There is a lot of talk about whether or not it is okay to vet a potential guest, or if that is considered discrimination. What do you think as a vacation rental owner? Do you vet before accepting a booking?

As for travelers, how do you feel about it? Are you for or against vetting? Do you understand why owners vet potential guests in the first place? After all, you vet the owner of the potential rental before you book.  You probably do it without even realizing it, and for good cause.

This subject is one that seems to go back in fourth throughout the marketplace, so let’s get right into the difference between vetting and discrimination.

As a traveler, when you rent a place from someone, you’re never entirely sure of what you will get or how reliable that person will be.

How would you feel if you showed up to your vacation rental, only to find out that the last guest broke some of the items you were excited to use? Maybe they broke the T.V or an appliance, or stole the kayak you were excited to take out on the lake?  Due to back to back bookings, the owner wasn’t able to fix in time or replace. It not only affects the owner, but it can potentially affect your stay.

Vetting is vital in having a great travel experience. We bet you have vetted your potential rental owner with some of these questions:

• Is your home child friendly?
• Do you allow pets?
• How safe is the neighborhood?
• What will be supplied in the home during our stay?

As an owner, when you rent your home to short-term guests, you are always taking a risk. For example, common problems include disturbing neighbors with too much noise, blocking driveways, partying all hours of the night, and otherwise disrupting the neighborhood.

Not as common, but concerning, is that the guest could trash your home, damage, or steal belongings. Just like your own home, owners just want to make sure that their property will be taken care of and respected while a guest is staying.

So what is the difference between vetting and discrimination? How do you vet properly? The best way to vet any potential guest is to talk with him or her on the phone.

Questions you may ask when vetting properly?

• How many guests will be staying at the property?
• Will there be children and if so, how many?
• Do you smoke?
• What is the purpose of the trip?
• Have you stayed in a short-term rental before?

The Federal Fair Housing Acts prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, familial status, physical or mental disability (including recovering alcoholics and people with a past drug addiction). Many state and city fair housing laws also prohibit discrimination based on marital status, or sexual orientation.

Thus, you can’t ask questions, such as:

• In what country were you born?
• What is your ethnicity?
• Are you disabled?
• Are you married?
• What is your sexual orientation?
• Are you pregnant?

The entire point to vetting, whether you are the owner or the traveler, is to feel comfortable.

A vacation rental property is entirely different then booking a hotel and should not be treated the same way. The owner wants to feel that their home will be respected, and the traveler wants to feel comfortable in the home and its surroundings.

Here at Tripz.com, we make it as easy as possible for owners and travelers to directly connect. Unlike most marketplaces, we do not withhold contact information. We want all parties to feel comfortable when going through the booking process, and that is why we provide profile information and reviews. This ensures that owners are in control of their properties and that travelers are in control of their vacations, making the process transparent, and enjoyable.

How do you feel about vetting now? Has your opinion changed? We strongly believe that vetting is a good thing in order to sustain a great overall experience, as long as you do it properly.