Do people ever give discount on rates?

Hi. First post on the site.

We're expecting to spend about $350 per night for beachfront and have zeroed in on Watersound a couple of others. I understand owners have plenty of costs to cover, but I wanted to get some opinions. If so, what kind of discounts?

Thanks

What are the full-price nightly rates for those you've "zeroed in on?"

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It's way too early for discounts. The only discounts I offer at this point in time are for return guests. We will be booked up, so I don't need to discount.

BR is right, it's still too early for discounts. Once early March hits you'll see discounts and bargains. People are still reeling from the bills coming in from Christmas. You've got to give them time to book. If this is your first time enjoy and :welcome:, but next year you should be eligible for a return discount. If they (the owner or the rental company) don't offer you one move on to someone who will.

I will discount 10% if you'll agree to repaint my downstairs interior. I'll furnish the paint.

But seriously, we reserve discounts for friends, and repeaters. We'd love to offer you a discount in 2010 if you'll stay with us this year. www.vrbo.com/38467

What are the full-price nightly rates for those you've "zeroed in on?"

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Watersound Crossings = $2k for the week. 3br two floor unit.

Watersound Crossings = $2k for the week. 3br two floor unit.

For WaterSound and spring break that's not a bad deal at all.

For WaterSound and spring break that's not a bad deal at all.

I agree completely

Watersound Crossings = $2k for the week. 3br two floor unit.

The way I figure it, that's well below your $350 budget--if you like that unit and location, you may want to just book it now. If, however, you want to roll the dice, you'll have to wait a bit closer to Spring Break when the owners are starting to sweat bullets and put an offer on the table 2-3 weeks out (give them no more than 24 hours to accept or counter-offer).

I guarantee this economy isn't going to Spring back by Spring, and I think there will be plenty of inventory available for the choosing. But since you're satisfied with the location and it is within your price-range, you'll just have to weigh if there is value in getting it done now versus the possibility of saving a few bucks and ending up in a different location down the line.

Additionally, keep in mind that there might be a chance (slim as that might be) that the property you select way in advance of your visit might go into foreclosure--so think of a contingency plan should that happen.

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After spring break is over get ready to see some summer discounting. ;-)

Ok, thanks for the advice. We booked the unit. It came to a bit less than 350 per night after tax, an administrative fee (I'm still baffled by a $60 administrative fee - isn't that part of a rental agencies job?), cleaning fee.

Since this is our first trip to the area I'm not going to roll the dice, but I might on future trips once we get a better feel for the area.

I love this site. I think I have read almost every post. My wife thinks I'm nuts. Is there any way to block the pictures and smileys? I think my boss is getting suspicious.

Ok, thanks for the advice. We booked the unit. It came to a bit less than 350 per night after tax, an administrative fee (I'm still baffled by a $60 administrative fee - isn't that part of a rental agencies job?), cleaning fee.

Since this is our first trip to the area I'm not going to roll the dice, but I might on future trips once we get a better feel for the area.

I love this site. I think I have read almost every post. My wife thinks I'm nuts. Is there any way to block the pictures and smileys? I think my boss is getting suspicious.

Enjoy, I'm pretty sure you will. Does the unit include the beach club?

Take a half day while you're here and hit the rental companies for brochures and ideas for your next trip. You will be back.

Rivard
Garrett Rentals
Dale E. Peterson
WaterColor/WaterSound
Dune Allen

Those are the largest and most reputable in the area.

I think you can read the threads in "printer friendly" that will block all of the pictures and smileys.

Enjoy, I'm pretty sure you will. Does the unit include the beach club?

Take a half day while you're here and hit the rental companies for brochures and ideas for your next trip. You will be back.

Rivard
Garrett Rentals
Dale E. Peterson
WaterColor/WaterSound
Dune Allen

Those are the largest and most reputable in the area.

I think you can read the threads in "printer friendly" that will block all of the pictures and smileys.

It does include the Beach Club. Printer Friendly is perfect. Thanks.

Sounds like a great deal and what a beautiful place to stay. The Beach Club at Watersound is fabulous.

Be sure to drive down to Rosemary Beach to Wild Olives for some really good food especially the tuna salad.

