Renting Marriott

[hcarman]

Anyone having any luck renting their extra Marriott time recently? We used Vacation Candy in the past and they were pretty good and things seemed to rent in a reasonable period of time. However, the past few years we haven't even had any inquiries using them. We ask fair pricing and it just seems like they aren't getting the interest they used to. We have tried Koala as well and never had any luck. We sometimes use Redweek but then we are out the listing fees if it doesn't rent. Just curious what others are finding these days.

 

[cgards]

If you're on Facebook join some of the MVC groups that allow rental posts and try there. I have had very good success on FB before having to turn to Redweek, which is always my second choice. The key is to price your week VERY reasonably. Don't be greedy. There's a ton of competition out there for rentals especially since sales started pushing renting as a reason to buy more points (that's NOT a good reason to buy more points).

 

[DanCali]

Anyone having any luck renting their extra Marriott time recently? We used Vacation Candy in the past and they were pretty good and things seemed to rent in a reasonable period of time. However, the past few years we haven't even had any inquiries using them. We ask fair pricing and it just seems like they aren't getting the interest they used to. We have tried Koala as well and never had any luck. We sometimes use Redweek but then we are out the listing fees if it doesn't rent. Just curious what others are finding these days.

I realize some info is not allowed to be posted, but you are not really saying what resort and season you are trying to rent so it's hard to say how desirable your reservation is.

If you were on the opposite side of the transaction, and had a minimum level of savviness, where would you go to look?

- Vacation Candy where every listing is marked up by $500, which is a 20% markup on a $2500 listing.
- Koala where the owner is charged 8% (and likely marks up their price to compensate), and the renter is charged 10%, so you're often paying a 15-20% markup.
- Redweek, where you can rent at the price the owner listed if you don't use verified and protected (or pay an extra 10% for the "protected" service if you so desire).

IMO, the first two have a non-sustainable business model. For example, Go Koala will charge you $300 for a successful rental, but if you mark up your unit because of that you make it less likely to rent. Sure, Redweek charges ~$40 on every 6-month listing - and maybe you have to pay it twice before it rents - but if you price it attractively enough (relative to other listings), it's more likely to rent than not.

That said, yes it is harder to rent. Some of it IMO is due to covid because many people changed their booking habits and no longer reserve 10+ months in advance. It's also due to increased supply with many owners looking to rent their timeshares to offset rapidly rising fees.

 

[dioxide45]

IMO, the first two have a non-sustainable business model. For example, Go Koala will charge you $300 for a successful rental, but if you mark up your unit because of that you make it less likely to rent.

Redweek has a product that is similar to the first two. There is a portion of the traveling public that is willing to pay for the added protection. Just like many people who book on Marriott.com vs any direct owner rental.

 

[DanCali]

Redweek has a product that is similar to the first two. There is a portion of the traveling public that is willing to pay for the added protection. Just like many people who book on Marriott.com vs any direct owner rental.

Yes, and I did allude to that in my third bullet.

But, unlike Koala, the owner does not pay anything extra. And, unlike Vacation Candy where they mark up each listing by $500 (or 10%, whichever is greater), the verified and protected fee is around 10% so a $2000 listing will be just $200 more, not $500.

But the main point I was getting at is the same - due to how the fees are structured, prices on Redweek are likely to be the lowest and therefore attract more renters. I've tried Vacation Candy and they jack up everything $500. I've tried Koala and priced my listings higher because of their 8% owner fee. I'm sure others do the same.

 

[Michigan Czar]

But the main point I was getting at is the same - due to how the fees are structured, prices on Redweek are likely to be the lowest and therefore attract more renters. I've tried Vacation Candy and they jack up everything $500. I've tried Koala and priced my listings higher because of their 8% owner fee. I'm sure others do the same.

You got it! I rarely rent my weeks out. When I am looking to rent I check TUG and Redweek I don't even look at Koala and Candy anymore.

 

[jwalk03]

I have had zero success with vacationcandy or Koala. I would say I get 50/50 between Redweek & Facebook. I refused to spend the extra money for redweek full service. Only the diy option.

 

[suzannesimon]

Anyone having any luck renting their extra Marriott time recently? We used Vacation Candy in the past and they were pretty good and things seemed to rent in a reasonable period of time. However, the past few years we haven't even had any inquiries using them. We ask fair pricing and it just seems like they aren't getting the interest they used to. We have tried Koala as well and never had any luck. We sometimes use Redweek but then we are out the listing fees if it doesn't rent. Just curious what others are finding these days.

