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Evolve Vacation Rental

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LAST UPDATED: March 26th, 2024

Evolve Vacation Rental was founded in 2011 by Brian Egan and Adam Sherry and was designed to assist owners in managing their vacation rental listings and assist with guest inquiries and reservations. Evolve Vacation Rental is focused on simplifying the process of vacation renting by following a strict rental verification process and providing flexible options with lower fees. Their vetted network of on-the-ground partners are available to handle everything from housekeeping to maintenance.

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The Good

  • Set, Low Fee for Property Owners
  • Flexible Terms
  • Communication with Guests
  • Property Damage Protection
  • Professional Listings

Set, Low Fee for Property Owners 

Evolve is free to join, and charges property owners a set 10 percent of the booking fee for its listing services. In addition, Evolve does not charge a cancellation fee. 

Flexible Terms

There is no term commitment for owners. The company’s service is free to join and can be canceled at any time. In addition, owners can use their vacation rental for personal use throughout the year. 

Communication with Guests

Evolve handles communication with guests throughout the reservation process. In addition, customers who want help booking can contact Evolve’s travel advisors. They are available seven days a week by phone, email, and live chat. 

Property Damage Protection

Unlike many competitors, Evolve does not require security deposits for vacation rentals. Instead, the company offers a Damage Protection insurance program. This program is backed by the insurance company Assurant and costs a set fee of $14.50 per night for guests. This protection covers up to $3,000 in unintentional damages by travelers. Guests are liable for intentional destruction or damage that exceeds the set amount. In addition, Evolve provides protection to property owners with $1 million in liability coverage. 

Professional Listings

Evolve uses professional photographers and writers to create high-quality listings. In addition, properties are displayed on multiple sites such as VRBO, HomeAway, Airbnb, and more. 

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The Bad

  • Limited Country Availability
  • Limited Pricing Options

Limited Country Availability

Currently, Evolve only services North America. Owners looking to list properties in countries outside North America will need to use another vacation rental management service. 

Limited Pricing Options

Evolve does not offer multiple pricing options. Though it provides a low, set fee, some companies offer different options, such as yearly subscriptions, to fit the needs of different property owners. 

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The Bottom Line

Evolve is free to join and charges a low, 10 percent booking fee. The company offers flexible terms allowing property owners to cancel at any time and to reserve their property for personal use. Evolve creates professional listings and promotes properties on multiples vacation rental sites. Properties are protected through Assurant insurance and owners also receive liability insurance. Furthermore, it communicates with customers on behalf of property owners. However, owners of property outside of North America will need to use another vacation rental management company. We recommend consumers compare Evolve to other vacation rental management companies to see if it fits their needs. 

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Star Rating

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4.7

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875 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

67%

4 grade

6%

3 grade

2%

2 grade

2%

1 grade

23%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

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M Weber Charlotte, NC

Cute house but buggy inside and a mess of a backyard. A/C in bedrooms inoperable as well as the coffee maker. Fix these problems and it’s a better stay - Evolve makes billing and reservations easy - thank you!

7 months ago Edited August 7, 2023

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Reply from Evolve Vacation Rental

Thank you for your feedback regarding opportunities for improvement at the home you stayed in. We're sorry to hear that we missed the mark in these areas, but do hope you enjoyed your trip overall. We appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review and hope to have the opportunity to host you again soon!

Aug. 22nd, 2023

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Elisa Butteri Seattle, WA

I thought I was booking through VRBO and then was sent to EVOLVE also so not sure how that works. I did book a different place at first and then had to cancel through EVOLVE so it seemed a little confusing but it worked out.

6 months ago

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Liz Burlington, VT

Wasn't my choice to book through Evolve (host on airbnb used it) nor was it my choice to receive the insurmountable amount of marketing emails once I booked my airbnb. So, not sure what value Evolve really brings that airbnb doesn't offer. I gave it a 3 because I'm still dealing with their emails but the trip was a success.

6 months ago

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Dianne R

While our rental was wonderful and the people who own the property were outstanding, kind and communicative my actual experience with evolve was less than stellar. I booked the rental with no issues but when it came to logging in to my account to view the booking my login would not work. I tried a number of times to get the situation resolved but to this day cannot login to my account. That part of the process was very unsatisfactory and did not inspire confidence in the technological or customer service side of the company.