Enjoy your trip and the planning. :wave:

We stayed at the same place, same realtor, never received a discount. In fact, when we wanted to change our rental for the 4th year - rent something bigger - we were charged a service fee and this was before January when very few people had begun booking for June. IF they had had that on their website, I would understand, but when I complained, they changed their website the next day. Obviously we have never returned to that rental agency. Disappointing. It was the principal of the thing🙂
Next agency was way too expensive where we did stay, but we did it once. Found other similar places with another agency that were half the price but they went out of business after we booked 2 vacations in the same house.
The lovely people at the current business have honored our 3 weeks worth of vacations planned. I appreciate that.
No one should be cut short whether it is the rental agency, owner, or vacation person - is that a word? I understand that the changing fees are common because alot of people may lose business with people backing out but if they already have their deposit and they back out close to vacation time - we were 9 months out....oh well🙂

Another time we arrived and found our place was next to a huge construction projection. They moved us to a smaller place but it was on the beach - a block closer and we ended up staying there two or three years. When the money runs out, we'll go back there.

We enjoy coming back to the same place each year. I don't think we could afford to buy where we would want to stay so you guys will continue to get our money🙂

Ellen

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

We stayed at the same place, same realtor, never received a discount. In fact, when we wanted to change our rental for the 4th year - rent something bigger - we were charged a service fee and this was before January when very few people had begun booking for June. IF they had had that on their website, I would understand, but when I complained, they changed their website the next day. Obviously we have never returned to that rental agency. Disappointing. It was the principal of the thing🙂
Next agency was way too expensive where we did stay, but we did it once. Found other similar places with another agency that were half the price but they went out of business after we booked 2 vacations in the same house.
The lovely people at the current business have honored our 3 weeks worth of vacations planned. I appreciate that.
No one should be cut short whether it is the rental agency, owner, or vacation person - is that a word? I understand that the changing fees are common because alot of people may lose business with people backing out but if they already have their deposit and they back out close to vacation time - we were 9 months out....oh well🙂

Another time we arrived and found our place was next to a huge construction projection. They moved us to a smaller place but it was on the beach - a block closer and we ended up staying there two or three years. When the money runs out, we'll go back there.

We enjoy coming back to the same place each year. I don't think we could afford to buy where we would want to stay so you guys will continue to get our money🙂

Ellen

I'm pretty sure I remember this and 9 months is stupid. If you can't re-rent that same time period in 9 months then the rental company is failing it's clients.

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

Brace yourselves, it's gonna be nothing to 90 in a 24 hour time period. Sounds like the perfect storm. :yikes:

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

See you on the 12th! 😀

Enjoy, I'm pretty sure you will. Does the unit include the beach club?

Take a half day while you're here and hit the rental companies for brochures and ideas for your next trip. You will be back.

Rivard
Garrett Rentals
Dale E. Peterson
WaterColor/WaterSound
Dune Allen

Those are the largest and most reputable in the area.

I think you can read the threads in "printer friendly" that will block all of the pictures and smileys.

And Beach Seekers. Beach Seekers ~ South Walton Rentals

One other point on Spring Break discounts -- I understand that our major markets are all having spring break on the same two weeks. I believe the normal 5 or 6 weeks of spring break are happening in two weeks and the rest will be really slow.

The two big weeks --

March 14-21
April 4-11

So, I would think it would be pointless to ask for a discount on either of those weeks, and owners might be smart to think about offering discounts for other weeks when we will not be seeing our traditional crowds.

So maybe we just shouldn't rent March 14-21. We'll be there the other week because it's my college spring break. 99% of the incredibly stupid damage at our home happens with spring break rentals. Even when it's families renting it. This is verified by my "spies" (sister, neighbors, etc.) who assure me that the renters are not just Mom's fronting for a house full of teenagers or college kids who aren't chaperoned.

We charge for pool heat because you can't keep renters from keeping the hot tub and pool on 102 degrees 24/7. One renter declined the charge for pool heat and then broke the lock off the pool heater and stole pool heat. I mean, if you are spending $4500 to rent a house, why would you steal pool heat? I guess that they didn't anticipate that we would arrive just after their checkout and discover the damage. This renter got charged $1000 for breaking the pool heater panel and for the gas that was used and not paid for. That was what it cost us.