Sunday, January 25, 2009

Rental Update Jan 2009

I want to share with you my feelings about this year. I am very optimistic about 2009. Both our long term and vacation programs are extremely active for the first 3 weeks of January.

Vacation Rentals: Gas prices are still extremely low, we have a new president, and people are getting their tax checks in. Hopefully this trend will continue we will get some of those peak vacation weeks booked earlier this year. Our number of reservations and total rents are up, so the staff and I are pumped and ready to answer the phones and make some reservations.

Longterm Rentals: In January we have already shown over 80 long term properties and our lease signings are up. Lots of walk in traffic coming in to see properties. Most have found us through the internet. Many tenants have been renewing leases though they have been negotiating lower rents. This is normal, due to the heavy surplus of long term rentals along the Grand Strand. The current mortgage crisis has definitely increased our long term leases.

In 2009 we will putting more of our advertising budget into the internet. Also we have a billboard going up soon right on Hwy 17. I am very excited about it.