greenban Poll: Do you rent DVC points

[ZachnElli]

I voted other. I rented this year because of a family situation. We had a big vacation planned that I had banked and borrowed for, but had to cancel. Banked as many as I could and I rented out the rest. I never planned to rent out, but I'm glad that the option is there.

 

[crisi]

I suspect that as long as DVC doesn't require an owner to occupy the ressie, there will always be owners wanting to sell it to others.

And one of the reasons I'm glad "rentals" are available. I don't always want to be the one using my DVC points - and if my sister or friends use my points, I don't need it to be a hassle or impossible. Disney can't tell if its a guest or a renter.

 

[chris1gill]

I voted for "I wish it wasn't allowed" ONLY because I think there is a tendency on this board to assume renting is the solution to all problems. Every time a poster comes on and says, "I can't afford this and need to sell" they get recommendations for "Rent", like that is the solution to all evils.

The rent advocates make it out to be just this easy process when it can be a real hassle!

My only real gripe is with the occasional "sob story", you know... "I need the points for my dying great Aunt Alice who I don't really like so I won't give her MY points, but can't you give me points for $5 (which I can then re-rent for $12)" The abuse has made me certain that if I ever do rent I will probably have to do a background check LOL!

I totally agree with CarolA, I've come to the point where I realize we have too many points at this time in our lives, and am so adverse to the idea of renting our points to support this idea of providing cheap Disney rentals... I'm so adverse to the idea that I've sold and am selling some of our points, whereas in the past I would have rented the extra points... I know sometime in the future we will need more points again & perhaps we will buy some of them back when the time comes... in the meantime, I won't aide in the support of this cheap disney mentality... I'm still glad to be a member, but we'll be members with fewer points.... I hope the people we sell to will use the points and not rent them!

 

[goalie5hole]

Yes I rent because I'm going back to school and I won't be able to use all of them before they expire.And it doesn't bother me that other people do.I only want to go to WDW on days that end in "Y"

 

[DBBN]

For us it's a combination of "I have only rented to keep from losing points", "I rent regularily" and "I rent for profit".

We like greenban are planning extended stays at WDW. In our case it will be at OKW in a 1 bedroom villa from early December through late March. This was our intent when we purchased our first master contract at the "Disney Vacation Club", Conch Flats, Florida, Population "Friendly", Elevation "+98Ft." way back in 1995. The resort now known as OKW.

The idea all along was to purchase add-ons as our finances allowed (read this to mean without borrowing any money) with an eventual goal of 3000 points. Our point total is now at 1675 all at OKW and we simply can't use this many points ourselves. So we "rent regularly", "for profit", "to keep from losing points" and we'll continue to do so until we use all our points for our own stays when we retire in January 2008.

We rent exclusively from the Rent Trade Board and I couldn't be happier with the results (thank you Pete Werner). I actually enjoy managing our rentals and find it extremely easy to do so. Our current price for first time renters is $12.00 firm and I'll likely raise the price to $13.00 firm for our remaining 2007 points. We offer a discount and greatly relaxed rental terms to return renters. I've never had payment issues or bad renters. Of 19 rentals I've had only one cancellation and 100% of their deposit and final payment were refunded to them and I was very happy to return their funds. Yes, there is some time involved when properly managing each rental but I've been able to keep the time necessary to a minimum by slowly increasing my minimum rental for first time renters to the current 300 point minimum. I put the minimum in place primarily because it takes me no more time to manage a 600 point rental than it does to manage a 40 point rental. Further I believe a renter sending me upwards of $7000 will take my terms and my rental agreement more seriously than a renter sending me $500. There is no minimum rental for return renters.

I mean, I don't rent my points, but I'm glad we can if I find myself in a bad situation...but I think is it wrong to be a "commercial" renter, and commercial renters have (IMO) a negative impact on the DVC program overall, as they routinely rent weekdays only, or make ressies for popular weeks with the sole intention of renting.

I'm uncertain whether you would consider me a commercial renter or not. Since June 2003, I've rented 5371 points and for our personal stays we've used another 5090. Since 1995 we've enjoyed stays at all the DVC resorts, except for HH for a combined total of over 180 nights, over 40 memorable vacations. I don't for one minute consider myself a commercial renter nor do I believe my activity leaves a negative impact on the DVC program. I do not book prime weeks intending to rent them. Here are a few statistics concerning weekday vs weekend rentals. Only 31.5% of my rentals had no weekend nights by comparison 98% of our personal stays had no weekend nights. 52.6% of my rentals had 2 or more weekend nights by comparison 0% (absolutely none) of our personal stays had 2 or more weekend nights. (I concede my high first time rental minimum all but requires at least 1 weekend night).

I don't understand why renting only weekdays would be viewed as having a negative impact on the program. Would my pattern of not using points for weekend nights be considered as having a negative impact on the DVC program as well? Is it as simple as owners can do it but renters can't? I'll note I make no distinction between points that are used by the owner or points that are used by a renter or even points that are used by our family as each has the same effect on the program and availability. When a room is occupied I doesn't matter to me who is in it.

