There are a few things you should know when you are looking for a property, whether you are a potential owner or an investor who is looking for opportunities; today you can find everything in one place; that is possible in part because of the development of technologies. It is feasible to rent a house or apartment, and you can also buy or lease on the same platform. And there are infinite places online to save money and time.
Over the past years, we have seen the industry grow and globalization expand to make our life better when we are thinking about moving, becoming an owner, or simply investing. The Real Estate market has expanded in such a way, that you can see what the world offers in a region from any place in the world. But the most interesting aspect of this expansion is that intermediaries and agency commissions can be avoided and you can become your own agent.
The Advantages of Using Real Estate Portals
As we said, there are a lot of options online, the portals to start your operation can be found easily and they are part of a growing market. Such places on the Internet are accessible from anywhere in the world and they offer different services according to your needs. In general, Real Estate Portals online offer services which include:
- No fees
- No intermediaries
- No commissions
- No hassle paperwork
- No calls
Instead, they try to provide the most complete assistance to cover the needs of the client. As they develop, they continue adding different options:
- Excellent opportunities in real-time
- The best price
- Real statistics
- Education
- Guidance and assistance
- Constant update
- A complete online process
- Intuitive websites
- Free ads
- Professional photos and descriptions
The big difference between a Real Estate Agency and platforms of this kind is that you, and only you, are the real owner of your account and who makes the final decisions. The Real Estate portals without intermediaries give you the power to choose when, where, and how to operate in the industry without limits or hidden conditions. That doesn’t mean they have their own business and provides a paid service. They usually offer several plans where you may find the answers to your questions. Take into account that they are also professionals.
Short-Term Accommodation
Inside the Real Estate industry, there is a section that has grown exponentially and it is especially used by frequent travelers and people who travel for work. The short-term accommodation services offer interesting and modern opportunities to spend some time on vacations or traveling, whatever your reason is, without booking a hotel room. These kinds of rentals are highly recommended and offer good prices, world presence, versatility, an easy and fast process, and a different way to know cultures.
For example, if you look online, you will see that there are many projects offering furnished apartments in new buildings. There are also private places available, as well as homes where the owner is present.
The benefits of this peer to peer experience are unlimited:
- Thousands of opportunities
- Options for every style
- Fast and hassle-free processes
- Prices according to your wallet
Here are 6 platforms where you can find short-term accommodation
Airbnb
Air bed and breakfast – this is how this world giant of the accommodation market was born. It is known as Airbnb, and its numbers went up in a short time. It is said that the company has monthly traffic of more than 15 million visitors. The service gets the 3% of what the client pays and also receives a 10% from the user. Moreover, the cancellation process is also paid. If you are planning to promote your property, you will have to wait around half an hour to get it approved. On the other hand, the platform has a friendly and intuitive process to navigate. Besides, the host and guest can be in touch before deciding about the rental, which is an advantage for both sides.
Booking
Booking is a huge platform developed in different ways since 1996. It is older than our previous option, which was created in 2008. This may be the reason why Booking has a lot more sections on its website, either for homeowners, hotels, and users. More than 55 million visitors surf its platform each month. But one of the downsides of Booking is that is not affordable for frequent travelers; they take 15% of the user’s payment. It also has a very rigorous process if you want to publish your property for rent. The company is also strict in other ways, they constantly invite you to add and complete the information of your publications, and it isn’t any easier for the potential guests, who will find detailed information, but sometimes confusing. And in this case, you don’t get the chance to talk to the owner. A good side to using this platform is that the cancellation is usually free.
Vrbo
Although Vrbo is not a young portal, it is a much simpler one, and to your surprise, it is not as famous and known as the ones above. Who knows why…? Its services consist of homeowners who rent their properties for vacations. Easy and direct. But, unfortunately, Vrbo’s listings are just full properties, not rooms or bed and breakfast, or anything similar… The target guests are groups or families who are looking to rent a full vacation property. The commission of Vrbo is 5% of what is paid by the user. The list of properties is huge! And, it has an intuitive and friendly portal. But if you are looking for a small place to spend your holidays, don’t waste your time.
Flipkey
This company is owned by TripAdvisor, we are sure you have heard of it… On this portal, you can find all kinds of listings, but the places covered are limited. And it doesn’t offer dormitories, hostels, or communes, which can be a problem for lonely travelers. One of the advantages for owners is that their properties will appear on the search engine quickly, as TripAdvisor has done nice work on that aspect.
Couchsurfing
Another place to find short-term properties for your vacations. The portal offers host homes for free, but the process to book is not that easy. The travelers usually interact on the app and exchange opinions, advice, and experiences. If you are an owner, you will have to be very, very, very detailed, it’s like a competition. So, if you have the time to do that… You can get a nice place to stay.
Frementa
Frementa offers opportunities for homeowners, clients, property developers, managers, and agents. All in one, Frementa makes it easy for everyone to rent, sell, list, or enjoy a dream vacation. If you are an owner, renting or selling a property will be an easy task. The big advantage of Frementa is that you don’t pay commissions; although you do have the option to get assistance from a certified agent. And your ad is shown on the best national and international Real Estate portals if you choose a higher plan. That comes with many more benefits, such as advertising and professional contract format. It not only provides services but also negotiates the best price for your property if you are an owner.
Conclusion
Fortunately, nowadays we can put into practice our skills to do different things without paying high prices and being tricked. The clue is to read carefully, check other users’ reviews, and register in a serious portal with proven experience. If you do all this, you can take care of everything yourself and be safe!