What do you do when a future renter asks for a discount?

[Paul Sandhu]

This is a corporate rental.  The guy that contacted me lives here.  His company has rented off and on from me about 20x in the last few years.  But this guy was asking for a discount for 2 guys sharing a place.  I told him to call the Holiday Inn and ask them for a discount.  Holiday Inn would be $700/week, I'm $400.  

So after the conversation I wanted to tell him this.  I'll bring 2 pairs of boxing gloves and headgear.  We box until one of us touches a bodypart other than a foot on the ground.  If he can do it, I'll give him 50% off the first week rent.  If I knock him down, he has to pay an extra 50%.  I've got 2" and 75 pounds on the guy, plus I box and lift.

If boxing is too violent, I would offer to wrestle him.  First one to pin the other wins.  Same deal with the rent.  I used to wrestle.

If wrestling is too much of a contact sport, I'd take him to a gym and see who can bench press 225 pounds the most.  Pretty sure I'd win at that too.

So what do you do when they ask for a discount?

[Pat L.]

Back in the day we had a corporate renter for 8 years for their exec families. They NEVER asked for a discount & during the 8 years they maintained the property at their cost. They rebuilt our old kitchen, complete with new flooring & appliances, had their carpenters completely rebuild all the screens & doors for the large screened in porch. Put in a new HW tank as the old one was only 30 gallons & they said they ran out of hot water. After a winter storm I went by & they had 4 guys on the roof taking off the snow.

Since then the visiting Coast Guard Chiefs have been renting it (12+ years) & they also take great care of the place. The last one completely painted the interior on their dime, added two electric garage door openers to the 3.5 car coach house & fenced in the back yard for their dog complete with permits.