How do you handle big groups in your STRs?

Question

I've got about 15-20 guys that have started filtering in today, tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that for a job that starts Monday. They've reserved 5 of my houses. Would you price the houses on a flat rate or per person? Some of the guys are bringing their spouse, how would you figure that into your pricing? This is at least the 15th time this group has rented from me in the last 8 years. They rebrick a gasifier at a nitrogen fertilizer plant. Chrome bricks on the inside of a vessel that operates at 2000+ degrees. Just the bricks are $800 each, and they are about the size of a brick.

I already have my own answer, just wondered what you BP people think.

Nick Rutkowski · Answer

@Paul Sandhu

Hit them with the normal rate per person and deduct 20% as a large party booking special.

Paul Sandhu · Answer

There is a little more to this that I would like to add.  Half the guys are black guys working one 12 hour shift.  The other half are white guys working the opposite shift.  The white guys have confederate flag tats, confederate flag license plates and other visible signs of the confederate flag.

Lynnette E. · Answer

I would just rent by the house  with a rate that if its over XX people there is an additional charge of Y for each person over the typical number and let them figure out how to split up the rent and the rooms.  Otherwise the landlord can have to figure out who sleeps where and with whom.  E.g. 2 co-worker guys who just share a room in bunkbeds pay the same price as a married couple with 'family' privacy and a king size bed and private bath or a coworker alone in a bedroom with a queen bed?  I'm not getting into the bushes if one room is better or deserving of higher rent or choosing any details of who goes where.

John D. · Answer

$200/person/week but if they drop below a certain number of people, they have to give up one or more of houses, sounds like a reasonable way to go.

Paul Sandhu · Answer

I'm charging a flat rate of $200/person/week.  They are taking 5 houses.  The houses are 3-4 bedrooms.

John Underwood · Answer

I rent my house and I have an extra fee per person over a certain amount.

I know your circumstances are somewhat unique.

I wouldn't want to have that many people paying and worring about who hasn't paid yet.

I think I would have one person in each house responsible for paying the rent and let them do the work of getting everyone to chip in to him.

Unless you are renting by the room instead of the whole house, then you would have to collect by room.

Joanne Eriaku · Answer

Flat rate for a certain number, then for every additional person, price upwards. For example 4 pax equals X dollars, for any additional person above X dollars, add Y per person. Thats how I'd do it, having said that, these are repeat clients from what I read, is there a reason you would be charging/treating them differently? if it aint broke....