Hi everyone,

I have decided to go with an apartment www.vrbo.com/122061 for a rental in Paris. The owner asks for 1/2 of the payment now and the other half a month before arrival (we leave in April). She resides there and has requested either a check in euros or a wire transfer or paypal. We have ordered a check in euros to send and are making full payment now rather than paying the bank to order a check now and another one in a month from now.

My question is, would this be how transactions are typically done, with full payment before arrival? I had checked into renting one other place and it was the same. There is a contract she has us sign, and on the vrbo site she has gotten good reviews, but it makes me a little nervous paying everything in advance. All dealings via email have been fine, nothing to make me suspicious. She did recommend travel insurance from a specific company, but they have not returned my email.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Hello -
Check out www.insuremytrip.com for travel insurance. I've been trusting with the apartment rentals and never had a problem. That said the landlords I've had have asked for a deposit, which they held, and payment on arrival or via credit card. Your apt says credit card accepted, was there a reason why you're sending a check?

i leave for paris at the end of march and i just paid the complete amount + deposits for the entire trip.
i had checked around with many others before booking this one and it seemed to be pretty standard in renting apts.

yes - it is totally normal. Some places require cash payment upon arrival, while others want payment in full ahead of time. Sometimes up to 6 weeks in advance.

Yes, paying up front is normal. You're worried about the cash. Think o f them - they're letting you live n the apartment - and trusting you not to damage it.

There has to be trust on both sides.

Two comments:

First, looks like a terrific apartment for the money!

Second, I have usually been expected to pay in full prior to arriving in Paris--at least a month in advance for the final payment.

My last apartment in Rome required a small down payment and cash on arrival. That made me nervous because I didn't feel it was really "mine" without the key that comes in the mail.

Look at it this way: If you are allowed to pay on arrival, and you didn't arrive (or canceled a few weeks prior), they would be stuck with an apartment they will most likely have to rent to last-minute bargain-hunters at a low price.

Have a great trip!

Please clarify.."bank is ordering a cheque"?

Hi everyone,

The check is to be in euros so our bank has to put in a request from NY I think it is and then send it to us.

She does accept paypal and wire transfer, but both had additional fees from my bank and hers so this saved some money and I thought it would be a good way to go. The bank orders it in the right amount in euros in the owners name.

The flat is more than advertised on vrbo. I think those rates were through March and we're going in April so it is a total of 1647 euros for the 3 of us.

I understand that of course the renters have to be cautious but she is also keeping our credit card number on file in case anything is wrong with the flat. I know that there has to be trust on both sides of course, but I want to try to be smart about what I'm doing as I have heard stories with bad endings. So I just wanted to see if others had had similar experiences with paying in advance.

The owner has contacted the insurance company for me and if I don't hear from them soon I will go with something mentioned on the posted link (and thank you for that).

I'm sure everything will go fine but hearing experience of others helps!

I don't see anywhere in your first post noting that they had your credit card number, hence my post about their need to protect themselves from no-shows.

As everyone else said, it's totally normal.

I recommended this apartment to some friends last year, they were very happy with it. They said the bathroom was a bit small and odd shaped but other that that were quite happy, hope you are too.

As others have said that is customary. I had a question about the apt, which looks terrific. It doesn't say what floor it is on. Is it ground floor, that's the way the description reads but it is not specified.

Well, I certainly wouldn't let strangers go live for a week or two in my house in France without getting the full payment in advance PLUS a security deposit. Would you let people go live in your house "on spec?"

Although my renting experiences were overall very positive, over the years I have had renters who:

Ran up an $800 phone bill in a week's time

Broke a bed in half

Smashed a $500 window

Tore a large hole in the pool liner...



It's totally normal to pay in advance. And you did the smart thing by ordering a draft in euros from your bank.

Wow St Cirq! As an owner myself you have all my sympathy! I cross my fingers...

Well, coco, as I said, overall I had wonderful renters. And that was over a 20-year period, so really not so bad.

Actually, the thing that upset me the most was the renter who took off with my huge Duden technical dictionary. I used that thing all the time - and I could never figure out why someone wanted it, or wanted to add about 30 lbs. to his luggage.

Hi,

Yes, I think I will really like the flat. It is on the 1st French floor (second American) without a lift - but not a big deal.

I just received the check from the bank today - we'd ordered it yesterday. So really fast!

I'm very much looking forward to my stay!