How to arrange 1 or 2-month rentals?

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happymob
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Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:09 pm

How to arrange 1 or 2-month rentals?

Post by happymob »

Our family (mom, dad, 3 and 5-year olds) would like to escape our local hot, dry, and windy summers. We are looking at the possibility of doing approximately 8-week vacations every summer. neither of us officially work over the summer (college professors), though we do have various responsibilities that can likely be handled anywhere with Internet access. We are clueless about the logistics of such a plan, and would like feedback from how we might do this.

I would use Airbnb, VRBO, or a similar site for a week-long rental. I am completely clueless on where to go to arrange a summer-long (in our case, 4 to 8 weeks) sort of rental. We would be doing this as a family, so I'm not sure if corporate rentals might make sense or if they restrictions on children. Some summers, we might look at subleasing from a college student in a college town.

This particular summer, we are looking at Canada - specifically, Edmonton, Calgary, or Vancouver areas. We would appreciate any general advice about doing this along with any specific advice for western Canada.
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ResearchMed
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Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:25 pm

Re: How to arrange 1 or 2-month rentals?

Post by ResearchMed »

Take a look at VRBO in terms of longer-term rentals. (The associated HomeAway.com and other similar sites could be the same.)

Many owners would be delighted to know in advance that they've got a long-term chunk of time taken care of, although if it is the prime summer season where you are looking, it would obviously cost more than a long-term "off season" rental somewhere (where really good deals can be had, for both renter and owner when there is a good match).

The owner can relax about the advertising, or worrying "what if we don't fill the calendar" (although some of the best properties are filled far in advance in prime season), etc.

ASK if they would consider a discount for a longer-term occupancy, and hope that they (and you) are flexible on total costs.

If there are already some reservations that would interfere, consider one month in each of two places, perhaps different destinations to make the most of your long vacation time.

And if you find a place you like, the owner will probably be delighted to welcome you back, perhaps with an extra discount, because there is nothing better than a "known" former renter who leaves the place in great condition, and didn't complain the entire time, or keep calling at 2am because they forgot the WiFi password *again*, even though it's written down...

Or you could decide to explore a different area each summer (or half summer) or even different countries.

Enjoy :happy

RM
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Minot
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Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 1:35 pm

Re: How to arrange 1 or 2-month rentals?

Post by Minot »

Airbnb also has quite a few monthly rentals, such as this three bedroom house in the Vancouver area for $1400/month.
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