We have a 1bdr/1ba condo. It rented very well last summer. This summer our mgmt company hasn't booked a single week yet. It's not just our unit, but the others they manage in the same complex also have no rentals so far. I have booked 3 weeks using VRBO, but that is still terrible. Usually I have May & June and most of July fully booked by now. Are others dealing with the same situation? I am tempted to switch mgmt companies, but considering that my VRBO inquiries are down as well I am wondering if this is just a slow year?
Spring Summer Rentals - are they slow for others
- Thread starter CTJake
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We have seen a steady increase in our bookings since we began renting in May 2003. This summer our 2/2.5 in WaterColor is, at last check, almost completely booked.
I don't have a rental or any numbers but have heard a lot of good news from others. We've had a strong Spring and expect Summer to be full up.
It may not be your management co., or your location, or it could be one or both. It would be unusual for your bookings to be down from last year, if all other things are the same. One thing that isn't the same is there is more competition every year.
Care to post your vrbo link?
It may not be your management co., or your location, or it could be one or both. It would be unusual for your bookings to be down from last year, if all other things are the same. One thing that isn't the same is there is more competition every year.
Care to post your vrbo link?
Our numbers seem good for this year. We've currently booked 19 weeks and 3 months (jan, feb & oct), plus 1 month for next year. Although we had 3 weeks open in April that we thought should have booked. We're not listed with VRBO, but overall the number of inquiries we've received this year has been smaller than the last two years.
Parents say that their place in Miramar Beach is fully booked through mid-August. They're now threatening that if they come down during the summer, they'll be staying at my house. 
(I love them dearly, but we really get along best when everyone's got their own space)
(I love them dearly, but we really get along best when everyone's got their own space)
Has there been an increase in price? Sometimes that is a factor.
Our house is fully booked starting next week, until mid August. Our Spring had about 3 weeks rented. This is pretty typical for us, but it seemed like it booked out earlier than normal for the summer. The number of VRBO emails have been lower than in the past. We found that the number of rented weeks increased when we changed to our current management company a year and a half ago. We have increased our prices slightly every year for the last 5 years.
We have two cottages side by side. One is fully booked except one week in the summer (and was booked probably 3/4 of the spring). The other, though it's very similar, is about half full for the summer and was probably 1/2 booked this spring. It always books a bit slower than the other, but usually gets booked. It's interesting because the cottages are very similar except for the decor/colors. So, I'm assuming I need to brighten up the colors in the cottage that rents more slowly because the brighter colors show up more on the VRBO photos. I, too, get a bit nervous this time of year if the cottages aren't fully booked yet.
I think some vacationers feel there are a lot of places available so they feel like they can book closer to the season. In part, that's certainly true with the building that has been going on. The only risk with that is that they'll have less choice in terms of size, cost, location. But for many people that doesn't matter because they're at the beach and any place (within reason) is nice at the beach. But if it rains and people have to stay inside for a while, it's great to have a nice place.
Good luck on your rentals, CTJake.
I think some vacationers feel there are a lot of places available so they feel like they can book closer to the season. In part, that's certainly true with the building that has been going on. The only risk with that is that they'll have less choice in terms of size, cost, location. But for many people that doesn't matter because they're at the beach and any place (within reason) is nice at the beach. But if it rains and people have to stay inside for a while, it's great to have a nice place.
Good luck on your rentals, CTJake.
Our larger houses are booked fully, although in previous years they were fully booked 2-3 months earlier. Our smaller house has a couple open summer weeks, which is not normal. In talking to other homeowners with similiar size houses, they are experiencing the same slow down . The odd thing is August. We have always had a hard time booking deep into August. This year we actually had more August rentals than we ever have had. My guess is that more visitors are coming from the midwest where school start later in August.
In reviewing many VRBO listings, I have noticed there are a lot more smaller homes in some of the newest (shall be nameless) developments on the west end of 30-A. Additionally, some of the homeowners in these developments are not necessarily being totally honest by "not" posting that the beach access is a shuttle bus ride(10am-4pm), a car drive, or an illegal golf cart ride away. I am sure there will be some unhappy renters when they get to the beach when thought they were getting a good deal.
Any how. Good luck in getting your place rented. I am sure you will be fine.
In reviewing many VRBO listings, I have noticed there are a lot more smaller homes in some of the newest (shall be nameless) developments on the west end of 30-A. Additionally, some of the homeowners in these developments are not necessarily being totally honest by "not" posting that the beach access is a shuttle bus ride(10am-4pm), a car drive, or an illegal golf cart ride away. I am sure there will be some unhappy renters when they get to the beach when thought they were getting a good deal.
Any how. Good luck in getting your place rented. I am sure you will be fine.
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RBP: Yes, every now and then I notice something untrue on VRBO (e.g., ocean view which is pretty darn minimal, access to Camp Creek Golf course which you can't have unless you live in a St. Joe property, photos of beach paths that are actually quite a bit away from the property, etc.). The best kind of marketing isn't VRBO or a management company, but it's return guests and word of mouth advertising from happy guests -- so, as you know, it always pays to be honest and to take very good care of guests. Our goal would be to have at least 50% return guests and guests who learned about the cottages from friends within 5 years if not sooner (it's about 20 - 25% now I think).
Winter guests seem to be picking up. Last year we had a 2 month rental in the winter and this year we have a two month winter rental already. The fishing is supposed to be great around 30A in the winter.
Winter guests seem to be picking up. Last year we had a 2 month rental in the winter and this year we have a two month winter rental already. The fishing is supposed to be great around 30A in the winter.