Pay a commission and don’t get anything concrete – that’s a quiet nuisance for many fitters and companies. Booking portals are practical, no question. They give a quick overview, allow comparisons and are available 24/7. But they have their price – and this price is always borne by the tenant or landlord. Booking a fitter’s apartment directly from the provider without a commission is therefore not only a question of money, but also a question of efficiency. Who knows how to do it saves money – without having to forego quality or selection.
What commission means – and who really pays
Booking portals are financed by commissions that you retain from landlords for each arranged booking. Depending on the portal, this commission is between ten and twenty percent of the booking price – sometimes more. The landlord therefore pays a significant proportion of his income to the portal, only for the fact that the accommodation is listed and found there.
In practice, this means that landlords adjust the portal prices accordingly – i.e. set higher to catch the commission. In the end, the tenant pays more than he would pay for a direct booking. This is no secret, but many fitters and companies are unaware of how big this difference can be.
With a one-week stay, this is hardly important. With a booking of several months for an entire team, the difference between the portal price and the direct booking price can make a considerable sum – money that is more sensible.
Why portals are still used
Despite the additional costs, many fitters and companies continue to use booking portals – and for understandable reasons. The overview of many offers at the same time, the ability to filter and compare, and trust in a well-known platform are real advantages. If you are looking for the first time in a region and have no contacts, you will quickly be oriented with a portal.
The problem only arises when the portal booking becomes a habit – even with providers that you already know, even with bookings that you could easily handle directly. In such situations, you pay commission for a service that you no longer need.
What fitter’s apartment directly from the landlord means
Booking a fitter’s apartment directly from the landlord means: no portal, no commission, no automated systems between tenants and landlords. Instead, a direct conversation – by phone, e-mail or WhatsApp – in which all relevant details can be clarified.
This has several advantages. The price is usually cheaper because no commission has to be taken into account. Communication is more direct because you immediately talk to someone who knows the accommodation and can answer questions in concrete terms. And the flexibility is greater because individual agreements – at arrival times, extensions or special requirements – are possible without detours.
Booking a fitter’s room directly is also often faster than searching via a portal. If you know which provider you want, write a short message or call – and usually get a binding answer within a short time.
What to consider when booking directly
The direct booking has clear advantages, but also a few points to keep in mind. Unlike portals, there is no standardized evaluation function that helps you to assess the quality of the provider. If you contact a new landlord that you don’t know yet, you should clarify a few things in advance:
- Are there any current reviews on Google or other platforms?
- Is the landlord easily accessible and does he respond quickly to inquiries?
- Are the conditions transparent – prices, ancillary costs, cancellation conditions?
- Is a regular invoice issued if this is necessary for accounting?
Those who clarify these points before booking have a solid basis – and can take advantage of the direct booking without risk.
Book a fitter’s apartment directly – particularly interesting for companies
Companies that regularly send employees on assembly benefit from the direct booking in several ways. Firstly, the price: If you book several weeks or months for a team, you save a considerable amount at a lower direct price. Secondly, the billing: A collective invoice for the company name is possible without any problems when booking directly – with portals often more cumbersome.
Third – and this is perhaps the most underrated advantage – the relationship with the landlord. If you regularly book directly, you will become a well-known customer. This pays off when short-term capacities are needed, if extensions are necessary or if the team size changes. A landlord who knows his customers reacts faster and more flexibly than an anonymous portal.
How to find good direct providers
The easiest way to find providers for a direct booking is the targeted search. If you are looking for a fitter’s room without a commission or fitter’s apartment directly from the landlord, you will usually find providers who explicitly point out this advantage. Google reviews also provide information about the quality – and those who have several good ratings are usually a reliable partner.
Raumschmide Apartments offers fitter apartments without commission at all locations in Baden-Württemberg – directly bookable by telephone, e-mail or WhatsApp. No portal, no surcharge, no detour. Just ask and get a binding answer within a short time.