Thanks for the advice. I've always been terrible at negotiating, this might be where I need to hire a smooth talking producer
I don’t mean a hard bargain. I mean walk into the rental house,
tell them you’re schedule is open and ask if they can help you
with a good deal. Or walk in with your set dates, ask for their
weekly rate and then just ask if they are willing to make a deal
for a four week rental.
You don’t have to come back with something better for you, just
take a few minutes to get to know the people at a couple of the
local rental houses. Ask them about their rates and what they
offer. If you are the one comparing rates then YOU are the producer.
You don’t need to be a smooth talker, just a guy trying to get a
movie made.
Everyone at the rental house is tired of smooth talking producers
trying to bargain with them. Ask - talk to them about what they
offer - let them know what you’re doing. This is the very definition
of making contacts. You did a Google search so you know the places
in L.A. that rent the Alexia - time to find out what they charge.
And meet the rental folks.