Inaugural Rentals Begging For Takers

For example, Susan Haynes, a psychology professor from Los Angeles, is coming to the inauguration with two friends. They have a reservation at a Ramada Inn in Cecil County, Md., for $99 a night but would like to find something closer. Her housing budget is $250 a day, said Haynes, who is using Butters's Web site and real estate agent Joe Yu to help her find something suitable. They are looking at a one-bedroom apartment in Glover Park that costs $300 a night.

Deana Bass, an Alexandria public affairs consultant who founded the housing Web site obamadcbound.com, posted a notice on the site encouraging homeowners to lower their rates.

"People are revising their listings," she said. "But they're still asking much more than people are willing to pay."

Homeowners say it's not worth the risks and hassles of allowing strangers into their residences -- liability, contracts, insurance, cleanup -- if they don't earn top dollar.

Amani Council, who owns a four-bedroom house in Temple Hills, posted an advertisement on another inauguration housing Web site offering her basement unit for $800 a night. She got one offer for a total of $200 for several days, which she rejected.

"It's got to be worth the money for the inconvenience," she said.

Kara Snesko, who lives with her husband in a recently renovated two-bedroom house in Capitol Hill, listed her property on Butters's site in November for $1,500 a night.

Ten days later, she was contacted by Angela Blair, who does public relations for Veridicus Films in Fort Worth. The company is screening an Obama documentary on Inauguration Day, and Blair was looking for lodging for her bosses, Maria Arita and Thomas Howard, who directed and produced the film.

Blair offered Snesko $600 a night for five nights, but Snesko balked. She reconsidered only after Butters called to tell her, "If you don't take this, you might not get anybody at all."

This week, Snesko, who works at the State Department, signed the deal.

"It's $3,000 we didn't have before," she reasoned.

Tim Tate, the glass artist who lives at Mather Studios in Penn Quarter, also reduced his asking price -- dropping from the original $2,000 listing for the week to $1,750 and then to $1,500.

Tate got the idea of making a quick buck from a neighbor, Jon Gann, who runs a filmmaking and film festival consulting business. One day after Obama's election victory, Gann listed his unit at Mather Studios for $3,000 for inauguration week.

Within two days, Gann received offers from four people. He asked for references from each and signed a contract with a Chicago doctor, who is bringing three relatives with her.

"I figured they wouldn't destroy the place," said Gann, who plans to visit his brother in New York while his place is occupied.

Tate has given up on a big payday and decided to invite family and friends to his condo for an inaugural party. Morocco will have to wait.

"Everyone thought it was easy money," he said wistfully.