they want address but gave me no info.

[Musetta]

I don't really think this is a "scam" - but seems odd...maybe I'm being paranoid (hope so) - kind of get a weird feeling though that maybe they're trying to check and see when the house is empty? don't know...maybe i'm being silly...they left the name and phone number bits blank and are using a yahoo address (random characters rather than a name).

Do you think it sounds rude of me to at least ask them for a name before I give out the exact street address of my house?

I don't find it odd at ALL that someone would like the address...only the part that they gave me no personal info.(and that, together with the typos? although, I'm the last one to judge sinice I'm the queen of typos probably!) - maybe they are just being careful about giving out THEIR personal info.? I've never had someone (even a scam) not give at least a name.

I'd hate to loose a booking over it...still...hate for weirdos to know the exact address of the house if they are not interested in it for a holiday. What do you think? (came from HLettings -is there a way to check the IP address when it comes from a listing site like that?)

"Name:
Email: xxxxx@yahoo.com
Group size: Adults: 6 Children: 2
Requesting availability: arriving on 21 Dec 2008 and leaving on 4 Jan 2009
Hello, I would like to knox the complete address of the house, so I can know
exactly the location. We are interested to rent the house for the next Chrismas holidays"

[Hells Bells]

I don't give out the exact address of my apartment until I have received full payment and the damage deposit. I will give them a rough idea though.

[Jimbo]

I wouldn't give our address, precise location or other such details without first receiving an enquirer's verifiable name, address and phone number. If they are genuine, they will understand why you are being cautious. If not ...

Jim

[Musetta]

yes - maybe I will tell them just that...nicely, of course

[Chianti]

Musetta

You are so right to be careful, it does look odd. One would want to know other info long before asking for the full address. Your website and I'm sure your ads give enough information for now. That's also a lot of people in the small house, I have a feeling it's a scam.

Chianti

[A-two]

Musetta,
Yep, I got that one as well, although mine has a name. I haven't replied....too busy on LMH....

Name: Valentina XXXXi
Email: xxxxxx82@yahoo.com
Group size: Adults: 6 Children: 2
Requesting availability: arriving on 21 Dec 2008 and leaving on 4 Jan 2009

Hello, I would like to know the complete address of the house, so I can know exactly the location. We are interested to rent the house for the next Chrismas holidays. Thank you!

___________________________

But asking the address is becoming increasingly common - usually, they call and ask for it, saying they want to have a look at the location on Google Earth. How do you respond to that one?

[Jimbo]

usually, they call and ask for it, saying they want to have a look at the location on Google Earth. How do you respond to that one?

Same as before. If somebody is genuine, they won't mind giving you their details. Otherwise, why not say the key's under the mat?

Jim

[Musetta]

A2...hahahha. too funny. yup same one
hey - you did get a first name though!
guess I should not pass judgement though in case they are genuine...would not be too odd for someone to email us both if they don't know the NY area well since there aren't many places to choose from that can sleep that many people.

[paolo]

I explain that whilst I am sure they are bona fide, I do not give out the exact address until I receive a deposit, to discourage burglars who are doing a little online window-shopping.

[A-two]

I explain that whilst I am sure they are bona fide, I do not give out the exact address until I receive a deposit, to discourage burglars who are doing a little online window-shopping.

I agree that sounded fine in 2006 and I even got away with something similar in 2007, but now it's impossible. Almost every property listed for sale or rent is attached to a Google map or an MSN map, or Trulia or Zillow, which gives the exact address online for all the world to see. If vacation rental owners and their specialist listing sites are not routinely doing it by now, they are certainly the exception in the real estate market. This expectation by the consumer to have instant access to the address of every available property is spilling over into the VR sector.

Increasingly, the calls I get expect the address to be online, and some express surprise that it is not. Certainly, it's one of the first things they expect to be given out. People want to see where it is located exactly on the online map or by doing a drive by. It's much easier to refuse a drive by with "our policy is to accompany all viewings", or "we don't want to disturb guests in situ" etc. But these days, I am finding that to refuse to give out the address is to lose the customer.

So I have started to give it out and am now wondering, what's the real downside of giving out the address? (burgler's aside).

[Giddy Goat]

The threat of being burgled can't be left out of the discussion as far as I'm concerned. We have very few neighbours, we're not on site, and it would be so easy for the house to be emptied I suspect. Alternatively, if the word got out that the property was a holiday let, it would be an ideal target for a spot of opportunistic pilfering when there were no cars in the drive. This practice was already rampant in the Var when we owned a little house on the coast; fortunately in the 4 years we were there we had no incidents, but learned after purchase that prior to this the development (six little houses) had been broken into 18 times in twelve years.

Theft isn't a real problem yet in our area, but the local town has had to comply with French law and has just completed enlarging the travellers' site and installing a series of wash-rooms - all very formal and permanent. The site's now full of white vans, not just the odd half dozen as was the case before. I'm sure I'm not the only one worried by this.

[A-two]

The threat of being burgled can't be left out of the discussion as far as I'm concerned.

GG,
I'm not trying to leave it out of the discussion (although talking about ways in which one can be burgled is not perhaps the best topic for a public forum!.... ). I was just wondering whether there was any other reason as well. . Because if not, then I'm probably OK as the only thing people are stealing around here is heating oil, and they already got nearly a whole tank of that a few weeks ago..... (And that villain certainly didn't come from any kind of VR inquiry, it's local knowledge).

[Giddy Goat]

(although talking about ways in which one can be burgled is not perhaps the best topic for a public forum!.... )

Felons know what to target, how and when without the help of a public forum - just ask any crime prevention officer and they will set out for you the typical pattern of behaviour they use. Thieves (scammers) are making use of the internet in other ways however as we well know, and a potential one, if not already current, may be to obtain addresses of holiday properties and look at availability calendars! So, the real downside of giving out the address of your second home, unoccupied for parts of the year, is this risk, and only this risk as far as I can see.

Changing the subject for a mo, sorry to hear about your fuel theft A2. TC but how does one secure ones oil tank?

[Overboard]

I dont give out addresses until payment has been made in full! Never been a problem, people rarely ask for the address and the few that have done so dont seem bothered when I tell them this.

[Giddy Goat]

I've done so once, to a delightful French gent who wanted to inspect our property before deciding! So he was accompanied by our caretakers, and subsequently booked.

He later told me he'd seen 15 other houses before choosing ours, which was flattering - it does make me rather nervous though about how difficult he might be as a guest!