joesorce

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.

rascat

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!

november_moon

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.

joebear

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.

rncheryl

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.

Wiffle

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.

christy1

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.

portiaperu

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!

sylvia3

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

jeanned

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.

NeoPatrick

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.

PeaceOut

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...na/sea-village

sylvia3

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?

charnees

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.

ChiSue

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!

cjon

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.

sylvia3

"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!)

ChiSue

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.

Lookin_Glass

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

sylvia3

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!