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Re: Re: Re: Considering renting and have some questions (by KC):
karrieh14 wrote:Is there any way to confirm ownership before paying as a renter? I'm also concerned about paying and then arriving with my children and finding no room has been booked. This particular owner does not use the Verified system. Just trying to protect myself. Thanks!
I do not work for, speak for (or in any other way represent) RedWeek, but I suggest asking the owner to provide you with some DOCUMENTARY PROOF of ownership before sending any money. It could be a copy of a maintenance fee bill, or a photocopy of an officially recorded deed (or reference to a specific book and page number in the official public records where you can easily view the officially recorded deed for yourself). You DO NOT want to find yourself inadvertently renting someone's "exchange" week (which they do not actually own in the first place). Both RCI and II strictly prohibit such rentals in their terms and conditions of membership. You should also require a rental contract that clearly specifies details of the rental, including dates, unit identification, cancellation policy, full identification of the owner and a clear, specific procedure by which you can independently confirm the reservation having been placed in your name.
Personally, I am wary of "unverified" rental listings on RedWeek. The cost to get "RedWeek Verified" is reasonable enough that I question why an owner would not simply just get their rental listing "verified" to provide peace of mind to prospective renters. Someone improperly trying to rent out a week that they obtained as an exchange (but do not actually own) tends to be my first suspicion when I see a unverified rental listing, since any such (prohibited) rental of an “exchange” could never get "verified" in the first place. There is risk to BOTH parties in the (prohibited) attempted rental of a week obtained via "exchange".
Be smart and proceed with great caution!