What to Look for in Family Log Cabin Rentals
The easiest way to find a cabin rental is to know what you are looking for in the first place. This will make it easier when you are now checking out the available options. There are thousands of resources to turn to when you are looking for family log cabin rentals. Most people tend to know what they will get from a hotel, but there can be a bit of anxiety when it comes to family log cabin rentals. However, anxiety is unnecessary if you take the time to think and plan well. The first thing you need to do is decide what’s really important to you. For instance, does your family love the ocean? If so, you will probably not mind paying more for a log cabin rental situated close to the beach. If it’s blocks away from the water, you can save a lot of money. Here’s what to look for in family log cabin rentals.
Find Out Who You Are Renting From
When looking for family log cabin rentals, before you start checking out everything else, you need to find out who you are renting from. This means that apart from researching the actual house, you need to research the owner as well. But why is it important to research the owner? After all, you are renting the house, not staying with them, right? Well, not so much. The owner’s biography is very important when you are checking out family log cabin rentals.
Some owners include links to their websites or biographies in correspondence with potential guests. That way, you can get a feel of who you are renting from. For instance, you may find out that the owner has been active in their community for the past thirty years. That can give you peace of mind knowing that whoever you are dealing with is part of the community and will likely not cheat you. If someone has been in the community for 30 years, they have more to lose than just clients. You may find that not all owners as forthcoming. Some can be quite reclusive. This can be a warning sign. You need to rent from someone who is open and honest about who they are.
Find Out What You Are Renting
It goes without saying that you should do your due diligence when looking for family log cabin rentals. Take time and do your homework. Sometimes you can be too focused on getting a deal that you miss some very important details about the place you are renting. This can also lead to situations where you get coned because you didn’t take the time to authenticate the property. So before you make any financial commitment, find out if the place is real. There are several ways to authenticate a property.
First, you need to look at all the pieces of information available to you. Find out if the owner has included a website on their listing. Are there any real reviews on the site, and is the rental mentioned anywhere else online apart from the owner’s website. You should also check social networking sites to see if there are any interactions with real people. That will also enable you to see general pictures of the place so you can assess whether it’s in good shape.
When you contact the owner, ask about things like the electrical wiring. This is quite important, especially if you are staying for long. You should also ask if they have people handling plumbing services for them and if they have an HVAC service close by. While you may not really need AC installation services, you will probably need repairs if something malfunctions. You should also ask about things like trash removals.
Go Through the Online Description
Reading the description when you are looking for family log cabin rentals can be quite helpful. You need to watch out for what the description says and what it doesn’t say. A lot of owners try as much as possible to sugarcoat their properties. They tend to ignore the cons that will be very evident once you see the property in person. If you are looking for a log cabin, try to go for properties with balanced descriptions. The owner should mention both the pros and cons of the property. This is an indication that you are dealing with an honest owner. Having everything on the table enables you to make a conscious decision when it comes to whether you should rent the property or not. Not every family has the same needs. What might put off other people may not be a problem for everyone else. In fact, what seems like a con to other people might be a pro to you.
Stay away from properties with descriptions that use too many exclamation points or talk more about the fun activities in the area than the property itself.
Look for Good Reviews
Does the log cabin you are looking to rent have good reviews. A review is an indicator of the property’s quality. Most people tend to leave a note for someone to read after they have stayed in a particular place. Because reviews are written by other customers instead of owners, they tend to be honest. Owners will never downplay a rental they are trying to sell, so there’s really no reason to fully trust the copy that comes with the rental listing. There are two kinds of people who usually leave reviews. You can either read reviews from people who have had a terrible time at the property, or you can find reviews from people who had a great time. Try to stay away from properties that have a lot of bad reviews.
If the property you are looking to rent doesn’t have a lot of reviews, it doesn’t mean that it’s bad. It might just be that it’s a new addition to whatever site you are using to search. In this case, a great idea would be to get in touch with the owner so you can gather information about the property. Make sure you ask as many questions as possible.
