When Rita Sokolowski heard that the Democratic National Convention was coming to Denver, she immediately went online. She wanted to see whether she could rent out her five-bedroom house to conventioneers and take her family on vacation.
She looked at craigslist (www.craigslist.com), an online advertising forum, and then at Digsville (www.digsville.com), a vacation housing swap website.
“We host students from all over the world who are learning languages, so it’s not a big deal for me,” Sokolowski said. “I have strangers come into my home all the time. It’s fun to have people from all over.”
At Corporate Housing Solutions in Denver, leasing broker Lisa Niesen got a call from Democratic Party activist Randal Andrews, who had been looking for places.
Niesen then put a “real-estate wanted” ad on craigslist, seeking homeowners leaving town during the Democratic Convention in August 2008 who “would like to make some money on the rental of your home.” She figured if Andrews called, others would too.
Said Niesen, “We’re going to let people know that we can set up an office for them as well as a temporary home. There are going to be parties left and right.”
Besides calling Niesen, Andrews also called metro-area hotels and other short-term rental offices Thursday to make reservations for a brother in Kansas City, a sister in Oklahoma and other family members who he said will come for the convention. Andrews owns the Tri-Element Gold Works company in Englewood and Cripple Creek.
“I got several places booked, and they’re filling fast,” Andrews said. “I might re-sell a few, but the rest are for family, definitely.”
City of Aurora spokesman Jeff Martinez said he would rent out his central Denver condo for the convention if he doesn’t have a long-term renter that summer.
“If there are opportunities not to price-gouge but to make a little money off of the event, why not take them,” Martinez said. “I’ll be on websites all over the country saying, ‘We have a place for you.”‘
At Brooks Tower, a condominium complex at 15th and Curtis streets, leasing broker Norma Steckley Tucker wondered whether some organizers or campaigns might even want to buy a Denver condo. She touted the buildings’ executive suites, adding that she had not yet heard from any potential renters.
The Avenue West Corporate Housing office already sent marketing materials to the Democratic Party, said Eric Smith, who owns the business with his wife. While he doesn’t take advance bookings, Smith said he expected to rent out his two-bedroom, two-bath corporate Denver Dry building loft during the convention, which usually runs about $3,500 month.
“I’m sure the calls are going to start coming in like crazy,” Smith said. “We look for immediate occupancy, so we won’t know if it’s available until a couple of months in advance.”
