What is the norm, when taking a booking?

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charliechoice
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What is the norm, when taking a booking?

Post by charliechoice »

I have decided to rent out our 1 bed apartment without the use of an agent for this coming season. Could someone please inform me what percentage of the total booking I should ask for
when taking a deposit, and how many weeks prior to the actual booked dates should I ask for the remaining balance?

Many thanks Phil.
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Alan Knighting
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Re: What is the norm, when taking a booking?

Post by Alan Knighting »

charliechoice wrote:I have decided to rent out our 1 bed apartment without the use of an agent for this coming season. Could someone please inform me what percentage of the total booking I should ask for
when taking a deposit, and how many weeks prior to the actual booked dates should I ask for the remaining balance?

Many thanks Phil.
I ask for a deposit of 25% on booking and payment of the balance six weeks before the event.

Fluffy
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Mountain Goat
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Post by Mountain Goat »

We're about the same: 20% and 8 weeks.

MG
Hells Bells
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Post by Hells Bells »

Same as Alan.
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enid
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Post by enid »

Same as MG - this is my first season asking for payment 8 weeks ahead - I used to say 4 but am following advice from this site.
la vache!
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Post by la vache! »

Same as Alan (except French guests who pay the balance on arrival).
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Overboard
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Post by Overboard »

30% and 8 weeks.
LaLuz
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Post by LaLuz »

25% and 8 weeks
janskov
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Post by janskov »

20% and 30 days. (Croatia)
A-two
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Post by A-two »

50% and 45 days
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Mouse
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Post by Mouse »

50% and 5 weeks

but I would advise checking around your area to see what others do. Good luck!

Mouse
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Paul Carmel
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Post by Paul Carmel »

25% and 8 weeks........even for the French
Cheers
PC
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Mountain Goat
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Post by Mountain Goat »

Just to add to my post above, 20% or 25% is neither nor there, but I do think there's a difference between 6 and 8 weeks.

I find 8 weeks drifts to 6 weeks (they're away on business, another holiday, their dog's got flu, they forgot, kids' hamster funeral delayed family routine, email reminder went into their spam filter etc.), and I'm sure 6 weeks would ease to 4, and that's too short to find another punter with any certainty.

So, we should be stricter I guess.

I rather like Joanna's scary no-nonsense 50% - high enough so they don't change their mind, and also not a disaster for us if the whole deal collapses and another punter doesn't appear on the horizon; not brave enough to try it just yet, though.

MG
Last edited by Mountain Goat on Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hells Bells
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Post by Hells Bells »

MG, my final invoice now states that the dates will be released back onto the booking calendar if the balance is not received by the due date. I haven't had to do so yet.
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