Why the glut? Thank the soft economy, procrastinating vacationers and everyone who bought vacation homes recently and now wants some rental income. On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, for example, about 3,000 new homes have been sold in two years. In the Hamptons, some owners are even dropping prices.
But even in a weak market, the best houses go first, so shop carefully. Deal with a local management company that knows the area. Find it online using your destination with the word “rental,’’ or on its association Web site (vrma.org). Many agents put photos of all their properties online.
Before you book, ask pointed questions about dishwashers, telephones, air conditioners, pets, parking and access to the water. A house “one lot back” could mean a long walk to the lake. And “steps to the beach” could mean 2,000 steep ones. The last thing you want is to rent a house that will just get your kids whining again.
