Thoughts on a Sun-Sun weekly vacation rental vs a Sat-Sat?

Question

I have a vacation property in Provincetown, MA that is currently a Saturday-Saturday weekly rental during the summer, and I'm thinking that next year I will move it to a Sunday-Sunday rental. I feel like people may want this more, which will lead to even more bookings. Plus, I can get a discount on the cleaning to do this. What do people think? Is a Saturday-Saturday rental better, or a Sunday-Sunday summer rental better?

Julie Merritt · Answer

@Kristopher K. Well at least you cut down on some of the costs for doing the turn overs initially. I don't have any experience in the off season yet. We only closed on it on March 25th, so it's still a pretty new property to me. I'm working with a company that does property management, not a traditional but an online company, and they did an analysis on the place. They did come up with it seeing that we should be able to rent it out a good portion of the off season.

Kristopher K. · Answer

@Julie Merritt, The first season was nice to do my own so I could keep an eye on it; but now I spend more time there than I want to plus working my day job and kid activities on the weekends. Once I can get it a little better stabilized I'll look into getting some system in place for it. Hopefully next year, and yes I think the 7 days will work where I am for the main season. It's one of the older smaller 'beachy' cottages so no frills but it was built to be simple/affordable and most guests appreciate that. Shoulder season I'll stick with nightly. I've have a good response so far especially with autumn.

I've thought of Ptown but it is a long drive. I know it's a great seasonal market. Do you have any experience with it off season?

Julie Merritt · Answer

@Kristopher K. When I was researching cleaners they brought up a discount if I moved to Sunday, so this would be possible. The market in Ptown is amazing, 5 days after we put up on the online posting we had the whole summer rented out. Now it's a great location, which certainly helps, but most people do seem to have the whole summer rented. But I would think Dennis could warrant a 7 night minimum.

That's great that you are able to do your own turnovers. And you can also see the place, which is nice. I've thought about doing the turnovers if we ever get a second place in Ptown, but it's just too far of a drive for one place.

Kristopher K. · Answer

@Julie Merritt, I'd be interested to see how this works out if you decide to do it.

I am leaning toward a 7 night min for next season - I end up doing the turn overs myself right now because of the cost and also dependability. You do have a better market out there though and the check-in/ out times are pretty good for a Sunday switch. I'd imagine you'd get a pretty good deal for Sunday cleaning!

Julie Merritt · Answer

Thanks @Kristopher K. the place has a 7 night minimum over the summer, with a check in time of 3 and a check out time of 10. Ptown is so crazy with how everything books up so well we can lock in the full week. I will say my interest is really around the Sunday aspect to get a cheaper quote for the cleaning. As you know cleaning prices on the Cape in the summer aren't exactly cheap :) It's not to connect with someone else from the area!

Kristopher K. · Answer

Hi @Julie Merritt,

I have one in Dennis Port - I see more requests for Friday than Sunday. This is only the second season it's been up and I do have a 3 night min right now so that might have something to do with it. I'd imagine your check in/out times might influence what people do to. That's a long ride back on a Sunday, if the guests are driving. I have thought of the Sunday to Sunday myself but I think I've seen more traffic on Sunday than Saturday on average - going off cape.

Kris

Julie Merritt · Answer

I don't have any data to back up Sunday - Sunday is what people want, which is why I put up this post. I've heard people say this, so I'm curious to see if responses back this up.

George P. · Answer

as a VR renter, Sat-Sat works better for me for I like to have a day-worth break on the day after the vacation.... before I go to work on Monday. Laundry, cleaning, putting things back in place, lunches for kids etc.

From what I have seen on VRBO, Sat-Sat is the most common option (probably for a reason)

Chris Eaker · Answer

What makes you feel it's what people want more? I have no idea, but you said you feel it, so is it just a feeling or do you have data to back it up?