TalkBoard Topics - PROPOSAL: Forum for Renting/Swapping Accommodations

I've mentioned this before but there are many of us FlyerTalkers who either own second properties or would like to rent/stay/swap housing with other Flyertalkers.

But with the T&Cs prohibiting members from soliciting business on the forum, it leaves out this type of activity which is, in fact, travel related as well as potentially adventageous to members.

I'd like to propose a forum for members to post info on their (personally owned) vacation properties or primary properties available for rent or swap.

And if approved, a secondary question would be whether the board would also include time shares in that approval.

The forum could be "Rent from a FlyerTalker"
Rita

Rita,

It sounds like a great idea. I'd love the opportunity to rent from a fellow FTer.

But, I started thinking about it in comparison to CC and also any responsiblity assume by the HOM by simply allowing it on the boards and it didn't start sounding as good ;)

I shudder to think of all the people who would simply use FT as another place to list their rental property.

I know that's not your intent, but unfortunately, I think that's what will happen. Perhaps minimum posting requirements, such as those for CC, would be the way to go if this is approved.

That said, I still would love a place for this on FT as long as the appropriate access controls are instituted.

Mary,
I do think there would need to be controls of some kind. But at the same time now that we have members from the various hotel chains, they, in effect, are advocating for their businesses.

But, for example, I'd love to swap with someone. No money involved. No commercial websites.
I'd also love to rent our condo out if someone wanted to. Someone who knows me from the time I"ve spent on FT. Or if they haven't gotten to know me over the years, well at least they can search and read my previous posts.

Rita
ps, I love your tag line "Life's too short..." My recently departed mother-in-law always said that and I always appreciated her philosophy of life.

Rita, this is a great idea. I have always wanted to participate in a home/second home swap and have been put off by the research necessary to make sure you're getting legit people. I "know" enough people on FT that it would be very comfortable. I agree with Mary that there would need to be some qualifiers, but overall, this would provide a great service! ^ ^ :-: :-:

I would like to see this ... and to include timeshares. Although I don't post much (usually don't have a lot I can contribute) I would think possibly a minimum "join date" may be a type of control. Then even though someone has few posts, they could still participate legitimately.

Has anyone come across a forum that focuses on swapping & the experiences they have had?

I like the idea of a classifieds type system where we can posts or browse through listings of rentals/swaps available by region.

Say I'm going to France, it would be great to have some way to find a house swap or rental deal.

Has anyone come across a forum that focuses on swapping & the experiences they have had?

Not so much here but I visit RedWeek.com (http://www.redweek.com/) on occasion and they have an extensive list of properties for exchange as well as a lot of commentary on the experience.

Not so much here but I visit RedWeek.com (http://www.redweek.com/) on occasion and they have an extensive list of properties for exchange as well as a lot of commentary on the experience.


Mhmm, but I think it's a bit different with time shares than properties that are owned outright.

With a time share, if a sofa gets stained, for example, the owner of that week probably doesn't fret the same way, say I would, because I own the property outright.

I'm more interested in screening prospective users because of that fact. And that's where FlyerTalk comes in. I can get a real sense of someone simply by reading his/her posts.

Rita

I'm more interested in screening prospective users because of that fact. And that's where FlyerTalk comes in. I can get a real sense of someone simply by reading his/her posts.

Rita

So based on my posting history, am I likely to stain your couch?? :p

So based on my posting history, am I likely to stain your couch?? :p


nope, but you won't bring in 14 people to a condo that sleeps 4, i'll bet. My odds are just a bit better with you. And if you do stain the couch, you might just own up to it.

Heck, as a FlyerTalker you might even make it up to me by giving me some of the ff miles you're burning these days :D

R.

nope, but you won't bring in 14 people to a condo that sleeps 4, i'll bet. My odds are just a bit better with you. And if you do stain the couch, you might just own up to it.

I see where you're coming from here. And, initially, I don't have any problems with such a forum.

But I wonder how many other FT'ers own rental properties? And would want to use a forum like you're proposing to try to rent their properties?

Hopefully we'll find out from this thread but this public TB Forum is not well known and is one of the least active forums on FT.

If you know of other FT'ers with rental properties, perhaps you could PM them and encourage them to weigh in on the subject.

Hopefully we'll find out from this thread but this public TB Forum is not well known and is one of the least active forums on FT.

