Residents open homes to visitors for inauguration

In Springfield, a homeowner was generously offering a three-bedroom home, complete with bunk beds for added sleeping space, for $1,000 a night — and a request to feed the cat.

If the demand is there, some Craigslist renters have yet to see it.

A woman in the Alexandria neighborhood of Del Ray offering a one-week stay at her one-bedroom apartment for $1,400 said she’d gotten no bites online, while a woman, who identified herself only as Lauren, said she wouldn’t be upset if no one rented her $500-a-night one-bedroom place in Dupont Circle in Northwest.

“I put up the ad because I figured that it couldn’t hurt,” the 29-year-old said. “I just finished grad school and have a ton of loans that I need to start paying.”

Logan Circle resident Eli said he checked out hotel prices before posting the $300-per-night rate for his one-bedroom apartment in Northwest. He hadn’t gotten much feedback, aside from the occasional spammer. Eli said he might lower the price if he doesn’t get any interest.

“I didn’t know what the market would bear, but everybody out there is totally crazy requesting unrealistic amounts,” he said. “It’s hard to come up with a fair market grade, so I took a stab in the dark.”

A quick search of hotel prices in the area put rates between $250 and $850. Others were already sold out from Friday to Tuesday inauguration weekend.

The prices found on Craigslist might be steep, but Mr. Yu said residents renting their homes are not really major competition to hotels.

“Hotels not only have higher rates they also have very creative packages they offer to guests,” he said.

“That’s why you see budget hotels at $150 and the Ritz at $1,000 minimums,” Mr. Yu said. “This demand is triggered by a big event. It’s not typically with us every day or every week. This is a mega event like the Oscars. This is our political show.”

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