Certainly can't hurt to try, but I would do it gently. Don't want the unless the owner to get offended and refuse to rent to you.

Oops, that should have said, "You don't want the owner to get offended..."

I can't answer for Hawaii, but we have negotiated with owners on VRBO in Colorado during ski season, and a beach house in Florida.

Our travel plans are often last minute, so if an owner still has a vacant unit, they have usually worked with us.

We've only had one owner who took offense that we asked, and after a couple of emails, it became apparent she was more than a little high strung...

I advertise my BI condo on vrbo and can tell you my experience.

Some condo owners HAVE already reduced their prices--many times its reflected in the heading. If one owner in that complex has done so, chances are that other owners will.

This is especially true on last minute bookings.

I personally have lowered my price by 20% already and reflect that in my heading.

I'm heading to HI myself this winter and will try to snag some last minute deals on the other islands as well.

Thanks for spending your dollars in HI! It's appreciated!

Thanks! I'll be very cautious and respectful.

Try it - bi=ut don't go too far

kgh9m
We have rented many times VRBO and they are usually my first chice to check out. We were going to Hawaii for 5wks ( have since cancelled) this winter. I found many that I liked both in Oahu and the BI. I would email with additional questions and ask what their price is for the time we wanted. Once I received all my answers, we would make a decision. I email everyone who sumitted an offer to tell them thanks but we selected another facility and usually price was the reason why. I've had many email me with a better offer should we want to reconsider.

Here is one that I can recommend on the BI if you're interested. The owners were wonderful to work with and promply returned our deposit when we cancelled. The house is new, attached to their home. It has a hot tub overlooking the ocean which was a draw for me.:http://www.vrbo.com/198935

We tried asking for lower rates than posted on vrbo on this year's visit and were politely referred to other units with less features than the unit we were responding to, but within our desired price range.

We found that paying the rental by check rather than paypal may offer a modest savings.

Occasionally when I've said that I decline the rental because I say I didn't want to pay that much, an owner has come back and asked what I would pay.

I've used VRBO many times for my Hawaii trips & for the last couple, I didn't ask for a lower price, but did indicate that I was debating between 8-10 nights & asked if I chose 10 nights, could I get a free night. Both times the owner readily agreed to give me a free night. Dianne

Thanks to all. So far, I've asked one owner if the 7 nt rate could apply to my 4 nt stay (no; but a lower rate for the 4 nts was offered).

I've now made an inquiry on another and will see what that turns up.

I'm trying to choose the units that don't have as many bookings, hoping that they will be more flexible to at least get the property occupied.

We always negotiate and have been lucky enough to find some willing owners. One would think that, with tourism so far off, some $$ would be better than none. Good luck.

kgh8m: I just went through the process of booking a VRBO rental for our trip to Oahu in April. I found that you can't trust the booking calendars for many of the VRBO listings. When I contacted the owners about the availability of units that were open on the calendars, many told me that they don't bother keeping the calendar current. I sent out about 30 requests and only got back six that were actually available. So, don't let the calendars drive your choices.

Two years ago I negotiated on a VRBO home in Sonoma (Wine Country)California.

Just a note. You can always catch more flies with honey than vinegar. It's never a good idea to start with suggesting that you're looking for a lower price. But start with how beautiful their place looks and how it's just what you're looking for. Then suggest that it is more than you were hoping to spend and asking if there is anyway they can reduce it. Pointing out that you are "low maintenance" people with few or no issues is good too.

I've been on both ends of this. With renting out a regular apartment I've been turned off completely when someone says to me "your place seems too expensive for what it is". But "I'd love to be able to afford to stay in your lovely apartment" will do a lot better.

When I was looking at places last year in Hawaii, I mentioned to a couple of people that since I was a single renter and very "low maintenance" I was hoping to get the place for less. And in two cases I did.

When I was going to Maui a few years ago, I was able to get a lower rate but it was more last minute. I did ask very nicely!!

I have also negotiated rates in Arizona. I usuallly look at a few units to see how rentals are filling up. If things are slow for that time period, I usually ask for a lower rate. Some people were willing to do it and others not. One lady said no but a couple of weeks later emailed me back and asked if I was still looking. I guess she decided the lower rate was better than an empty rental.

NeoPatrick is correct. Your negotiating approach does make a difference.

I advertise my vacation rental on vrbo (on homeaway as well, which owns vrbo) and will lower my weekly rate on occasion depending on a variety of variables.

My home is in New England, at the ocean, and the peak rental season is ten to twelve weeks of summer, I generally do not reduce my rates for summer since the area is extremely desirable.

I might reduce my weekly rate if it's a week that I know I will have difficulty renting at full price. For example, the last week of August can be tough - school is beginning for some families and others want to be at home to prepare for school.

