HomeAway do have security measures in place to protect users against fraudulent listings. User-submitted reviews, verified photos (in Airbnb’s case) and an internal messaging system are meant to help travelers avoid any disappointment upon arrival. Relying on community reviews is an effective way to filter out unsatisfactory properties, but if you want to take the verification process one step further, rent from a travel agent. Travel agents rent properties managed by agencies — not individual owners — that have been personally visited and vetted by agency staff. Though these properties can be more expensive and not as widely available, renting a curated apartment, condo or home reduces your risk of fraud and dissatisfaction. Plus, if you rent through a travel agent, you’ll have another advocate on your side should anything arise during your stay. Sites like Wyndham Vacation Rentals, onefinestay, Be Mate and Oasis Collections are examples of companies offering curated properties (some even offer hotel-like services, such as housekeeping and a local concierge). If you need help finding a travel agent, use this directory on the American Society of Travel Agents’ website.

Ask for a rental agreement

Just as with a normal rental lease, a rental agreement or contract will outline your rights as the guest and the rights of the owner. The agreement should include information about fees, deposits and refunds, guidelines about the property’s cleanliness (and an assurance that it will be habitable upon your arrival), plus any other rules you should know about the house or community. Sites like Airbnb and HomeAway don’t require a rental agreement for hosts and guests, but hosts can opt to include one if they inform renters prior to booking. Keep in mind that the document basically defines the legal relationship between you and the owner, meaning you can refer back to it if there’s a dispute. If you rent a listing offering a rental agreement, make sure it’s signed by both you and the owner and that the agreement is squared away before you pay with your credit card.

To protect yourself even further, consider a service like SafelyStay. The site provides an extra layer of security by authenticating identities and running background checks on both guests and hosts (for a fee). Plus, if you want to check on a property’s validity, SafelyStay will verify the listing against property records, real estate listings and other criteria to sniff out any risks and potential fraud. The site also helps with payment, too, holding the funds until the vacation is complete (not just until you arrive). So, if the utilities aren’t working, the property isn’t as described or the reservation isn’t honored, SafelyStay will help you clear up any issues that can’t be resolved on site.

More from U.S. News

10 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Vacation Rental

5 Ways to Get a Deal on a Vacation Rental

Ways to Avoid Apartment Rental Scams

How to Avoid a Vacation Rental Nightmare originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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