Short Horizon Rentals

[crisi]

I don't pay a lot of attention over on rent/trade. I don't have points to rent, and I currently don't need to rent points. But once in a while I peek. And something I have noticed is that there are always a lot of people looking for rooms on a fairly short horizon (right now, April seems to be popular) at specific resorts (right now, BWV or BCV seems popular) and midweek.

Do these people have any luck? I don't know if I'd want to bother member services with a call for a renter for two and a half months from now for a resort that had a slim chance of having availability.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have wondered that same thing, Crisi! I can't imagine there would be much available on such short notice unless it might be with those foks who snatch up prime times specifically to rent out.

 

[jaysue]

Good points - any supply that would be available for rent would be because of trips no longer needed and people still ahead of bank deadlines or people who have specific slots book for rental

For example there is one BCV 2BR Mar 5-10 on E-Bay that works out to $17 pp

Cheers
jaysue

 

[mikesmom]

I expect that those are requests from people who just aren't familiar with DVC. You are also seeing requests for Standard View over spring break or in December (which we know aren't available), or "best price" price or "market rate" during December or at BWV or BCV during the Food & Wine Fest (when a member would have to be silly or desperate to sell cheap as there is such high demand). You also see most of the replies from people with very few posts. I suspect they also aren't familiar enough to know they won't find ressies readily available at those times.

 

[RobDoc]

Unlike most DVC members who make their reservations 6+ months in advance, many making cash reservations do wait until the last 90 days to reserve their Disney trips. They begin their "research" at that time and thru places like our Budget Board and other websites, discover the Rent/Trade Board without any understanding of what DVC even is, let alone the issues of availability at DVC resorts at busy times of the year (like Spring Break, early December, F&W, etc.).

As a result, we do sometimes find a glut of requests for rentals in the very near future and most expect to still find a bargain for their stay (since that what was suggested by whomever referred them here).

I think there are many of the current requests that will go unanswered/unfilled simply because of the limited availability within the next 90 days.

 

[crisi]

Doc, since I think you sort of watch that board, does anyone express dissatisfaction with the process? Are these people posting once, maybe bumping a few times, and then disappearing into the woodwork? Just curious. I'm also a little curious about the outcomes to the "I sent you a pm" posts that occationally follow these requests - I suspect that they are either from members almost as clueless as the requestor, or they are from members who are proposing "well, I doubt you can get a standard view at BWVs for that time period this close out, but I can check....what else are you willing to accept?"

 

[RobDoc]

I think many of the renters never find the short notice bargains they are looking for. Some of the "I sent a PM" notes are definitely made by members who don't have a feel for availability, but want to have some assurance before even calling to check. Other PMs are sent by members who have already made reservations for their rental "business" and choose to contact the renters directly rather than even bother to post availability on the board itself. It is interesting the number of members who have mulitple existing reservations to peddle in this fashion- some already have reservations made for December they have already offered (and had removed) and others are just waiting until June (or later) to offer these prime dates.

We've had very few (almost none) reports of dissatisfaction since most renters are looking for bargains and understand that these bargains are not always readily available. Some members have expressed concerns about the amount of work involved to rent their points since often they get the requested information and the renter never follows thru.

Based on the many PMs and emails I receive all the time, the vast majority are very pleased with the results they have gotten thru the Rent/Trade Board. Most renters have been able to find great deals on DVC accommodations (especially compared to rack-rates) and many have gone on to become members themselves. Just like DVC members, the renters who have been able to plan 6+ months ahead have had great success finding just what they want.

The dynamics seem to have changed a little over the years and there are presently a lot more requests ... and offers than ever. More and more are discovering The DVC "secret".