The fastest growing segment in vacation rentals is the Vacation Rentals by Owner craze. Destin has been flooded in recent years with eager property owners wanting to rent properties on their own. In some cases it has created an opportunity for educated travelers to get more value for their money. When dealing with an owner there are no guidelines or price tables that must be followed. However, there are a lot more risks going this route. With our help you can navigate through the mass amount of Rental by Owners websites and locate that Destin Vacation Deal you have been searching for. Below we have put together a pros and cons list concerning Destin Rentals by Owner versus Destin Rental Companies.

Pros: Direct interaction with the property owner. No confusion with property specifics. At times may be easier to deal with. May be more flexible on certain policies.

Cons: Considerably less inventory. More hassle trying to communicate. More research required. Staff and emergency contacts not in place.

 

When dealing directly with a property owner it may require much more risk and effort. Many Destin Travelers enjoy the thrill of the hunt. If you are adventurous, willing to do your homework, and have a little extra time the Destin Vacation Deal you are looking can be found by looking for Vacation Rentals by Owners. Below are a few sites we recommend.

Featured Site by Owner #1:  Most people tend to start with one of the two sites listed below.  We decided to highlight this site first because the other two sites seem to be flooded with rentals.  The reason people tend to go with VRBO or it's parent Company HomeAway is because they have seen their marketing.  This site offers less rentals but the owners on this site tend to be more serious and hands on with their vacation rental properties.

Featured Site by Owner #2:   is the biggest player in the by owner vacation rental industry.  This site is easy to use and offers a large selection.  Homeaway not only owns VRBO, they owner 5 other vacation listing sites.  This site features listings from all the other sites they own excluding VRBO.

Featured Site by Owner #3:  This site is what started it all.  They offer the largest selection of Rental by Owner properties in the world.  The site may be a little crude and hard to use but it gets the job done. If you did not find a Destin property on the 2 sites listed above you will be sure to find one here.

While using these sites we suggest you send e-mails first because most of the time the owners have a full time career and their vacation rental is a part time business. We also recommend being polite and not going in with low ball offers that are more than 50% off their asking price. In some cases that tactic may work but most cases it is just offensive. Keep in mind that owner’s are proud of their property and although they do want to rent it aggressively they do not want to give it away.  Also do not be surprised to find most Destin rental companies on owner rental sites.