Renting at the beach not what it used to be.

[MaxDepth]

For a beach condo on the seaside of Wrightsville Beach:

Rent 350.00
Security Deposit 100.00
Booking Fee 40.00
Peace of Mind 35.00
Travel Insurance 6.5% 25.35
Tax 49.73
Total Base Costs 600.08

That's $350 for two nights plus $250 in tax and fees. I don't know what the hell "peace of mind" is, does anyone?

42% of the total, not even the condo!

 

[minendo]

I'm assuming you'll get the security deposit back as long as you don't damage anything.

 

[PepePeru]

give them a piece of your mind.

 

[ViviTheMage]

peace of mind...haha

 

[wart]

What the hell is Peace of Mind? You should defile the sheets with man secretion.

There's my peace of mind, assholes.

 

[akshatp]

Try renting a beach house at the Jersey Shore for a weekend. that price you got is a bargain in comparison.

 

[Bootprint]

"In lieu of a security deposit, Intracoastal offers a Peace of Mind (POM) tenant damage protection policy. This option allows you to obtain a protection policy to cover accidental damage, however willful damage is not included. Securing POM protection in lieu of the security deposit, does not negate your responsibilities as a tenant. If you do not choose to participate in the POM program, please initial where indicated on the lease. "

Sounds optional, it's either security deposit or POM.

But they seem to be learning from the airlines about additional fees.

 

[Slew Foot]

Haha, you got hosed by Peace of shit, i mean mind.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Put it on an AMEX....then simply call up AMEX and dispute the charge.

 

[Juno]

swim in the ocean...priceless.

 

[PingSpike]

This is something I really hate about things lately. Companies don't even have the integrity to just raise prices. No, they advertise their super low rate and then ram you with a ton of surprise fees after its too late for you to back out of their service. Fuel surcharges are the most common bullshit fees. Why don't they just put "worker's lunch surcharge" on there while they're at it.

At this point, the only solution is to dust off and nuke the whole site from orbit.

 

[Injury]

"Booking fees" are just as much of a crock of shit. Charging a fee to essentially take a reservation? Seriously? I mean, if they took that amount off the total when you actually showed up it would be one thing, but to charge a booking fee for the 5-10 minutes it takes to make a phone call and such? Unless I'm seriously mistaken about what, exactly, a booking fee is for. Is it a background check or something?


Essentially, the Security Deposit, Booking Fee, Peace of Mind, and Travel Insurance is the same damn thing just broken down a bit so you don't realize you're paying $200 for all this BS.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Injury
"Booking fees" are just as much of a crock of shit. Charging a fee to essentially take a reservation? Seriously? I mean, if they took that amount off the total when you actually showed up it would be one thing, but to charge a booking fee for the 5-10 minutes it takes to make a phone call and such? Unless I'm seriously mistaken about what, exactly, a booking fee is for. Is it a background check or something?


Essentially, the Security Deposit, Booking Fee, Peace of Mind, and Travel Insurance is the same damn thing just broken down a bit so you don't realize you're paying $200 for all this BS.

You should talk to Comcast. I called them yesterday to open an account in my name (the previous tenant finally canceled his service) - it costs them $70 to come out, flip a switch, and connect a box and modem.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Booking Fee is essentially double dipping for the agency unless it is a background check for the owner.
Security Deposit you can get back - make sure you photo EVERYTHING when you receive possession.
Peace of Mind - extra $$ for the agency
Why do you need Travel Insurance?

Tax should only be on the Rent itself - the hotel & local tax for the area may be 15%

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
For a beach condo on the seaside of Wrightsville Beach:

Rent 350.00
Security Deposit 100.00
Booking Fee 40.00
Peace of Mind 35.00
Travel Insurance 6.5% 25.35
Tax 49.73
Total Base Costs 600.08

That's $350 for two nights plus $250 in tax and fees. I don't know what the hell "peace of mind" is, does anyone?

42% of the total, not even the condo!

i live a few miles south of that ocean front in a 2 bedroom condo for 850/mo.

 

[V00DOO]

I love having friend who owns beach front property vacation home. FREE RENT!

 

[MaxDepth]

I haven't signed anything yet. This was just the result webpage of one of those web-automated search and reserve space apps. I'm sure if I call directly I can have them remove the piece of mind and the insurance.

Not so long ago (8 years ago), I owned one of those condos. ('A Summer Place' on the same street as Johnny Mercer pier) It kills me because I know out of that $175 a night, the owner will get $90 because the agency hits them with the reserve of those fees (insurance, housekeeping, security, agency fee, etc.)

I just want to spend a weekend at wrightsville, that's not a hotel room, without getting seriously reamed.

 

[Engineer]

Welcome to inflation (and greed).

 

[Alyx]

Originally posted by: Juno
swim in the ocean...Hives.

Fixed.

 

[QED]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
For a beach condo on the seaside of Wrightsville Beach:

Rent 350.00
Security Deposit 100.00
Booking Fee 40.00
Peace of Mind 35.00
Travel Insurance 6.5% 25.35
Tax 49.73
Total Base Costs 600.08

That's $350 for two nights plus $250 in tax and fees. I don't know what the hell "peace of mind" is, does anyone?

42% of the total, not even the condo!

I don't understand what you are complaining about.

The security deposit is refundable, and it's always been around.
The "Peace of Mind" program is optional... you don't have to pay for it.
The travel insurance is optional... you don't have to pay for it.
The taxes are outrageous, but they have always been around. Even the crappiest motel in the crappiest city has to charge 10-20% in taxes. Thank the local politicians there for that-- they figure it's the people from out of town who pay the most, so why not make them ridiculous?

Take away the "Peace of Mind", Travel Insurance, and Security Deposit, you are looking at truly spending $439.72 for a $350 2-day rental. That's very typical of just about any hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast/house rental out there...

 

[funkymatt]

Originally posted by: akshatp
Try renting a beach house at the Jersey Shore for a weekend. that price you got is a bargain in comparison.

bennies.