Avoid scams with vacation homes? There are 7 recommendations you must follow

Pto avoid scams when looking for a home to spend your vacation, there are recommendations that should take into account. THE DECO Protest published an article, on 21 September, in which explains seven cares to have (even) to follow: Be aware.

DECO Proteste begins by pointing out that “the confidence factor is fundamental in this type of business”, being “advisable to resort to a property in which you have already been on vacation”. “The contacts of a friend or acquaintance can also be useful,” he said. 

Calling attention to “advertising on the Internet or in newspapers whose properties do not belong to whom it supposedly makes them available” and to “published images”, DECO PROTeste also advises you to look for “home for holidays on reliable platforms or newspapers”. 

“ Start by confirming in the announcement the registration number of the local accommodation establishment (AL) and then confirm it on the Tourism of Portugal website ", it is stated in the same article, which also points to the need to “avoid precipitations, especially when paying and when booking is made via the internet”.

But what are the seven advices from DECO PROTEST? 

• “Distrust if it’s cheap” – “Always distrust too good offers, such as very low-priced houses, which are, for example, very well decorated or equipped and with a privileged view of the sea,” he points out. You can always “ask to visit the house”, and “think twice if you notice any resistance from the owner to do so”.
• “Search on multiple platforms” – “The fees charged to the owners vary according to the platform, and the same apartment may be advertised in several places at different prices. Look for the best offer. Remember to check if the websites are safe before advancing ", highlights DECO PROTESTE. 
• “Visit the property” – “Whether you know the property through newspaper announcement, platform on the internet or social network or direct contact, if possible, it is advisable to visit it first. Sometimes the photographs create a different image from what you will find,” he said.
• “Do not give in to pressures” – DECO PROTEST says that “a sign that you may be being cheated is if you press it to make a quick decision, for example, with the argument that you have other people interested and that you must pay the signal to secure the reservation”. “It takes as long as you need until you feel confident about the business,” he highlights.
• “Confirm before paying” – “Before delivering a signal to book the house for vacation via the internet, make some checks,” Deco Protest calls. Look for similar ads, ask for more images from the inside, check the identity of the advertiser, confirm that “the identity of the holder of the bank account to be deposited coincides with that of the advertiser” and “see if the mobile contact you have been given remains active from the first contact”. You should also be careful before payment or booking, namely not making “direct bank transfers or MB Way to ensure a possible discount” or not clicking “on links sent by SMS or email to confirm card data.”
• “Reclaim if it goes wrong” – “When the house does not correspond to that announced (by photos or accommodation conditions, for example) you should ask for the book of complaints in physical format, which local accommodation establishments are required to have,” says DECO PROTEST.
• “Denounce the scams” – “If you realize that you have been cheated, immediately take part in the case to the police authorities, with all the documentation you have gathered: announcement, e-mails, photographs and proof of payment,” the same article says.