looking for feedback on my rental price

[JenninVT]

I need to rent my reservation at VWL this Christmas, it's a two bedroom from Dec 17-23, and I'm pretty sure the resort is sold out, so I fugured this was probably pretty valuable to someone.
So, in my post, I asked for $12 per point. Is this totally out of line? Shoud I reduce my asking price? Does the confirmed reservation not add any value to the points?
I've never rented before (always used 'em up!) so I'd be interested in your opinions, thanks.

 

[wdw1972]

I'd see if you get a buyer, and if not, then consider lowering it. Christmas is a busy season, and $12 may be a bargain to someone out there - no point in you settling for less without even trying.

 

[PamOKW]

You can always try. However, I think a lot of people who rent are non-DVC folks. The dates you are offering are before the Christmas holiday break so there may not be as much demand.

 

[SlyHubby]

worst that can happen is that nobody will contact you and you'll have to lower the price after you've had it sitting/waiting long enough.

best that can happen is that someone will offer you what you want.

$12/point does seem high though - that's $3000.

 

[nuthut]

I have been getting $12.50 a point for years. It's a great price. Go for it, you can always come down or cancel the ressie.

 

[StevieD]

I think you should charge as much as the market will allow - rent them for the highest price you can get. Setting the price at some "standard" (like the typical $10 per point) without testing the market is, in my opinion, crazy. The only people that benefit from some artifically low price are potential renters. My impression from this board is that people tend to just rent for the $10/point without trying to get more. As Adam Smith said, let the invisible hand of the market set the price. Anything less and you are shortchanging yourself, and giving a gift to your buyer. Also, I believe we would all benefit if everyone starting reporting the price at which they rented the points - that way, we would all have a better idea of true market price, and we could see if there are differences (as one would expect) among the different DVC properties and for different times of the year.

 

[riggins]

Hi JenninVT-
We've rented points twice and once paid $9/pt and once $10/pt. When making the decision about what we'd pay, we weighed the rental against what we could get direct through Disney. The time we paid $10, it was peak Spring season and Disney wasn't offering any discounts. So, we thought $10 was a great bargain and quite frankly would have paid more. The time we paid $9, it was November value season and discount codes were available, so we wouldn't have paid more than the $9. You need to think about what your potential renters are comparing you to.

Someone checking in direct through Disney on 12/17 is in value season and would pay value season rates for the entire trip, even though the reservation extends into holiday season. So, direct through Disney would cost $535/night or $3745 for the 7 nights. There is also the possibility of a discount code coming out which tends to lower the price by 35-40%. If there is no discount, your reservation saves someone $745, but comes with the risks and inflexibility associated with using points rather than going direct through Disney.

I'd leave out there at that price for a few weeks and see if you get much interest. If not, you may have to lower the price. Also, keep an eye on Mousesavers.com to see if any discounts come out. If they do, you'll most certainly have to come down.

Good Luck!

 

[JenninVT]

Thanks everyone!
It's a good point about value season rates extending into the holiday season time, I'd forgotten about that.
I guess I'll just let it hang out there for a while to see what happens. Then, I'll reduce it, or I have a June use year, so I have all the way to Nov to bank them if I have to cancel. I'd rent the points for less at another time of year, I just thought this reservation was a high demand time.
I'll also call to make sure it really is sold out for cash or points for that size at that time.
I chose that time so that I coud take the immediate family before it got too crowded and then still spend the "actual" holiday at home with the extended family. But now I think everyone is going to be at my dad's place at orange lake the next week. I know, I'm making a sacrifice, going off site! but, majority rules this time... and I'll still get one more trip on my AP!

 

[CarolMN]

It may be value season, but the VWL are a very, very popular place to stay in early December - awesome Holiday decorations and convenient for attending MVMCP.

If the resort isn't already fully booked for that time, I'd be willing to bet there are only a few rooms left (and that means few, if any discounted villas are still available). $12/point compares favorably to rack rates even in value season. If it were me, I'd wait until at least mid-October before considering a lower price. Good luck!