I'm not trying to start a debate...I am trying to undersand some of the negative points of view regarding renting, renters and owners who rent. From my point of view it really is none of my business what you or others do with their points.

As another observation it's my opinion that renting, renters and owners who rent their points now have a better image here on the Dis than they had just a few years ago. It appears renting is more accepted now than ever. I recall several threads from a few years ago that were as ugly as I have ever seen here on these boards, they were loaded with personal attacks. As of this post only 16.36% of respondents voted "No I do not, and I wish it wasn't allowed"! I suspect this same poll 3 years ago would have yielded many more votes wishing renting wasn't allowed and I suspect this same poll taken 3 years from now would result in many fewer votes from owners wishing renting wasn't allowed.

I love DVC and all the flexibility it affords us...without all this flexibility we wouldn't be owners.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

i'm working on my second try at renting. what i wish is that DVC had an exchange policy whereby you could deposit points in exchange for reducing or eliminating your maintenance fees.

The other thing is that right now at $10 per point it seems like rentals are well underpriced what the market will bear. No wonder people have taken to grabbing desirable weeks and renting them out rather than just renting points.

 

[fkj2]

I've rented points out in the past because at the time, I didn't have the flexibility to travel often while I was caring for my mom. Plus, the money I got from renting surely helped with the bills since I had stopped working for a while.

I don't think an "owner-occupancy" only policy would work. There have been times when I've sent someone down on my points and I couldn't have gone. And I don't think it's DVC's place to have to police who's actually staying in the accommodation. MS has enough to do. Additionally, DVCers own their interest, and if they want to rent out the points, I don't think anyone should tell them they can't. Having said that, it is inappropriate for some to block the most desirable seasons with the express intent to rent out the time, causing members to be unable to schedule their vacations.

 

[patsal]

I voted other, I guess I'm glad you have the option to rent if the need arises, but I am withthe "never have enough points" group!

 

[nono]

As someone who was points deficit earlier this year, I'm sure glad renting/transferring is allowed. I've not been a rentor, but indeed a rentee.

 

[wdwacko]

I rent points, but I really don't like to do it. It just means that I couldn't afford a WDW vacation this year. Renting the points helps offset some of our personal expenses.

 

[dumbo71]

I voted that I rent regularly. In my case I rent a couple of weeks per year through Ebay. I book a couple of peak weeks (actaully 6 days with only one weekend night) and list it on Ebay. I've had tremendous success going this route as opposed to renting elsewhere. I've averaged around $15/pp for a net return of around $10/pp.

I like the changes at MS. It has always frosted me that renters can check accounts they don't own, even if it is only a ressie check. Seemed like a privacy violation in my mind.

 

[champagne27]

I voted that I only rented once - if you count a transfer to another DVC member renting 8 extra points I had. I would do it again if I had extra points or if there was ever a year that we needed to in order to cover expenses.

 

[Alexander]

Tough to select a choice! I've only rented out my points once. I did an add on and they gave me the equivalent of the points I bought and didn't plan on using them, so we rented them to help pay for the purchase we just made. I am in the process of transferring some points to pay for some cash nights. I rented points 3 or 4 times before we became members ourselves, but never from Rinkwide.

 

[JimMIA]

I rented points 3 or 4 times before we became members ourselves, but never from Rinkwide.

Then you missed an experience that you would never forget!

If you don't believe me, ask the Pleco's!

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have rented to others, and several others have rented to me I am not going to apologize for that, because I enjoy it!

At least, now I know why I'm losing my eyesight!

 

[JimC]

The only problem is, I think people see a big distinction between those that rent routinely but seldom (if ever) use their DVC points for their own stays and the people who usually use points at Disney to stay, but may have a family situation or other problem that makes it necessary to rent points rarely. And, truthfully, I don't know of a way to state that easiliy in a poll. Just as Disney has vague language in our contracts about renting...the distinction is there, but subjective.

I mean, I don't rent my points, but I'm glad we can if I find myself in a bad situation....

I generally agree with this

I have put a great deal of thought and discussion into renting and the types of contract language that might make sense, but I have yet to find myself with surplus points. That day may come and having an active rental/transfer market is a bonus in my view.

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

I'm not trying to start a debate...I am trying to undersand some of the negative points of view regarding renting, renters and owners who rent. From my point of view it really is none of my business what you or others do with their points.

I love DVC and all the flexibility it affords us...without all this flexibility we wouldn't be owners.

I agree with all you said and I find your stats quite interesting. People buy X number of points and are entitled to occupy DVC as far as their points will take them whether it's because you rented the points, gifted it to family or friends or used them for yourself. I keep feeling like I should care about it more and I can't come up with a reason why I would care.

The only time I think it should concern owners is when someone reserves a hard to get week simply to rent and an owner then can't get the reservation they need. That stinks. But, overall, when I'm in Disney, I have no idea who is an owner, who is a renter, who is family or friend of an owner, or who rented from Disney. It's not like any of us can say that loud obnoxious guy in the pool who reserved his empty chair all day with the towel is clearly the renter.
I've rented so we could bring friends. I'm glad it was an option.