Check the Amenities Carefully
Not every log cabin rental is suitable for all travelers. You need to check the full list of amenities included so you can be sure you will have everything you need. For instance, does the rental price cover towels and toilet paper? Or may you need to bring your own? If you are planning on preparing meals, which you likely will, does the place come with a fully equipped kitchen? It’s important to ensure that you know exactly what you are walking into before you make your payment. This will prevent situations where you have to deal with surprises down the road. The rental website should show you every amenity that comes with the fee you are paying. If the details are not clear, you can always contact the owner and find out. It’s better to take time and be sure than have expectations and get disappointed later.
How Accesible is the Log Cabin
You need to check the exact location of the cabin you are interested in renting. You must also check to see how accessible it is. All this is essential for a good vacation. If it’s in the woods, you must find out if the road requires a vehicle with more clearance than what you have or if you will do just fine. Maybe you want to spend all day at the beach or fishing at the nearest lake, but the cabin is on the other side of town. That’s an unnecessary hassle that you may not want to deal with.
Cabin rentals that are not easily accessible and not in central locations tend to be a bit on the cheaper side. However, you may end up paying more for transportation costs. For instance, if you find out that the road is too rocky for your sedan, you may need to hire another vehicle, which adds to the costs. Apart from that, you may not want to use your own vehicle. This means you still need to check if the rental has easy access to public transport.
If you are looking to have lots of fun, you may want to check if the log cabin is close to areas where you can find a boat marina, paddleboard rentals, and a minivan rental. Depending on what you want to do at the cabin or in the nearest town, you should also check if there is a limousine rental.
What Are the Surroundings Like
It’s very important to assess the surroundings of the log cabin rental you are looking at. How easy is it to get there, and is there parking? A good way to get a better look at the surroundings is to use Google Earth. You can get a decent view of the general area that way. Is it safe? Will you be able to find somewhere to park? Are there any loud bars or clubs nearby that may bother you at night? If you are hoping for a view, you can also get an idea of the kind of view you will get from the cabin.
If you want to see the ocean from the cabin, then there shouldn’t be anything obstructing your view. Additionally, you will also want to know where the local grocery stores, hospitals, restaurants, and other amenities are. Remember, a log cabin is not like a hotel, so it doesn’t come with room service. You don’t want something that’s 50 miles from the nearest grocery store. As with any rental, convenience is key. While it might not be in the heart of town, it should be within a reasonable range from the facilities you will need to use.
Is the Rental Part of an Association or Individually Owned
You might be wondering why that matters. Well, it does, and a lot. Imagine you are renting a family log cabin from Mr. and Mrs. Jones. While they may be nice enough people, if something goes wrong, say your air conditioning malfunctions, you will likely have to deal with that situation for the rest of your stay. However, the situation is different if the family log cabin is owned by an association. Once you make a call and inform the management that something is wrong. They will send someone to assist you as soon as possible. This is because associations stay prepared, and they have enough human and capital resources to ensure that your stay is as smooth as possible.
Examine the Contract
n
When looking for family log cabin rentals, one thing you will need to be careful about is the contract. You must take the time to read the contract carefully. Remember, this is not like checking into a hotel. Renting a cabin is more like renting an apartment. You need to watch out for the type of language used in the contract. For instance, you must look into things like cleaning options. Some owners give tenants the option to clean up after themselves. Failing to clean up the place when you leave can have consequences. You may lose your deposit. This is why reading a contract is important, so you don’t end up in such situations. Losing a deposit is an option no one will take under normal circumstances.
These are some of the things you must look into when you are looking for family log cabin rentals. One other thing you must remember is to stay flexible. Remember, you are renting a house, not a room in a hotel. This means something may not go as planned. You can have plumbing problems the same way they can occur in your home. Or the kitchen can run out of gas. Not everything is going to be perfect. You may find yourself bumping your head repeatedly on that low doorway. This is the life of family log cabin rentals. You just need to suck it up and live with it.
Needless to say, finding family log cabin rentals can be challenging. The process of finding a perfect rental is quite involving, and it can be very difficult. Apart from searching for the cabin, you also have to send an e-mail to inquire whether or not it is available. You will also want a full quote. Sometimes owners may not respond right away, meaning you will have to wait for the response. Even when they start responding, you can spend a week trying to communicate and arrive at an agreement. The good thing is that the reward at the end is wonderful.