Did you know that Madeira Beach hosts the Seafood Festival at John’s Pass every October, attracting as many as 130,000 visitors?
This celebration of music, food, and art isn’t the only reason to visit Madeira Beach. Visitors enjoy this city as a vacation spot at any time of the year!
Condo rentals are the ideal way to spend time in Madeira Beach. Keep reading to learn common condo renting mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Declining Travel Insurance
Declining travel insurance is one of the condo renting mistakes you don’t want to make. Hotels sometimes let you cancel a day or two before check-in free of charge, but this isn’t usually the case with short-term vacation rentals.
Canceling a condo rental might come with a penalty unless you cancel before a certain date.
You never know when things can or will go wrong the day before your vacation is set. When you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan, you don’t have to worry about the ‘what ifs’.
There are cancel-for-any-reason policies you can purchase to cover your costs if an emergency were to occur, but a property owner isn’t flexible.
2. Paying Too Much
If you look for options for condos from sites like VRBO or Airbnb, you are likely to pay a lot of extra fees.
Don’t rule out renting a condo for your Madeira Beach vacation directly from the property owner or through a property management company. This can save you serious cash, and all it takes is an email or phone call.
If you do book through a different platform, compare prices and fees. Shop around once you find your favorite rental to see if you can find an affordable price on different websites.
If you have a credit card that offers travel points or cash back, make sure the vacation rental you book codes as travel. Follow up with your credit card issuer to have them manually reward any points you’ve earned.
3. Overstocking the Fridge
When you rent a condo while visiting Madeira Beach, you can save some dough by cooking at least a few meals. After all, condos come with working kitchens for you to utilize.
However, you need to be realistic about your needs. If you know you are going to eat out at some of the popular Maderia Beach restaurants, don’t buy a lot of perishables.
If you don’t have a set plan, stick with ingredients that last longer. You can take unused goods back home with you to avoid waste. Plus, you’ll always be able to run to a local grocery store for last-minute ingredients.
4. Booking Last Minute
If you’re used to booking at resorts, you might not be in a rush to book a place to stay because these facilities have hundreds of rooms. Rental condos aren’t always the same story.
There might be a finite number of condo rentals available to book. If you are looking for specific condo amenities or are working with a strict budget, you’ll want to start looking as early as possible.
5. Not Booking Enough Time
Visiting Madeira Beach is a great way to relax and vacation the right way. Yet, if you don’t book enough time to vacation, you won’t be satisfied with your trip.
If you book a four-day, three-night vacation, it might not be enough time to relax or complete the activities you want.
It seems like a lot of time, but the check-in periods typically begin around 4 p.m., and the check-out times are early in the morning. This means you really have two full days to work with because the first and last are shortened.
It never hurts to ask for early check-in or late check-out, but property owners need time for professional cleaning between renters.
6. Falling for Fake Photos
There are a lot of property owners and property management companies that rent out condos with your best interests in mind. Then, there are others that want to make quick cash and will do anything to get it.
Fake photos are things to be wary of when choosing a rental condo. Looks can be deceiving and a lot of photos on rental websites are staged.
If a property has great photos with worrisome reviews from past guests, consider it a red flag. If guests previously complained about needed repairs, find out for sure if these repairs have been made before booking.
7. Forgetting Your Toiletries
Rental condos aren’t like hotels. While some will offer complimentary toiletries, this isn’t an expectation for a vacation home.
Don’t forget to pack your shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. You might need to pack paper towels and toilet paper too, depending on the rental you choose.
If there is shampoo or soap in the bathroom, it’s likely to be a starter kit or something a previous renter left.
8. Not Having a Plan B
If something is wrong with your condo rental, there isn’t always a plan B provided by the property owner.
If you rent through a professional management company, they might have various rentals in the area. Sometimes they can move you to a different property.
Either way, it’s important to prepare for the worst. Consider what you’d do if the condo doesn’t work out in your favor at the last minute.
Although less common, these things can happen. You won’t want a mishap derailing your entire vacation.
Condo Renting Mistakes to Avoid
Looking for a condo rental in Madeira Beach doesn’t have to be complicated. If you know the most common condo renting mistakes, you’ll know exactly what to avoid.
Don’t decline travel insurance, pay too much, or book last minute. Take your time looking through different condo costs, photos, and overall options.
If you want to book through a professional property management company, work with John’s Pass Condos. Check out our current rates and availability in Madeira Beach now.
