Payment Tips for Traveling Professionals

Over the years, I’ve learned to address traveler needs as a furnished housing provider in New Orleans. One of the pressing issues traveling professionals face is keeping their money safe and avoiding scammers. It’s clearly difficult to trust a stranger you’ve never met hundreds of miles away with payments for a property you’ve never seen in person. Here are a few ideas to protect your money before traveling. It might be impossible to be 100% insulated from swindlers but a few proactive measures will go a long way.

Tip #1 - Meet the Owner and See the Property in Person

Seeing the property in person is a great way to get a feel for the person and place you are considering. Don't feel shy to ask for ID and even proof of ownership. If you can’t see the place in person, ask for a video tour of the property. It might be occupied so don’t always expect interior access but sometimes it can be arranged.

Tip #2 - Use Public Records to Verify People and Places

Get the address of the property you like and map it. This gives you an idea about the commute and can provide the ownership information. The county assessor typically has a searchable property database that will show the owner of record for a given property. If the property is held by a business entity then that name will usually be accessible on the Secretary of State website which should show the members of the business who are also commonly the owners. Do the addresses and names discovered add up? If so, you are putting the pieces in place to at least know that the person you are talking to is also on record for being who they claim to be.

Tip #3 - Get Everything in Writing

Make sure the lessor provides you with a clearly written contract or a current residential lease agreement for the state chosen. Get the lease details in writing and don't be afraid to ask questions. Also ask for a link to previous traveler reviews. Real reviews will be found on the larger travel sites and can give you a good indication of how satisfied former travelers were at the location.

Tip #4 - Book on a Known Site

If you can’t build trust with earlier methods, complete the booking on one of the big name sites like VRBO or Airbnb. Sure, they cost more but they also act as a mediator for your travels. Hosts usually offer a monthly discount that can help to offset the fees involved. I encourage hesitant travelers to book the first month on these sites and then deal directly with the owner afterward. This gives you a chance to safely preview the property to see if it meets your needs before committing to a longer stay. (The drawback is you should give notice to continue asap because owners are always trying to book future dates which could cause you to lose the place if you stay longer than the initial month.)

Take the Plunge Responsibly

This isn't a comprehensive list of ways to stay safe but it should offer enough to get started. Scammers are prevalent in real estate listings and I've talked to several people who have lost money and heard dozens of other efforts to trick renters with fake online postings. I hope you can use these tips to keep your hard earned money safe. Feel free to reach out to Geneva House with any other tips or questions.