I have 10 weeks and rent most of them and everything for 2024 is already rented so this is my best year. I have rented on Redweek 90 times by their count. I have them Verified but not protected. Vacation Candy used to rent a couple of them every year but nothing the last couple years. I used to post on both Redweek and VC but then realized it was a waste of time because VC looks for the best priced weeks on Redweek. If your price beats what is listed on VC, they will rent it because they have to add their commission to it and then they have a better chance of renting a week. I also list on Facebook and tried Koala too but have had 0 success on either one. My feeling is Facebook rents better if it’s a last-minute low price and Koala price has to be really low to make it look good after they add on their fees. I still think you get your best price on Redweek and I list every one of them 12 months out. I did have a Mexico holiday week that didn’t rent last year- first time ever. I noticed that the same weeks at the same or higher prices were renting but they were Full-service. I ended up putting it in Interval. This year I bit the bullet and listed it full service and it rented 2 weeks later. Maybe people are more hesitant to rent in Mexico if it isn’t protected.

 

[hcarman]

I realize some info is not allowed to be posted, but you are not really saying what resort and season you are trying to rent so it's hard to say how desirable your reservation is.

If you were on the opposite side of the transaction, and had a minimum level of savviness, where would you go to look?

- Vacation Candy where every listing is marked up by $500, which is a 20% markup on a $2500 listing.
- Koala where the owner is charged 8% (and likely marks up their price to compensate), and the renter is charged 10%, so you're often paying a 15-20% markup.
- Redweek, where you can rent at the price the owner listed if you don't use verified and protected (or pay an extra 10% for the "protected" service if you so desire).

IMO, the first two have a non-sustainable business model. For example, Go Koala will charge you $300 for a successful rental, but if you mark up your unit because of that you make it less likely to rent. Sure, Redweek charges ~$40 on every 6-month listing - and maybe you have to pay it twice before it rents - but if you price it attractively enough (relative to other listings), it's more likely to rent than not.

That said, yes it is harder to rent. Some of it IMO is due to covid because many people changed their booking habits and no longer reserve 10+ months in advance. It's also due to increased supply with many owners looking to rent their timeshares to offset rapidly rising fees.

I agree - I do think some of it has to do with more people renting to defray rising fees. And also, owners have to charge more to offset the costs -many renters may have gotten spoiled when reservations could be rented for less and now play the waiting game.

 

[AlmostRetired]

Anyone having any luck renting their extra Marriott time recently? We used Vacation Candy in the past and they were pretty good and things seemed to rent in a reasonable period of time. However, the past few years we haven't even had any inquiries using them. We ask fair pricing and it just seems like they aren't getting the interest they used to. We have tried Koala as well and never had any luck. We sometimes use Redweek but then we are out the listing fees if it doesn't rent. Just curious what others are finding these days.

My experience is that resorts that are drivable from neighboring states often rented within in the 7 month or less of travel. Airfare being more reasonable closer to travel also helps with this. I noticed no change last year or this year with Redweek. I use Redweek, Facebook and past renters. I noticed Redweek has more listings the last two years then I have noticed in the past. I attribute it to more and more destination point owners renting weeks instead of the underlying points because they hope to and often can can make cost + profit instead of break even (or less). I think that because of both the volume and seeing more and more people using Verified and Protected. I also see many more rentals that are asking way more than the supply/demand forces. I look at the GO and people are asking 4000 and above for summer and some with V&P on top of that. If someone can get that, good luck.

If you're on Facebook join some of the MVC groups that allow rental posts and try there. I have had very good success on FB before having to turn to Redweek, which is always my second choice. The key is to price your week VERY reasonably. Don't be greedy. There's a ton of competition out there for rentals especially since sales started pushing renting as a reason to buy more points (that's NOT a good reason to buy more points).

Don't be greedy is very sound advice. The nice thing about the market is it has a way of figuring out what a fair price is. The market doesn't care how much your paid for the unit, what your MF is or the profit you would like to make. I belong to the general buy/sell/rent FB groups and do not find them useful for weeks but find them very useful for renting mid year summer expiring points. The most useful FB groups for renting weeks for me are resort specific groups such as Crystal Shores and MGO.

I have rented on Redweek 90 times by their count.

I am envious of your portfolio and what you have been able to accomplish with free vacations by renting your rentals. You should have a rolodex of past renters email addresses. Most people like doing business from someone they have done business with in the past. Also, not sure what your experience is but often I find that renters often like to go to the same resort.

