---
title: "SPECIAL: Common Pricing Mistakes Property Owners Make"
description: "Guest-first pricing means knowing your comps, adjusting weekly, and not clinging to launch rates. Small property owners often skip the basics—here's how to stop leaving money on the table."
published: 2017-12-01T00:00:00+00:00
author: "ONDA 편집팀"
category: "Insights"
image: "https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9e119a9262571eecb6568_62e768262f9d2216a10deb1b_5e8acd8cacdbb52b0c41f7bb_oliver-thomas-klein-144899.jpeg"
canonical: https://global.onda.me/en/blog?slug=special-gaegsil-gagyeog-maegil-ddae-heunhage-beomhaneun-silsu
locale: en
---
# SPECIAL: Common Pricing Mistakes Property Owners Make

##### **By Siti Noraini, Head of Marketing at HomeAway**

![oliver-thomas-klein-144899](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9e119a9262571eecb6568_62e768262f9d2216a10deb1b_5e8acd8cacdbb52b0c41f7bb_oliver-thomas-klein-144899.jpeg)

When's the last time you reviewed your room rates? If it's been over a week — or worse, over a month — you're almost certainly leaving money on the table.

Competition in hospitality is fierce. Hotels, guesthouses, and short-term rentals are all fighting for the same guests. But if you nail a few fundamentals, you won't fall behind. Here are **the most common pricing mistakes small property owners make** — and how to avoid them.

### **1) Pricing too high at launch**

You invested heavily in your property. You want returns fast. Fair. But travelers rely heavily on word-of-mouth and reviews when booking. If your property is brand new or just listed on a new platform, you haven't earned their trust yet.

Start by pricing slightly below market rate to drive early bookings and build up your review base. Once you've got a solid track record, *then* raise your rates to competitive levels.

### **2) Leaving rates unchanged for too long**

Fully booked for the next few months? Great — but are you actually maximizing revenue?

A full calendar doesn't always mean you're optimized. It might be a red flag that you're underpriced. If demand is that strong, you probably have room to raise rates.

Also: differentiate your pricing. Weekdays vs. weekends. High season vs. low season. Hotels do this for a reason.

### **3) Ignoring what competitors are doing**

In any business, understanding your market and your competition is non-negotiable. Look at similar properties in your area. What are they charging? Why are they raising or lowering rates? What's the local benchmark?

Studying competitor pricing gives you a feel for when demand spikes — and how to position your property to capture it. And remember: guests don't just compare apples to apples (hotel to hotel, pension to pension). They compare based on amenities, location, and value.

Take a hard look at what successful properties in your area offer — and how they present it.

### **4) Not using dynamic pricing tools**

Most platforms let you customize rates with last-minute deals, weekly discounts, or off-season promotions. These tools can tip the scales in your favor — especially when you're competing against bigger operators.

Use last-minute pricing to fill empty rooms. Offer weekly or monthly packages. Run targeted off-season deals.

**Remember: hospitality inventory is perishable.** A room unsold on December 1, 2017 can never be sold again. You can't rewind time.

### **5) Ignoring travel trends, local events, and seasonality**

Demand fluctuates by location, property type, and time of year. Keeping your rates static year-round is leaving revenue on the table. In Korea, July–September and December–January are typically peak seasons. If you're near Pyeongchang, the upcoming Olympics will be a major surge event. Music festivals, sports tournaments, and conferences can triple normal demand overnight.

But don't just raise prices during peaks. *Lower them* during the off-season to fill rooms instead of leaving them empty.

That said: don't overprice, even during high season. Extreme rate hikes can backfire. The goal is to price effectively for maximum bookings *and* profit.

### [**View full magazine edition <<**](http://bit.ly/magazineon12)