I'll negotiate rental rates for Spring and Fall weeks because there is less interest in visiting the area off season, although this is changing as people learn of the savings they can realize and still enjoy the area except for sunning and swimming which tapers off mid-September. (It doesn't have to taper off of course. It just seems there are other things to do when summer vacation season is considered to be "over".)

I don't negotiate with people who demand a discount, propose an absurd discount in their first communication with me, or suggest my home is advertised at an inflated rate. If you're going to negotiate make certain you have some knowledge about the local rental market and comparable properties. This can be hard to ascertain from the text and photos on vrbo and requires some research.

I am gentle in refusing even the most audacious inquiries and will often advise people to look at particular houses or other areas that I am familiar with and feel will fit their price range. This is a good strategy for owners - if there are owners reading this column - because some of the people who feel my home is overpriced look elsewhere, find it's priced right for it's location and features, and reconnect to rent.

You will likely run across people who will not negotiate because they don't HAVE TO rent their home. There are owners that rent to be able to meet the mortgage; there are owners who rent because their business is rentals or it's a significant percentage of their income; and then there are those that only rent the periods they are not planning to use their home - and they may very well leave the house unoccupied rather than rent to someone that has been unpleasant or disagreeable.

I recommend you "get to know" the owner or property manager before suggesting a discount:

Tell them about yourself and other members of your party. Newlyweds? Children? Grandparents? Two or more couples?

Talk about why you're visiting the area. What interests do you enjoy?

Have you always wanted to visit? Are you returning because it's your most favorite place on earth?

Ask intelligent questions about the house and environs to demonstrate your interest.

In other words, create rapport with the person you want to ask for a favor - and reducing the rental price is a type of favor. Don't start by asking for a lower rate. First, determine if the house is right for you. Don't waste the owner's time but do take a few moments to have a conversation.

Yikes, I do go on . . . .

Hope this is helpful and that no one ends up with bruised feelings as you look for your ideal rental!

portiaperu, great hints. I invariably feel I end up "knowing" the owners of most of the rentals I've done and I think they feel comfortable and safe having me in their rental or home.

Now is probably a little early to get a "deal" for November. They won't want to commit to four nights since someone might come along over the next 3.5 months and want seven nights. They won't want to give you a lower price, hoping to find someone who will pay full price. Maybe in late September, if the place is still available, you might find more "bites" for reduced rates.

I agree with portiaperu and NeoPatrick, especially about building a rapport with the owners.

One way to do that is to post a positive review for the places you've stayed in. Make sure to list all the things you really liked about the unit, and that you'd happily stay there again.

I have owners now that email me each season and offer discounts up front because they know we are good clients!

I've used VBRO twice and gotten a discounted rate both times.

The first time was in Amsterdam and I got a discount for paying cash - the owner knocked off 1 night's cost of our 6 night rental.

The second time was in Virginia - I paid upfront, several months in advance of the rental so the owner gave us a 10% discount. This time I paid with a credit card for my own protection since I was paying in full so far in advance - but the owner was happy not to have to process multiple transactions for my rental and it was worth it to him to have everything done and the money in his account.

Each time I found out what the owner valued in the transaction and then went with that. And of course, I was very nice and got to know the owner a bit, etc.

I always ask to send best total rate for my dates....Have gotten some better prices and sometimes they will rent long weekend when it says weekly only.

Have always contacted the owners by phone, got 15% off one time, nothing the other times. But we did find a bottle of wine and some candles/candy type stuff when we arrived.

Agree with portiaperu and neopat here as well.

I have had a couple of folks approach wanting a discount and when I did, they claimed to have already sent the money, then claimed they were sending Paypal. I just told them we weren't a good fit for them.

My rates are all listed, and that is what I go by now. I have a high season, low season, holiday, and festival rates. My weekly rates have a discount already. We watch the local market and feel we are priced very fairly already.

We only rent it when we are not using it, we don't count on any income from the house at all. There is another owner in the same community who is offering huge discounts and I fear that they are getting the harder to deal with people, as in young partiers. I feel for them because I think they are doing what they need to do but they are attracting the exact people who we have found to be hard on the property, disrespectful of the rules, etc.

I picked a vrbo condo for a ski trip to Whistler this year, and it was a great deal. I was just waiting for confirmation from our dogsitter and when I got it, about 3 hours after checking the price on the condo, I found the price had DOUBLED. I very politely asked the owner if he were willing to honor the original price. He was not.

christy1,

You are likely better off not renting from someone that increases their rental rates after posting availability and rates online.

I put careful consideration into setting my rental rates, whether I should increase from year-to-year, how much to increase, and what to include in the rental rate (i.e., cleaning prior to the rental period, provision of linens, stocking of household goods, etc).

I wouldn't adjust my rates once they are posted. It's not very professional and suggests that other aspects of the rental could be changeable as well.

My best advice for renters is to move on when the property or the owner doesn't meet your standards; whether it's the owner's inability to answer questions satisfactorily, their personality (lack of . . . ), or unfriendly demeanor on the telephone.