I have a distribution list of every renter I rented to. Every inquiry, I get from rom anywhere, I put them on my distribution for following years. if they want off, they let me know. Sometimes it is successful.

 

[suzannesimon]

My experience is that resorts that are drivable from neighboring states often rented within in the 7 month or less of travel. Airfare being more reasonable closer to travel also helps with this. I noticed no change last year or this year with Redweek. I use Redweek, Facebook and past renters. I noticed Redweek has more listings the last two years then I have noticed in the past. I attribute it to more and more destination point owners renting weeks instead of the underlying points because they hope to and often can can make cost + profit instead of break even (or less). I think that because of both the volume and seeing more and more people using Verified and Protected. I also see many more rentals that are asking way more than the supply/demand forces. I look at the GO and people are asking 4000 and above for summer and some with V&P on top of that. If someone can get that, good luck.



Don't be greedy is very sound advice. The nice thing about the market is it has a way of figuring out what a fair price is. The market doesn't care how much your paid for the unit, what your MF is or the profit you would like to make. I belong to the general buy/sell/rent FB groups and do not find them useful for weeks but find them very useful for renting mid year summer expiring points. The most useful FB groups for renting weeks for me are resort specific groups such as Crystal Shores and MGO.


I am envious of your portfolio and what you have been able to accomplish with free vacations by renting your rentals. You should have a rolodex of past renters email addresses. Most people like doing business from someone they have done business with in the past. Also, not sure what your experience is but often I find that renters often like to go to the same resort.

I have a distribution list of every renter I rented to. Every inquiry, I get from rom anywhere, I put them on my distribution for following years. if they want off, they let me know. Sometimes it is successful.

I do the same. I send out emails about 4 times a year to past renters telling them what I have available.

 

[jwalk03]

My experience is that resorts that are drivable from neighboring states often rented within in the 7 month or less of travel. Airfare being more reasonable closer to travel also helps with this. I noticed no change last year or this year with Redweek. I use Redweek, Facebook and past renters. I noticed Redweek has more listings the last two years then I have noticed in the past. I attribute it to more and more destination point owners renting weeks instead of the underlying points because they hope to and often can can make cost + profit instead of break even (or less). I think that because of both the volume and seeing more and more people using Verified and Protected. I also see many more rentals that are asking way more than the supply/demand forces. I look at the GO and people are asking 4000 and above for summer and some with V&P on top of that. If someone can get that, good luck.



Don't be greedy is very sound advice. The nice thing about the market is it has a way of figuring out what a fair price is. The market doesn't care how much your paid for the unit, what your MF is or the profit you would like to make. I belong to the general buy/sell/rent FB groups and do not find them useful for weeks but find them very useful for renting mid year summer expiring points. The most useful FB groups for renting weeks for me are resort specific groups such as Crystal Shores and MGO.


I am envious of your portfolio and what you have been able to accomplish with free vacations by renting your rentals. You should have a rolodex of past renters email addresses. Most people like doing business from someone they have done business with in the past. Also, not sure what your experience is but often I find that renters often like to go to the same resort.

I have a distribution list of every renter I rented to. Every inquiry, I get from rom anywhere, I put them on my distribution for following years. if they want off, they let me know. Sometimes it is successful.

That’s a good idea! I never thought to do that!!

 

[suzannesimon]

I’m an admin of a Facebook rental group. What I noticed in December and January was a ton of last-minute rentals of 1-5 days. I think people were dumping their expiring points by grabbing whatever days that were left and placing them for rent.

 

[DRH90277]

Assuming one has excess enrolled weeks which can be exchanged for points, what is the better option as between "exchanging for points and using the points to make reservations to rent out" or just "renting out the weeks?" To simplify this, assume you have Newport Coast Platinum weeks, probably an 80%+ percentile property. Of course, you could use the points for either a 5 day (Sunday thru Friday) or entire week reservations through any season.

I've already concluded that renting out points is the worst option in terms of financial return (but the easiest). I also note that getting points reservations for good resorts for good dates can be difficult.

Background - We enrolled some resale weeks in 2022 with a points purchase and we became loaded with points to use or to acquire rentals. I'm glad I don't need to try to make a living doing this. I'm starting to think our best option is to just use or rent out the Newport Coast weeks and forget the points option.

Any suggestions?

 

[suzannesimon]

Assuming one has excess enrolled weeks which can be exchanged for points, what is the better option as between "exchanging for points and using the points to make reservations to rent out" or just "renting out the weeks?" To simplify this, assume you have Newport Coast Platinum weeks, probably an 80%+ percentile property. Of course, you could use the points for either a 5 day (Sunday thru Friday) or entire week reservations through any season.

