They should contact you about a week out. Keeps them safe ad the renters for various reasons. I thought it was weird at first too. My keys in san Diego were in a lock box and I got the code a few days prior. I didn't even get the exact address until 2 days prior but I knew the intersection.
Ive only used it once, and the owner met us to give us keys and run through the house with us to explain how things worked, etc. It also gave us a chance to find anything we wanted to point out, like a stain on the carpet and a miniblind that was falling down.
It actually went famously well with that one. My parents go to Hot Springs every year to play golf/shop and whatnot, they always do a VRBO house.
"If I asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." - Henry Ford
The place I rented in broken bow used a electronic combination lock. Two or three days before the check in I got an email with the combination to the lock. The combination is changed for every guest.
When I've rented in US and Europe predominantly, there have been 3 separate options of receiving information. I've used VRBO, airbnb, homeaway, rentvillas, and tripadvisor's vacation rentals.
1. Property manager/owner will send confirmation documents/contract/directions and meet you at the property directly to provide keys/tour of the house.
2. Property manager/owner will send confirmation documents/contract/directions containing where to pick up keys at separate location and accompany you to the property for introduction.
3. Property manager/owner will send confirmation documents/contract/directions and within those documents are instructions as to where the keys are hidden/stored on property.
If you haven't received your contract or confirmation yet, I would call/email the property manager to ask for details as to where to pick up keys, etc.
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