If you know of other FT'ers with rental properties, perhaps you could PM them and encourage them to weigh in on the subject.


I might just start up a thread on OMNI or something.
R.

I don't think this is a good idea.

Introducing an area of FT for personal gain is not what FT is, in my mind at least, all about. There are dozens and dozens of places on the internet that cater for holiday rentals, FT does not need to mimic them. Swap for non-commercial gain would be different, although a new forum just to cater to the likely number of instances of this happening, seems overkill.

I like the idea of a classifieds type system where we can posts or browse through listings of rentals/swaps available by region.

Kinda of like a flyertalk.craigslist.org sub-site? Hmmm... maybe.

But I can foresee the need for forum moderator to two at the outset.

I (we) own a second home that at the moment we do not rent out. But that sais we do lend it to friends. I would consider lending it to other FTs that I knew or that someone I knew vouched for.

FlyerTalk can't be all things to all people. There are other sites that handle rentals.

FlyerTalk can't be all things to all people. There are other sites that handle rentals.

No it can't be all things... but since we have people recommending which hotel to stay at, it might be nice for them also to be able to recommend a fellow flyertalker's condo as an option as well.

The other sites are full of pictures and detailed info. I"m envisioning being able to mention that I have a place that I do rent, and if people want to go to my website, then here's a link.

Or, another way would be if someone wants to go to (let's say) New Hampshire for a vacation, and they want a recommendation on where to stay, I could say, "Hey! I own such a place."

Rita

IMO one of the worst ideas I've ever heard on FT and one just begging a disaster. Many other places exist on the 'net for such things. Invariably, someone's going to entrust an FTer and get hung out to dry when said FTer causes damage, upsets someone, etc. We'll also likely get all sorts of realtors (shady and otherwise) attempting to push rental properties at FTers and using this as free advertising.

You can't possibly do enough of a background check via FT to entrust them with such responsibility. It's a huge difference from recommending hotels, etc. A hotel recommendation involves someone making their own arrangements with the hotel under their name. Loaning someone your condo or timeshare either involves your personal property being on the line or a timeshare asset under your name. Ergo, you're responsible and liable for any and all damages incurred to your and others' property. If you want to hang that out there be my guest but IMO as an FTer this absolutely is not an appropriate venue.


The other sites are full of pictures and detailed info. I"m envisioning being able to mention that I have a place that I do rent, and if people want to go to my website, then here's a link.

Or, another way would be if someone wants to go to (let's say) New Hampshire for a vacation, and they want a recommendation on where to stay, I could say, "Hey! I own such a place."

You can, of course, also simply purchase a banner ad from FlyerTalk/Internet Brands. That's the only form of advertising on FT I know that's allowed. If you were doing this for free or barter I might feel slightly differently. Advertising a property for rental? That's absolutely not what FT is here for.

Introducing an area of FT for personal gain is not what FT is, in my mind at least, all about.

Coupon Connection is solely for personal gain. Even you have benefited (or at least tried to) from this forum.

As an owner of second home, I would not be opposed to this forum at all. I know I have the ability to carefully screen which Flyertalkers I would choose to do business with, but I also accept there would be sour deals. It is inevitable, just like in CC. Based on that alone, should we choose to strike down this proposal? I don't think so.

Coupon Connection is solely for personal gain. Even you have benefited (or at least tried to) from this forum.

As an owner of second home, I would not be opposed to this forum at all. I know I have the ability to carefully screen which Flyertalkers I would choose to do business with, but I also accept there would be sour deals. It is inevitable, just like in CC. Based on that alone, should we choose to strike down this proposal? I don't think so.

Of course you're not :rolleyes: You can tout your second home in a relatively safe environment courtesy of Randy, cost free! It would not just attract flyertalkers offering homes for rent/swap it would attract other commercial businesses into using the forum. It would be practically impossible to regulate who was an ft'er and who was a shady landlord looking to make a few $$. CC is at least too small fry in the scheme of internet things to become a business proposition.

I will agree I should have been more explicit in my first post, by personal gain, I mean financial personal gain. It is against the TOS of CC to offer or accept cash so there is a vast difference between CC and what is being proposed here. No, this idea must die a death and quickly, not least because there are other places you can advertise your homes, although I suspect you will have to pay to do so.