Discounts for a longer term stay - keep your nerve, or save in?

[Ros0]

Hi

Currently fielding an enquiry with a well reviewed potential guest who wants a pretty long term stay, and I like to think I have learned from some of my previous naivities!

1) I have set my discounts for week and month - they have not suggested cash but have asked for a reduction from those discounts so I have gone back with a couple of amendments - waiting to hear from them

2) There is a big difference with a longer term stay obviously. I will have to move stuff out from the spare room to give them more of a work area - happy to do that, but that stuff has to go somewhere!

3) They wanted more pictures - so have taken some of the wardrobe and the kitchen - think that is reasonable - shying away from things like my office and the driveway - mainly because the office is not a shared area - happy to be flexible if they need to work somewhere and downstairs in the dining area will be out of whack for three days while the new roof is being put on the conservatory. Also the driveway will pinpoint the actual location which I think is a little dangerous without a confirmed booking.

4) I am sill comparatively new - and have had a couple of disappointments -a long termer who never confirmed, someone who wanted me to pick him up from hospital where he was having surgery the day before (!) and someone who wanted to pay cash. I don't want to lose someone by being too rigid on costs, but I am offering a hefty discount on top of the existing discount and at the end of the day they will be living here for several months so really I think I need to stay firm.

Being unrealistic, or reasonable?

Cheers in advance.

[Mauricio32]

Molly: I am new on this. I listed my property in Costa RIca but I do not know how to set up discounts for different staying period and also how to set the price if they just want to rent one room, 2 or 3. Any advise will be highly appreciated.

Mauricio

[Beatrice60]

I had someone ask me for "all summer" at my place. Based on some of the communication (such as their dates were vague;saying this would be a "win/win", etc.) someone told me that they were probably going to sublet it. They rent it cheap from you, and then treat it as a weekly rental and make all the profit themselves. Obviously this is not always the case, but I just want to warn you to be careful.

[David126]

Actually I prefer not to have longer stays, so do not discount, only you know what makes sense for you financially.

[Tegan0]

Ros, suggest to the person that while you are certainly happy to consider a longer term, it's best to start with a shorter period and then continue on from there.  If they book for the 1 week and the longer booking also. if you don't gel well together after the first week, then all good and well.  You may find you like the person and you are happy to have them stay for the longer term.  At which point, have them continue with the booking, or ask them to cancel, or cancel the booking after the first week.

[Elaine-and-Duane0]

@Ros0
As already mentioned, do what is best for you. We have a 20-25% discount for long term. I recently had a guest request an additional discount. I did not agree to that. I told guest that there were cheaper options and I understood if this wasn't a good fit. When I was a brand new host, I did give extra discounts but I have come to understand that I give very good value for my prices and I stick with the discounts I have. No regrets!

[Ros0]

Elaine & Duane and Tegan above

Yep absolutely agree. Tegan - I did exactly that and offered two weeks (weekly discount price) to see if it worked out for both of us and they agreed that was a good step, so that was a good start.

The price was the sticking point so I have looked at long term lets on another site and I think what I have offered is a good alternative, especially as you say given the area, the proximity to where they want to work over that time, and the facilities on offer.

@Beatrice0- I am living here save for a few periods when I am away covering tournaments, so they won't be able to sublet the place, and I did say (in response to queries about seeing the storage available) that the room was just a spare room being let out and not a dedicated guest room for a long term let - I can move stuff out but within reason!

I particularly like the line that Elaine and Duane used about there being cheaper options and that I understand if this is not a good fit - I think that states my aim politely but firmly so I will shamelessly borrow that should they push for a bigger discount.

[Helen3]

Hello Ros

I agree if you want to do longer term lets, particularly, if it means some disruption for you. Then stick to your guns. You live in an expensive area and being in Richmond is so convenient for the shops, cafe's, river and public transport.

Explain your rate has already been discounted for longer lets and provides great value for the area. If the guest is looking for something cheaper they are welcome to explore options on AirBnB and elsewhere but might need to look at cheaper areas nearby.

If the guest is coming for work either their company will pay for it or if they are self employed they can claim the cost against taxes. Either way they won't be paying the full rate or may not be paying it at all.

Personally I would set up a desk in their room rather than your dining room or you will find your guest pays for one room but takes over two.

Being a good fit for you personally is so important for longer stays. Do make sure all communication is through BnB - don't be tempted to move to phone and email. You talk about additional photos - how are you sharing these with your guest - hopefully by uploading them in your listing?

Also make sure you review your guest rules so everything from use of your kitchen (ie guests can use the kitchen from 08.00-8.30 for breakfast and 6.00 - 7.00 for supper) to how often they use the washing machine, whether they can invite guests over etc is covered. You can always be more flexible when you get to know them.

Best of Luck

Helen

Personally I don't take people who ask for discounts (unless I am super confident about all other aspects).