Clarification

[Minnie]

I am new to condo rentals and listing so I need some expert opinion on something.

If you read a listing for a condo rental and it simply stated:
Winter: as low as $ 95/night and nothing else, would you know that meant that was the rate if booked weekly and the rate per night without a weekly rental would be more.

Most I have looked at stated the nightly rental and then the weekly rental also.

When I asked the owner about it, they acted like the fact that would be a weekly rate was obvious.

 

[dunelover]

No, it wouldn't be obvious to me. I would assume, that 95 would be the lowest possible rate and that it might require a longer stay. I get frustrated w/ those that show just a little info, and usually pass on them. I don't like those "marketing gimmics"

 

[Matt J]

I agree with DL, if you need and interpreter or code ring to figure out a rate move on, god only knows what your really renting and how small that "perfect gulf view" really is. If they're playing games like that up front, imagine what they're gonna do with you deposit.

 

[Minnie]

Thank you so much. I am a novice at this but I do try to reason things out. And I read these listings and it will have a "catch your eye" price on the listing but then it seems that is not truly what they are asking.

I would be willing to pay more, and as you will probably end up paying a little more to by pass those with the gimics.

 

[spinDrAtl]

I would add that some sites, like vrbo.com, require owners to put in 'Rates from...' information - could be nightly, weekly, etc. On vrbo, that information is listed in a results list once you select a city or property complex/area. With many properties, depending on season, these starting rates might not apply to anything but off season. However, once you select a property, there is ample room for the owner to specify detailed rate information.

 

[seacrestkristi]

Most folks list theirs before taxes and maid fee to at least remain competitive in the search part of the site. It's like the site takes your cheapest rate and divides it by 7 for you sometimes. Some people do charge a little more nightly. I had to set up an Excel spread sheet to figure out the 11% taxes and keep them straight. Hubba's teachin' me. Not that I even rent that much becaise it's across the street without a pool. We it though. We're ecstatic just to be able to walk across. I wish I could just quote folks a flat easy, even round number, all the time, but taxes have to be calculated. Even the maid fee has to be taxed according to law. ;-) The maid charges the same whether it's a 3 day or 1 week rental too. How one figures that in can affect that nightly rate probably too in some cases.
One thing I'm curious about is what exactly to call your view if you can only see the gulf from across the street yet that is still way closer than 1/4 a mile, which I would call walking distance? I tell folks you can only see the gulf on th horizon through the gulf front buildings. Lovely description, huh? You have to check boxes on the sites saying specifically, oceanfront, oceanview, walking distance, etc. I checked oceanview but explain further in my ad it is a very 'limited gulfview'. Do you like the page I created on godaddy? Any suggestions other than to move across the street and get a pool ;-) ? I think it's a grayt bargain for small families. www.seacrestinsouthwalton.com. Do the pix need to be larger? Should I paint some more colors in the townhouse? I would to change flooring, lighting, paint, etc., but it is all fine and clean and I have to get some more dough first. Paint is very affordable though. It certainly doesn't make a profit. Maybe I should lower my rate even more? Unfortunately, our HOA voted no pets for renters. I've got to beg, I mean encourage the vote, at the next meeting. A lot of folks want to bring their furry babies on vacation. Then there's the pickin' up poo issue. :roll: Just do it... right ya'll? No one wants to step in it or see it on the bike path or their yard or esp the beach. Wheweee!

I better go get busy. I talked way too much...again.

 

[ShallowsNole]

No, Kristi dear, you didn't talk too much. All of those things go into setting a fair, competitive rental rate.

P.S. Trust me that setting a nice, round all-inclusive rate actually turns out to be harder than calculating everything "on top." It's easier when working with guests, but not when you work with the rest of us. ;-)

 

[Minnie]

However, once you select a property, there is ample room for the owner to specify detailed rate information

That was the part I was questioning. I understand the results list; for say a specific area would probably only include the "rates from" info but when I clicked on the listing the only info was the price, no weekly info or otherwise. Possibly the owner is new to listing and did not realize this was misleading and I can certainly email and ask, but i thought maybe I was missing something, that I was suppose to know.

I know the tax rate and cleaning are added to that, but I guess I like the listings with daily, weekly and monthly.