The benefits of renting direct from an owner are obvious - cheaper rates and more flexible arrangements are commonplace. However, just as you might take some precautions when dealing with anyone you haven't dealt with before, it would be wise to do a little research before making your booking with any owner.

By following a few simple steps, you can can determine if renting direct from an owner is an option you wish to pursue, and you can minimise your exposure to risk in doing so.

FCVH would like to stress that we operate solely as an advertising medium and do not deal directly with bookings. Please read our disclaimer.

FCVH lists thousands of properties all over the world, the vast majority of which are legitimate rental homes. However, while we take every possible precaution to ensure the safety of our customers, we would ask that you use your own judgement and caution when contacting owners. Please alert us to anything you deem to be suspicious.

Owners will usually ask for a deposit prior to reserving a property, and will expect full payment before you arrive. A deposit is taken as a guarantee that a certain date has been reserved, and owners will be expected to turn away other interested customers only when a deposit has been taken. Remember that the owner is giving you access to a property typically worth hundreds of times the weekly rental rate.

We ask that customers satisfy themselves with the legitimacy of a listing prior to submitting a deposit. Here are some simple guidelines to help you ensure the legitimacy of a property:

• Ask for as many referrals as you can.
• If the property is a part of a homeowners association, contact the association to verify that the person you are corresponding with is indeed an owner.
• Owners usually have a management company who take care of the maintenance and cleaning of a property. Ask for the name of the company and contact them for verification. You might also wish to inquire regarding the condition of the property.
• Ask for references from anyone else who services the property. i.e. cleaners, repairs etc.
• Take a good look through any testimonials you can find from previous rentors. Many of our owners will have testimonials directly with us, or with rentors.org, a common 'shared' source used by many property owners.
• Always ensure you have received a completed rental agreement or contract prior to sending any money to an owner. Ensure that it specifies the dates you will be staying in the property, all costs including deposits, taxes, cleaning fees, and the cancellation and refund policies. Without a signed rental agreement do not consider the rental to be reserved. If something unforeseen happens, you may have little recourse in getting your funds returned without such a rental agreement.
• Your best protection could be by renting from owners that accept credit cards. Banks have certain protections put in place and paying with a credit card provides you with certain remedies that are unavailable via other forms of payment. Please note that paying via PayPal may not provide you with the same level of protection as paying directly via credit card.
• Once you have followed all the steps above you should be confident in the legitimacy of the owner with whom you will be making your booking. If you are not completely satisfied, then choose another property. Owners should be very forthcoming when it comes to satisfying you of their validity. Once you have spoken to a genuine owner and seen their typical level of cooperation, it should be easy for you to spot someone who may be trying to hide something.

We hope you enjoy your experiences with FCVH. Be safe, and enjoy your holiday!