4 years ago

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Kelly Lockport, NY

The property was nice, but upon arrival the kitchen was dirty. We had to clean it before it could be used. The stove top had food on it and the garbage can was disgusting. The property could use a fresh paint job and new carpet. The bedrooms were nice and the beds were comfortable. The decor was stylish. We enjoyed our stay once we cleaned some and got settled in.

5 years ago

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Reply from Evolve Vacation Rental

Kelly, we are so sorry the property was not properly cleaned prior to your arrival and truly appreciate you bringing this to our attention. It sounds like you have been in touch with a representative here at Evolve and we are pleased to hear you have come to a resolution. Thank you again for making us aware of the situation and for taking the time to discuss the matter so we can ensure this does not happen again. Best - The Evolve Team

Dec. 4th, 2018

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Erica McCordsville, IN

Booking through Evolve was so easy! I booked over the phone and they were quick, helpful, and pleasant to deal with. The cabin we stayed at was not as nice as portrayed on the website though. Whoever manages this property for them does not clean very well and is not very aware of problems at the property. There was dirt and grime everywhere and there was a mouse problem that didn’t look new judging from the amount of drippings found.

6 years ago

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Mark Lewis Bastrop, TX

The place we stayed at was nice. When we arrived there were dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Also, when we raised up the lounge chairs there was dirt, trash and an unused diaper underneath. I don't think their house cleaner was doing a good job.

4 years ago

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kathleen Moeller Joliet, IL

I would not go through Evolve again Because the damage protection deposit will not be returned , no matter if damages are done or not. I was not aware of this until I contacted Evolve to ask when we would get our deposit back. Rental agreement clearly stated it would be returned.

4 years ago

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Reply from Evolve Vacation Rental

Hi Kathleen, I'm very sorry to hear there was some confusion here. I see that you and Rose were able to connect, and that she was able to explain why we choose to use a non-refundable damage protection fee in lieu of a security deposit. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions in the future - we'll be happy to help.

Nov. 21st, 2019

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Juan venegas Loganville, GA

The cabin was clean and pretty. Enough space for my group, the only thing was that we choose that cabin for the hot tub and when we arrive it was broken and nobody let us know that so we here pretty disappointed with our choice...

6 years ago

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Reply from Evolve Vacation Rental

Hi, Juan. We're so sorry to hear the hot tub wasn't working when you arrived, and apologize for the inconvenience this caused you. It sounds like our Customer Experience Team was able to connect with you, and we're glad to hear you were able to come to a resolution. We hope you'll keep us in mind for your next getaway.

Feb. 2nd, 2018

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Suanna Smith-Sanchez Yakima, WA

I did not realize I was booking with a company, as I booked the rental through VRBO. I would have preferred to have booked directly with the owner.

7 months ago Edited August 23, 2023

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noelle v milam Roanoke, VA

Evolve has definitely helped me get more rentals, however some of their policies are cumbersome, and they always seem to be severely understaffed or staffed by people who are poorly trained.

5 years ago

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AZURE CHOONCHAROEN Topeka, KS

House was great but surprised by Evolve’s additional fees for damage protection despite denying the fee when I booked.

7 months ago Edited July 31, 2023

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Reply from Evolve Vacation Rental

Hi Azure - thank you for your review. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay in the home and are sorry to hear of any misunderstanding regarding the damage protection fee. We do our best to remain completely transparent about the total cost of booking prior to confirming the reservation. If you would like to share more information with us regarding the miscommunication, please feel free to contact us on any of our social media channels so that we may discuss the matter further.

Aug. 3rd, 2023

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Mike Edelstein Rancho Cordova, CA

I have rented more then a dozen times from VRBO/HomeAway, this was my first and last time with Evolve. I am not going to deal with a company that has a no refund of deposit.

5 years ago

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Reply from Evolve Vacation Rental

Hi, Mike - Thank you for providing your feedback on our damage protection program. You are correct, the damage protection you paid for is, in fact, non-refundable. However, our program requires a much smaller upfront payment the than traditional security deposits, and it offers our guests far more protection with up to $3,000 worth of coverage against accidental damages. It also eliminates the need to worry about any disputes with the owner over potential damages after your stay. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to call our customer service line at 877.818.1014. Best - The Evolve Team

Jul. 12th, 2018

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Christopher Herrick

Property outstanding but management services were substandard

5 months ago

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Reply from Evolve Vacation Rental

Hi Christopher - thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at the property and appreciate your feedback regarding your experience with management services provided. Please feel free to reach out to our team via social media and we'd be happy to discuss your concerns further. We hope to have the opportunity to host you again soon!

Oct. 4th, 2023