DEALING WITH TRAVEL AGENTS
 
Occasionally I am contacted by travel agents looking for villas for their clients. Travel agents are paid on commission as well-- 10% (of a "Cayman Villas" base rate)
 
On the rare occasion that I may ask you to also pay a travel agent-- If we have to pay an introductory travel agent 10% of the "base rate" (as calculated by Cayman Villas and approved by the Cayman Islands Tourism Department @ gross rate/1.425 x 10%)-- we reduce our fee to match that paid to the agent. The result is a slightly higher total commission (about 14-15% of gross compared to 12.5%)-- but travel agents can bring us rentals many times for slower months-- I also request them to try to use agency checks instead of credit cards to control the overall cost.
 
Just a reminder-- with rare exception-- the travel agent  is not paid anything until the villa is paid for in full. I subtract commissions from the second 50% payment; usually due 60 days prior to occupancy, so that you can be paid in full no later than 30-40 days prior to occupancy.