Prepare to rent a summer vacation home by taking a head count of everyone who will be joining you on the trip. Have a firm idea of how many people will be staying in the home and their different ages. Some homeowners have understandable reservations about renting their properties to parties with a lot of young children or beer-thirsty college students.
Get a copy of a newspaper from the town you plan to visit during your summer vacation. Look through the advertisements and classifieds for information on how to rent a summer home. Use the multitude of ads to get a feel what's available in the marketplace and the different price ranges.
Surf the web to find information on the different rental properties in the area. You may be able to find pictures and electronic tours of homes and the surrounding areas.
Contact the homeowners' associations that govern the condo and rental home communities you may be considering. They might be able to put you in touch with homeowners who have vacancies in their rental schedules. A homeowners' association will also make you aware of the rules and regulations for renting a home in their community.