Keep in mind, as I wrote above, that the same is true for renters. Approach owners with some sensitivity when you are requesting something that departs from their "norm".

Re: the original topic of this thread (and something I believe I overlooked in my original remarks): there are instances in which discounts are automatically granted. I just rented two weeks at my home for the 2011 season and discounted the rental rate by approx 20%. Multiple week discounts are fairly standard and owners should not be surprised when mentioned by prospective guests.

christy1, good luck with your condo rental - there are many great rentals out there and you'll find the one that suits you best!

Never let the calendar stop you from inquiring; many don't update the calendars, many have last minute cancellations, etc.

I have used vrbo many times both in the US and abroad. I always ask if the price quoted is the best that they can offer. In most instances, a lower price is offered.

FYI, not only do we ask for the best price on vrbo, but also when we reserve a hotel room. You would be surprised by how often a hotel will discount a room, even the nicest of hotels! It never hurts to ask nicely.

Once for Hawaii, I saw a listing that required a minimum of 7 days, but the calendar showed an open 5 days between two taken dates. I emailed and asked for a special price for those 5 days and indeed got it. I think the owner was thrilled to fill the 5 days that even by their own rules would go empty.

Here is a small condo complex we like a lot, on the Big Island. We have stayed here three times.

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/hawaii/big-island/kona-coast/kailua-kona/sea-village

It doesn't hurt to try, but don't ask for too much. We tried on a BI condo, and the owner pointed out (graciously) that theirs was by far the cheapest (Waikoloa Beach) rate on the page. We were maybe being a little greedy in that case, but if someone is way more than other similar units, why not ask?

I have not had time to read all the answers here, so this may already have been mentioned, but we usually stay for 3 or 4 weeks and find that owners are willing to give a discount for long stays.

We aren't 'condo moguls' -- only rent our Maui condo when we are not using it.

The rate we list is predicated on a full week's stay; we discount for says of 28+ nights. We have certain costs PER STAY: Fee to the agency we employ to be on call 24/7; Resort fee to our condo association; All the utilities (Electrical rates in Hawaii are triple ours in Chicagoland); My time spent setting up reservations, 'talking' to guests online, etc. At some point, we are 'money ahead' to be dark!

Also, our happiest guests are those who previously GOT some bargain condo -- the bare bones unit with the mini-fridge, 40W lamps, sticks of furniture, three cups and two plates...LOL If you are condo-hunting, look carefully at those 'good buys', and read the guest comments -- look for repeat guests who stay more than a week.

I don't mind being asked if I can sweeten a deal, but after 11 years of renting I know I am ahead to turn away some people. The guest who is 'difficult' from the beginning will continue to be a pain. Life is too short!

We have a VRBO rental & never discount it. It's expensive to maintain and we find the longer people stay, the worse the condition of the house is when they leave. Consequebtly, we don't rent for more than one week at a time. I would ask for a lower rate but if you like the place, I would rent it regardless.

"Resort fee to our condo association"
That is hardly something you pay "per stay"; I can see not wanting to discount, but if there's a lot of competition, and someone just wants to walk away feeling like they got a bargain, what's the harm of, for example, cutting the cleaning fee, or taking 10% off? Especially if you have open time on the calendar. Makes for happy renters, repeat business, and word of mouth praise.
(How could staying "dark" possibly be cheaper than renting if you are paying most costs anyway, like mortgage, condo fees, on-call management, and electricity? No money vs. even $150/day for a nice place; seems like a no brainer!)

Sylvia3 -- You misunderstand. We pay a *per booking* resort fee to our condo association. We pay a *per booking* fee to the management agency we employ to provide keys and be 'on call'; more to them if they do maintenance for a guest. The agency fee is a flat rate in low season and a percentage in high season. Of course there's the cleaner *per booking*. 'Dark' = none of these fees.

Sometimes we can discount, to a point! Over 11 years, I've learned to shy away from *impossible* guests. They are the equivalent of the home buyer who fights for reductions up to the closing table -- and beyond. These people are never satisfied. They will not praise your condo. They will brag about the rate they paid. They will even claim to have paid less than they did!

As for the electric bill, if we don't rent to Mr.Impossible, who will run the A/C full blast 24/7, we don't have a $450 electric bill ('only' $85). There's no painting or plumbing bill to clean up after him either.

You are correct that owning and maintaining is expensive. We love to rent to nice people -- at fair rates. Sometimes there's a little give, but there IS a point at which we are ahead to be 'dark'. I really don't WANT the guest who wants a $500K condo for $99/night.

I rented a $1.5 million condo for $150 a night.

Thanks for the explanation, CHi: I guess I've dealt primarily with owners who run the whole business themselves, and have subbed out cleaners, etc. "Per booking fees": harsh!