I must be on the same chemical plan as you because I agree. I could never steal from someone and I like to think that DVC owners are a pretty great bunch of people. (Even the smokers.
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Is this the "dis sponsor- lifetime" in your profile?
Thanks! That was easy.
The renter has certain risks as well. It is true they have the option of minimizing the risks but don't totally discount them. There are risks of missing one rental while working on another that may fall through. One can end up late in the use year and/or with banked or borrowed points and lose the points. Then there is the stress if you're dealing with someone dragging their feet for any reason. The best ways to decrease risk are to rent early in your use year and to concentrate on currently use year points (not banked if possible and certainly not borrowed). Have clear expectations, that is far more important than a written contract IMO. When I've rented my terms have generally been 25% up front and the remainder 120 days out all non refundable. If I were late in the use year or having to borrow a majority of the points, I'd alter those terms in my favor. Once or twice I've asked for full payment up front prior to making the reservation due to the risk.I don't think renters put themselves at much risk. I have not ever rented, but it seems like if I did and had a renter fail to pay or issue a bad check, I could simply cancel their reservation and get my points back. If I'd passed a banking deadline, I might be inconvenienced, but renting to an unknown person seems far less risky than renting from a person with a low post count/unknown profile.
OTOH, there is nothing, other than honesty, to keep a renter from taking money and even sending the confirmation letter, and then cancelling the reservation - or "selling" multiple fake reservations to a number of people.
As a DVC owner and Disboard member, it seems like it would be SO easy to defraud people - especially with demand for rental points hitting such highs. That's why I would not rent from a person with a low post count - although I would rent TO a person with low posts.
Rentees are the ones at risk, because all the power lies in the renters hands. Rentees can't call CRO for a refund or date switch, they might have no reciept to prove payment (unless they work with a renter who uses a contract), they can't even call MS to confirm that a reservation was actually made. Luckily, if they follow the guidelines Doc posted, all should go well.
I would like to see a once-a-year post on each board inviting sponsors and reminding about renewals. I don't think that would be obtrusive and would help those of us with memory issues.
Rule number one in renting should be: Don't torture yourself to save a few bucks.
) and having my integrity judged solely on the amount of posts I've had. I read the boards when I have an upcoming trip planned and I post occasionally but I've been a member here since 2000 and a DVC owner for 12 years.
I have rented several times on the R/T board in the last several years- almost exclusively to other DVC members (transfer of points) because it is easier for me - I'd rather get less $$ and have the transaction over immediately than work with a renter whose dates and locations keep changing. Of the 5 or 6 times I've advertised the extra points, the same person 'bought' them at least 3 times.
Having said that, I would hate to find myself in the unlikely position of needing to rent again (probably not - addicted to the 2 bed and 10+ days
