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Original poster

Potentially ‘free’ holiday

49 replies

FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:05

I’m having a cabin built on property initially to do Airbnb but now I’m thinking of doing a ‘pay what you think is fair/pay what you can afford’ policy. Im far from well off and am putting every penny into this but feel like everyone should have the chance of a break. Am I being naive? Would people think there’s something wrong with the property and be put off booking? Would you be tempted?

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CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/04/2022 19:06

I’d be confused how much you expected me to pay or that it was a scam so would choose somewhere else instead.

LIZS · 10/04/2022 19:07

Assume you have planning permission?

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:09

@LIZS

Assume you have planning permission?
Yes thanks
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drpet49 · 10/04/2022 19:10

Bad idea, you’ll just attract the bad ones

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:10

@CeeceeBloomingdale

I’d be confused how much you expected me to pay or that it was a scam so would choose somewhere else instead.
That’s interesting, thank you.
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Imherenowandthen · 10/04/2022 19:11

I’d love this but realistically would worry about offending you as I’d only be able to afford very little, so probably wouldn’t contact you.

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:12

@drpet49

Bad idea, you’ll just attract the bad ones
Gosh, we’ve got a cynical bunch in tonight 😂. Thank you for the feedback though. I guess there’s no such thing as a free lunch?
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Anoisagusaris · 10/04/2022 19:12

How would you know if people booking couldn’t afford normal rates or were just looking for a freebie?

rookiemere · 10/04/2022 19:12

I wouldn't do that.
Maybe you could offer a stay as a prize for charity raffles or something like that if you wanted to do good through owning it.
Or maybe contact charities that offer breaks for families in need - not sure who that would be, to see if they wanted to use it.

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:12

@Imherenowandthen

I’d love this but realistically would worry about offending you as I’d only be able to afford very little, so probably wouldn’t contact you.
That’s a shame because you’d be exactly who I’d want to come and stay.
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Anoisagusaris · 10/04/2022 19:13

Could you link in with a charity instead?

Helenluvsrob · 10/04/2022 19:13

Don’t.
People don’t respect anything free / low cost

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:14

@rookiemere

I wouldn't do that. Maybe you could offer a stay as a prize for charity raffles or something like that if you wanted to do good through owning it. Or maybe contact charities that offer breaks for families in need - not sure who that would be, to see if they wanted to use it.
Yes I thought about this. You’ve then got to hope people are happy to go through the rigmarole of contacting a charity and being ‘selected’ by them.
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Haggisfish3 · 10/04/2022 19:14

I would price it fairly and charge the same rate year round. I stay in a property like this that could easily charge two or three times the rate it does in summer, but the owner wants to let people be able to afford to come. I appreciate it massively. Or you could have a lower rate if you receive certain benefits, rather than a pay what you think.

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:16

@Anoisagusaris

How would you know if people booking couldn’t afford normal rates or were just looking for a freebie?
Well that’s probably going to happen but I’d like to think it wasn’t the ‘norm’. Maybe I could limit stays to 2/3 nights.
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RandomMess · 10/04/2022 19:16

Hmmmm I've hired a chalet that was inexpensive.

They advertise through Facebook and only let to friends of friends. Their aim is just to cover their costs.

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:17

@Haggisfish3

I would price it fairly and charge the same rate year round. I stay in a property like this that could easily charge two or three times the rate it does in summer, but the owner wants to let people be able to afford to come. I appreciate it massively. Or you could have a lower rate if you receive certain benefits, rather than a pay what you think.
That’s a good idea, thank you.
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rookiemere · 10/04/2022 19:17

I think it's better going through a charity or having people pre selected in some way, otherwise you're highly likely to just get chancers staying.

People don't respect what's free, you read all the time on here about people who kindly let relatives and friends use their holiday home and then trash it.

rookiemere · 10/04/2022 19:18

Oh that is a good idea about charging lower rates if you can prove you're on benefits.

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:19

@RandomMess

Hmmmm I've hired a chalet that was inexpensive.

They advertise through Facebook and only let to friends of friends. Their aim is just to cover their costs.

Good to know but I guess you need a big network of friends.
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Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:21

@rookiemere

Oh that is a good idea about charging lower rates if you can prove you're on benefits.
Trouble is there’s a lot of people struggling who aren’t entitled to any benefits or who don’t realise they are.
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ZenNudist · 10/04/2022 19:24

Talk to local churches, they support refugees, young mums with nobody, and the really hard up etc and could offer it to those who would really benefit. Make it clear its not a home for the homeless.

Locally to me the Catholic charity is called caritas and there should caritas organisations around the UK. Apologies if you are not a fan of organised religion but the people they are helping are of all faiths and backgrounds.

RandomMess · 10/04/2022 19:25

@FredaC I think it took time it was a colleague that suggested them to me. I think she knows them through church.

Contacting a church some distance away could be an option? Or schools often know which families struggle financially that they got in touch with you.

ZenNudist · 10/04/2022 19:26

Also don't offer pay what you can afford because you will definitely get people who only want to give minimum amount who could afford more. Friends and family have huge 6 figure salaries but talk about being hard up.

Original poster
FredaC · 10/04/2022 19:28

@ZenNudist

Talk to local churches, they support refugees, young mums with nobody, and the really hard up etc and could offer it to those who would really benefit. Make it clear its not a home for the homeless.

Locally to me the Catholic charity is called caritas and there should caritas organisations around the UK. Apologies if you are not a fan of organised religion but the people they are helping are of all faiths and backgrounds.

Excellent idea, I’m an atheist but totally fine with going through a religious charity.
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