I've already concluded that renting out points is the worst option in terms of financial return (but the easiest). I also note that getting points reservations for good resorts for good dates can be difficult.

Background - We enrolled some resale weeks in 2022 with a points purchase and we became loaded with points to use or to acquire rentals. I'm glad I don't need to try to make a living doing this. I'm starting to think our best option is to just use or rent out the Newport Coast weeks and forget the points option.

Any suggestions?

It all depends on the resorts and weeks you have to rent. Knock wood, I have never not been able to reserve my weeks at 12 months. I have 2 weeks that are enrolled - 4650 points and 6250 points. The 4650 rents easily for $4600 and the 6250 rents easily for $6200. They are fixed holiday weeks. I just have to call at 13 months and pick the check-in day.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Still depends on the price of your rental as to which venue works. I rent my DVC 5 nights in studios for about $1,000, which nets me $20 per point. The Koala ad, I just have to rent for $1,080. RW takes $59 for the verified/ protected + $99. $158 for RW, $80 for Koala.

Do not factor in what the renter pays. That doesn't even make sense. It's what you are making. If Koala or RW are taking too much, they will reduce the cost to the renter.

 

[AlmostRetired]

I also note that getting points reservations for good resorts for good dates can be difficult.

I am not an expert on making money from points, but I am learning a lot on renting points and using them. I did not rent the points to get units to rent. I just happen to rent more points then I could use and there is no banking. The first lesson is If you want to reserve weeks using points to make money, you need to redefine what good dates mean. The new definition is a unit that provides a great balance of the points it costs and the profit you can make. In fact it is the less desirable weeks. Is it a business, no, but you do better than recoup cost, yes.

Example - My 3 Bedroom GC gets me 4625 points and the MF is 2310 so $.50 a point. If I rent points at .65 a point, that is 3000. I just made $700. I can use it (4500) to get a summer GO week. many would call this a great reserved week. Say I could rent it for 3400. Just made $1100. Personally, the unit is too valuable as a trader but I do now rent points. Last year I used rented points for a Heritage Club the week before Christmas and Christmas week. Less then 2000 points for both or $1300 in rented points. Each week comes with 10 rounds of golf and a golf cart. Are they the US Open quality course, no but the people who rent them are not Tiger Woods. You can easily make $1500 combined for the two weeks. There is a reason the Heritage has no available weeks using points in December. OceanWatch, Barony, GO and Surfwatch are wide open the week before Christmas for 850 points or less or $555 in points. You should be able to rent for 1100.

I booked Heritage for 12/21-18 2024 for 1225 rented points. The rented points cost me $796. If I used enrolled points it would have been $613. I booked 3 bedroom High Pool Floor at Marco Island Sunday through Friday the middle of August for 1375 points or $893 for the rented points. I believe I can get at least 1900-2100 easily. How do I know that, I booked a number of rooms at Crystal Shores after an extended family cruise in 2023 and didn't need one of them. The 3 bedroom was gone in less than a month.

Florida beaches in summer July/August and SC beaches in December is a good start. Is it worth it, you have to decide. Based on what I see, it isn't for renting points but who knows, I am still learning.

 

[DRH90277]

What if those of us who own weeks limited our actions to using our weeks, renting out our weeks, renting the weeks we want, or exchanges through Interval? Note I did not include exchanging for points. I could easily do this without any significant adverse impact on my use. However, I suspect this would matter to MVC as it would lessen available weeks for point transactions.

 

[suzannesimon]

What if those of us who own weeks limited our actions to using our weeks, renting out our weeks, renting the weeks we want, or exchanges through Interval? Note I did not include exchanging for points. I could easily do this without any significant adverse impact on my use. However, I suspect this would matter to MVC as it would lessen available weeks for point transactions.

A very good reason to own weeks instead of points. Most of the best resorts Marriott has are primarily owned by Weeks owners. MVC stopped building resorts when it was spun off from Marriott and have mostly just converted hotel rooms for Pulse properties. If they really cared about freeing up inventory, they should give resale owners the ability to elect points. I have 3 Vistana resales that they let me exchange for Abound points, but not my Marriott resales. It makes no sense. It would be cheaper than building beautiful resorts that are 100% points ownership.

