The builder who completed the work on Marvelyn Gadowski’s Breckenridge home back in 2002 suggested she occasionally rent it out to vacationers.
“Ooh, but it’s my baby,” Gadowski recalled telling him. “I can’t do that unless I do it myself. I need to talk to the people (who will be renting it).”
So Gadowski, a Michigan resident, decided to use an online service that brings vacation-home owners and travelers together.
Websites such as and unite those two groups and make planning vacations easier than ever. The sites provide photos, extensive descriptions and even places where renters can leave feedback on their experiences. It’s not a perfect system, but it does offer flexibility for vacation-minded folks and for second-home owners who want to keep their properties filled when they’re not using them.
Seattle resident Cate Sharkey rents out her Breckenridge home to offset the mortgage and other related expenses.
She said her clients aren’t interested in hotels or condos.
“They want a more luxurious experience. They’re looking for high-end, well-appointed homes to stay in during their travels,” Sharkey said.
Sharkey takes comfort in having a security deposit system in place should a client misbehave in her home. But so far she hasn’t had to screen anyone out during the selection process or cash in on the deposits.
“It’s peace of mind,” she said.
The same holds true for her clients, who expect the home to be immaculate and quickly attended to should a mechanical malfunction occur.
“They’re paying high-end rates,” she said. “They expect any issues they do have get resolved immediately.”
Alexis de Belloy, vice president of Austin, Texas-based , said the financial crisis helped boost his industry.
“People are looking to save money . . . you get a whole house for less than a price of a hotel. That’s very attractive,” de Belloy said.
His company oversees three rental websites — , and Vacation . All boast the company’s guarantee to protect renters should a property not exist or if the owner unfairly holds on to their security deposit.
“We’re a paid-for site,” he adds. “We have a financial relationship with every single advertiser on the site.”
Gadowski said there’s a learning curve to renting your home to the public. It can also mean having a management company to help oversee a property in your absence.
The rest, often, is up to the homeowner.
“You can tell when people are trying to pull something, or you learn your lesson,” she said.
Jo Dee Smee of Arvada admits she was nervous the first time she traveled using a website to find a vacation rental home.
“You trust the pictures and what it will look like,” said Smee, who has used four times now. “Most of our personal experiences have been really good.”
Smee suggests first-time home renters look at comparable properties and prices before deciding on a rental home. And she said don’t forget the personal touch, even if the Web makes the entire process run smoothly.
“Make contact with the owner and have a conversation with them,” she said.
Other sites offering similar services include and , while lets disgruntled vacationers call out rental properties that failed to live up to their promises.
