The Snowbird Housing Scramble

Top Three Essentials: Planning, Communication and Decisiveness

This season there has been a major scramble to secure snowbird housing for next year. Don't be fooled, it's cut throat in an insidious way. A casual question, "Are you returning next year?" might be the opener for an intel mission to help someone seeking a place. Be careful not to overshare your unit info or future plans.

Years ago, I was naive and thought the owner/property manager of our beloved rental would shield us from someone else swooping in to scoop it up. Upon meeting snowbirds on the beach, I didn't go out of my way to hide the location of our lovely spacious unit, but didn't realize there was zero protection to save it for us. I mistakenly assumed we had a right of first refusal. We didn't.

It was a hard lesson after several years of returning to the same lovely unit that we learned "our" condo was reserved for the next year right 'out from under our nose' as they say. We were bewildered and angered that there were no safeguards for our loyalty. Ironically, this year it happened to my Wisconsin snowbird friends. An online third party reservation for next year ruined their plans to return to the pet friendly two bedroom unit they came to love for it's fantastic gulf view with swaying palms. 

This is how it all turns into a scramble to secure suitable snowbird housing. Like a game of musical chairs, instead the stakes are much higher.

For us, the property manager offered to move us across the hall to a matching layout of our three bedroom, three bath rental for the following season. The main issue was we felt the decor was not our style. It was a mix of dated items and newer furnishings including lovely off white sofas and easy chairs. Reluctantly, we accepted the change and were pleasantly surprised to discover the western view of the new place offered stunning sunsets through the entire wall of windows. The unit we came from had parking lot views and lovely Eastern sunrises, but the sunsets were even more appealing. We stuffed the dated wall art, green and yellow throw pillows and a zebra-covered chair into an interior area where we didn't have to look at them and put them back upon departure. We returned to the condo several times until we eventually bought our own place.

My Wisconsin friends have been searching for their next rental for weeks. They've found several options, but to date they've not booked anything. Some units were priced well above market value, others were not actually available despite being promoted as such. It is likely my friends will be making several compromises to obtain a pet friendly unit in the same community as their current place. To stay within budget, they toured a larger 3/3 compared with their current 2/2, but it does not have the gulf views nor updated bathrooms. However, unbeknownst to my friend, this unit's current snowbird renewed and my friend was actually on the wait list. It wasn't meant to be and she was on the fence anyway. Another potential unit features ground floor gulf views with a patio. However, the unit does not have a way to contain the dog outdoors and it's adjacent to a very high traffic area of the complex, which lacks privacy. My friends are gambling that as the year progresses, some rentals may come back on the market.

One mistake I've personally witnessed is not being fully prepared to commit when an available unit comes up for consideration. In a competitive rental market, it is imperative to plan ahead and fully establish what your top priorities are as well as your deal breakers. If your primary objectives are Jan/Feb dates; pet friendly; decent view; 2/2 and within or near budget, then you must be ready to book immediately if the prospect covers most of your criteria. This isn't the time for hardball tactics such as insisting on personal tours, negotiating rates or asking the owner to replace the mattresses and update the decor. If the unit meets most of your desired objectives, it may be the best option vs. not having any options because of waiting too long to commit and someone else takes it.

Don't overlook the value of solid communication with your property manager or owner if you are relatively happy with your current rental and want to return again. Many snowbirds wisely develop a strong line of communication with the owner of their rental. They communicate regularly and with clarity so there's no mixed messages. If you want to return, say so. If you already know you found and reserved something else, be courteous and let the owner know so they can put their energy into securing new prospects. Whatever you do, don't get ahead of yourself and let go of your existing rental until you are absolutely sure your new contract is fully executed.

Make a thorough list of questions that pertain to each property you consider. Write down the questions, answers, who you spoke with and the date/time. It's easy to get flustered when searching something as important as housing. You may go in circles for weeks or months until you find the right place. Being disorganized will make if more difficult to commit when you do find a place that meets most or all of your needs. Your priorities may change over time as well. If you have your heart set on criteria that may not be realistic for what's available in your budget, it's time to reevaluate. Don't forget to ask for the cancellation policy. Upon discussion you might not be comfortable with it and never forget the person wanting you to book your reservation may not tell all of the facts. It's imperative to get the cancellation information in writing. Be firm, don't let your emotions get in the way of good business sense.  

Finally, a word of advice to never forget this fact: if the property is sold to a new owner your contract is likely to be voided. The new owner will not have any legal obligation to fulfill it. Hopefully they would want to, but it's a scenario that could destroy your plans. Always have a Plan B and Plan C. Best wishes as you navigate your housing, it's worth it, but it does take time to position yourself for a successful future snowbird season.