 

[jimf41]

For the last few years I have been unable to travel so I have been renting my weeks. Some I rent as weeks and some I elect points and get weeks and rent those. In the past everything has rented NLT than three months out. This year I was coming up on the 60 day window and canceled a few elected point rentals and I can still use them next year. From the time I cancelled them until checkin I received more than 20 inquiries. Next year I think I'm going to keep them after the 60 day window and hope they rent. All units are Marriott Caribbean properties in JAN-FEB-MAR and I list them at the lowest price in Redweek.

What do think? Keep them listed or bank to the following year?

 

[suzannesimon]

For the last few years I have been unable to travel so I have been renting my weeks. Some I rent as weeks and some I elect points and get weeks and rent those. In the past everything has rented NLT than three months out. This year I was coming up on the 60 day window and canceled a few elected point rentals and I can still use them next year. From the time I cancelled them until checkin I received more than 20 inquiries. Next year I think I'm going to keep them after the 60 day window and hope they rent. All units are Marriott Caribbean properties in JAN-FEB-MAR and I list them at the lowest price in Redweek.

What do think? Keep them listed or bank to the following year?

I don’t have the nerve to do that. I’ve only had to cancel once but I gave up after 90 days and deposited it in Interval. I do think with all the weeks available for rent that there are a lot of people waiting until last minute hoping for lower prices.

 

[mjm1]

For the last few years I have been unable to travel so I have been renting my weeks. Some I rent as weeks and some I elect points and get weeks and rent those. In the past everything has rented NLT than three months out. This year I was coming up on the 60 day window and canceled a few elected point rentals and I can still use them next year. From the time I cancelled them until checkin I received more than 20 inquiries. Next year I think I'm going to keep them after the 60 day window and hope they rent. All units are Marriott Caribbean properties in JAN-FEB-MAR and I list them at the lowest price in Redweek.

What do think? Keep them listed or bank to the following year?

It comes down to your risk tolerance. You have some good information regarding the general level of interest that can provide some comfort. However, as they say, prior results don’t guarantee future results, or something to that effect. You can also leverage your bet and try renting some of them last minute and cancel the remainder. Good luck.

 

[davidvel]

A very good reason to own weeks instead of points. Most of the best resorts Marriott has are primarily owned by Weeks owners. MVC stopped building resorts when it was spun off from Marriott and have mostly just converted hotel rooms for Pulse properties. If they really cared about freeing up inventory, they should give resale owners the ability to elect points. I have 3 Vistana resales that they let me exchange for Abound points, but not my Marriott resales. It makes no sense. It would be cheaper than building beautiful resorts that are 100% points ownership.

I'm sure you know this, but for others: Marriott resale weeks purchased prior to 6/2010 can be enrolled for free (if reside in US), and then elected for points, same as a developer purchased week.

 

[DRH90277]

A very good reason to own weeks instead of points. Most of the best resorts Marriott has are primarily owned by Weeks owners. MVC stopped building resorts when it was spun off from Marriott and have mostly just converted hotel rooms for Pulse properties. If they really cared about freeing up inventory, they should give resale owners the ability to elect points. I have 3 Vistana resales that they let me exchange for Abound points, but not my Marriott resales. It makes no sense. It would be cheaper than building beautiful resorts that are 100% points ownership.

Yes, buy great weeks at bargain prices and use what we have.

A large "few of us" are balking at converting our weeks to points for point reservations and are using our owned weeks to the max - using, exchanging through Interval, renting, etc. I don't think this was the intended outcome of the points program for MVC and availability under the points system seems to be getting worse. Of course, this shows higher demand for points reservations, but the "absence of supply" reason for this works to the detriment of the points program. Fortunately for some of us, we might meet our needs better in our antiquated and resourceful ways.

I have noted that TUG participants seem pretty adept at figuring out the best way to maximize their use of vacation products. I don't think TUG members are buying much from MVC. There is a considerable knowledge base amongst TUG members, but are they buyers??? We seem to pay our maintenance fees and just go our merry way....

 

[Cody Penn-Dent]

Curious what folks on this thread think of the following -

We recently purchased oceanfront weeks 51 and 52 at one of the Westin Maui properties. I was in Cabo last week and enrolled them with the developer because the Abound conversion of those weeks works out to ~21000 points in that system with maintenance currently about 6.2K. The maintenance on 21K MVC points would be near 15K.

I can rent those Nanea weeks at a good margin, but wonder if there is any advantage to converting them to Abound and renting out something from there. I am a complete noob when it comes to renting and MVC.

We bought the holiday weeks because the margin in renting them will pay the maintenance on the other Vistana stuff we own. If they don't rent we are happy to spend the holidays there.

Any ideas, opinions comments welcome.