 

[rinkwide]

...It's not like any of us can say that loud obnoxious guy in the pool who reserved his empty chair all day with the towel is clearly the renter...

But it's safe to say that the loud obnoxious guy in the pool who reserved his empty chair all day with a Member's Only jacket is clearly an owner.

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

But it's safe to say that the loud obnoxious guy in the pool who reserved his empty chair all day with a Member's Only jacket is clearly an owner.

Clearly the owner.

 

[greenban]

WOW:

And I thought I was alone. I have yet to read the follow up posts/flames, but first let me tell you DBBN how much I respect your open honesty. Yes itcomes with risks here on the boards, but it takes class and courage to be that open and I salute you!

I'm sure many would consider us Commercial Renters, while we still use many of our points directly for ourselves, and have a Disney 'retirement' goal!

Until this year, with a monster resale with mega banked points, I had never made a spec ressie (High travel time). But I had 2,000 BANKED points to protect, so I did (all at OKW BTW).

To me being a part of the community here is more important than renting on eBay. (I can, I just haven't), or grabbing up 2 Bedrooms OKW for the first wek in December. I don't and I hope that keeps me part of the DIS-DVC community in some members eyes, as that really matters to me.

From PMs, I know that several consider me the devil's spawn. That also doesn't bother me, I enjot the hate PMs, They're better than no PMs!

Cheers!

-Tony

For us it's a combination of "I have only rented to keep from losing points", "I rent regularily" and "I rent for profit".

We like greenban are planning extended stays at WDW. In our case it will be at OKW in a 1 bedroom villa from early December through late March. This was our intent when we purchased our first master contract at the "Disney Vacation Club", Conch Flats, Florida, Population "Friendly", Elevation "+98Ft." way back in 1995. The resort now known as OKW.

The idea all along was to purchase add-ons as our finances allowed (read this to mean without borrowing any money) with an eventual goal of 3000 points. Our point total is now at 1675 all at OKW and we simply can't use this many points ourselves. So we "rent regularly", "for profit", "to keep from losing points" and we'll continue to do so until we use all our points for our own stays when we retire in January 2008.

We rent exclusively from the Rent Trade Board and I couldn't be happier with the results (thank you Pete Werner). I actually enjoy managing our rentals and find it extremely easy to do so. Our current price for first time renters is $12.00 firm and I'll likely raise the price to $13.00 firm for our remaining 2007 points. We offer a discount and greatly relaxed rental terms to return renters. I've never had payment issues or bad renters. Of 19 rentals I've had only one cancellation and 100% of their deposit and final payment were refunded to them and I was very happy to return their funds. Yes, there is some time involved when properly managing each rental but I've been able to keep the time necessary to a minimum by slowly increasing my minimum rental for first time renters to the current 300 point minimum. I put the minimum in place primarily because it takes me no more time to manage a 600 point rental than it does to manage a 40 point rental. Further I believe a renter sending me upwards of $7000 will take my terms and my rental agreement more seriously than a renter sending me $500. There is no minimum rental for return renters.



I'm uncertain whether you would consider me a commercial renter or not. Since June 2003, I've rented 5371 points and for our personal stays we've used another 5090. Since 1995 we've enjoyed stays at all the DVC resorts, except for HH for a combined total of over 180 nights, over 40 memorable vacations. I don't for one minute consider myself a commercial renter nor do I believe my activity leaves a negative impact on the DVC program. I do not book prime weeks intending to rent them. Here are a few statistics concerning weekday vs weekend rentals. Only 31.5% of my rentals had no weekend nights by comparison 98% of our personal stays had no weekend nights. 52.6% of my rentals had 2 or more weekend nights by comparison 0% (absolutely none) of our personal stays had 2 or more weekend nights. (I concede my high first time rental minimum all but requires at least 1 weekend night).

I don't understand why renting only weekdays would be viewed as having a negative impact on the program. Would my pattern of not using points for weekend nights be considered as having a negative impact on the DVC program as well? Is it as simple as owners can do it but renters can't? I'll note I make no distinction between points that are used by the owner or points that are used by a renter or even points that are used by our family as each has the same effect on the program and availability. When a room is occupied I doesn't matter to me who is in it.

I'm not trying to start a debate...I am trying to undersand some of the negative points of view regarding renting, renters and owners who rent. From my point of view it really is none of my business what you or others do with their points.

As another observation it's my opinion that renting, renters and owners who rent their points now have a better image here on the Dis than they had just a few years ago. It appears renting is more accepted now than ever. I recall several threads from a few years ago that were as ugly as I have ever seen here on these boards, they were loaded with personal attacks. As of this post only 16.36% of respondents voted "No I do not, and I wish it wasn't allowed"! I suspect this same poll 3 years ago would have yielded many more votes wishing renting wasn't allowed and I suspect this same poll taken 3 years from now would result in many fewer votes from owners wishing renting wasn't allowed.

I love DVC and all the flexibility it affords us...without all this flexibility we wouldn't be owners.