How to avoid a rental scam when renting from afar?

@vivianvanveldt

I would only trust a Relative, In-law or Close Friend on this side to go tour and verify a managers ID and credentials for any rental Unit.

It would be foolish to send $ here to anyone other then those above who you absolutely trust to handle the transaction and personally receive any receipts and contract in your absence.

If you have no one here able or willing to handle that for you, I suggest you make other arrangements and wait to do it on your own once you arrive.

Trusting is difficult here, too many Scammers, Corruption and Deception. Be Careful

I'm in talks to rent a place in advance so I'll have somewhere to live when I reach the Philippines. I've done this in the USA when moving out of state and I always feel smart when I enjoy a seamless move. I don't want to do Airbnbs because I plan to stay for at least a year, and my only Airbnb experience in the Philippines was dreadful. Before I give the supposed rental manager any money, is there someone I can hire to meet them and film a tour for me? - @vivianvanveldt

Would be helpful to tell the forum where in the Philippines you've intentions of residing.

@vivianvanveldt

Presumably you have visited the country before?

@vivianvanveldt


Presumably you have visited the country before? - @Lotus Eater

Said her previous experience was dreadful with a rental.

@Aidan in HCMC

Palawan

@vivianvanveldt

Hi, if you want to make a long term rental, never do it from abroad. First, check the surroundings in google maps. What google maps cannot provide is the sound level during day and night. There can be some noisy Karaoke players next door.

If google maps shows you a place where you want to stay for a year, make a reservation for a hotel next to that place. When you arrive you can check how the sound level and how the infrastructure around is.

Don't forget to book your flight out of the Philippines within 30 days and don't mention at the immigration that you will stay for a year.  You can extend for 29 days when you are in the Philippines and then extend in 2 months intervals.

Here in Boracay the price per month is around 30k for a one bedroom aparment and 40k for a 2 bedroom aparment per month. You can get it much cheaper in Manila where the people from China lived.

All the best

Andy from Boracay (10 years in the Philippines)