Community: Message List - owners residing on property

Re: owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:13:40 GMT

Re: owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:18:18 GMT

we live on site ... this is the latest review just in...

I'd like to say what a wonderful time we had staying at the apartment in Houesville - it was like a home from home for us, quiet, relaxing, very comfortable and cosy and just what we needed for a week away from the madness and chaos of our daily lives here in the UK. You were the most perfect hosts, welcoming and friendly, happy to "leave us to it" but equally as happy to stop and chat when we saw each other, and the dogs always seemed happy to see us - which was just lovely too! Our stay with you in September, felt more like a trip to see good friends, rather than renting a holiday let. So thank you very very much. We cannot wait to stay with you again, which brings me on to my next question.

Re: owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:52:40 GMT

Cabanas Potosi, Panama - We live in the main house where the office is and have cabins are behind us within 200 feet . We have been doing this for two years now and have never had a problem with clients concerning this matter. If they want their privacy we give it to them. If they want to be part of our family functions they join in. If they want just good conversation and lots of information we participate. By being on the property we provide 24 service, if needed, and security for their stay. Also, we get lots of clients returning for other visits.

owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:32:23 GMT

we're on site... I say in my blurb - if you don't want to see us you don't have to... if you do want to mix we're here... just said goodbye to a couple we didn't interact with for a full 2 weeks & she burst into tears when it was time to go... "oh it's all so wonderful here"!

Re: owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:51:06 GMT

Paul... what a lovely message. We who have the privilege to own beautiful homes and enjoy sharing our little pieces of paradise with others will appreciate your words. We are not just in this for the money... we actually really enjoy having guests in our home and I would say that 99.9% of them leave as firm friends and return again and again and continue to communicate with emails, letters and phone calls to further develop relationships with us. Our children make new friends from all over the world that they would probably not have the opportunity to do if we didn't open our house to guests.

We feel utterly fortunate in every way to be in position to share our world with others.

Miranda

VRBO #77152

www.ilpero.com

Re: owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:26:36 GMT

Hello there, Tony and Jo:

I read your post a few days ago, and something about it touched me deeply and inspired me. I’ve found myself thinking now and again about the place and the experience you describe, ever since. I cannot tell you why, because I have no idea. But I did feel to tell you that it had, and to thank you for that mysterious gift. I am sure that the vacation rental experience that you offer is something more than just that.

You sound like simply wonderful people, and as much as anyone I've heard of lately, seem to be leading the truly "sweet life." ( I say "truly" because it is genuinely yours, and also because it seems that you enjoy most of all sharing the bounty you've received, with others.) I thought, "These people have brought down to this troubled Earth a small taste of Heaven now, when we most need and hunger for it." In today's mean world,even a touch of Heaven can send some beautiful ripples very far indeed.

And you are not the only ones! No one is participating in this forum because they have to. We are not seeking "green shamrocks" for our windows (remember those?), or accreditation. We are sharing because we are all learning upon the way, and have much to offer one another, and because (fundamentally) we all want to give our guests (and ourselves, by the way, for the two seem to rise or fall together) a better and richer experience. I have been so impressed, generally, with the true quality and caliber of people as revealed under trying circumstances. I have heard voices of clarity and gentle kindness. I feel it a privilege to be part of this community. I suspect that there is no other group exactly like it, anywhere.

But speaking of trying times, I will bring this sincere song of praise to a quick end, as I sit pecking away by dim candle-light in an oven-hot house now mostly without power. Aaaargh. Our 1937 electrical wiring started acting strangely last week, and only got worse. Thankfully, the Cottage behind (also dark) is not rented at the moment, and neither is the Mission next door. (Lounging about in Florida heat without air cond. is a state of affairs usually reserved for the aftermath of one or the other great Hurricanes. Not generally recommended.)

But I just wanted to hop on and offer a heartfelt Thanks to all.

Warmly yours : )

Paul

owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:09:26 GMT

We are following this with interest because we do live onsite. Our rental is the bottom floor of our home, essentially. http://www.vrbo.com/229936 (or on another site http://www.flipkey.com/utila-condo-rentals/p268525)

We had initially wondered how that was going to affect our bookings, but have found it to be non-existent or unimportant aspect of the equation.

All of our guests are well aware that we are onsite before they book with us. The majority of our guests have had between 5 and 20 correspondences with us prior to their arrival. They know that we are onsite. We have as much or as little contact with the guest as they desire; we pick them up at the ferry dock or the airport and return to that location when they depart. In between it is up to them.

Our rental is the lower floor of the home and has a separate entrance. We built it specifically for that purpose and furnished it to be "homey" (we even include a guitar) ~ unlike like a hotel, but we also have no personal effects in the rental. The single most "selling" aspect of the rental is the custom pool we built. When we have guests that pool is for their use only, as are the rest of the grounds. None of our friends use it or the grounds when we are booked and they all call ahead to make sure they don't interrupt a guest. Even Jo and I don't use the grounds unless invited by the guests. This is their vacation.

That being said, we are somewhat well known for hosting dinner parties on Friday nights where 8 - 25 people come for the afternoon/evening. Those dinners are suspended when we are booked. However, Laguna Vista is perfect for that and many of our guests have read or heard about it. (We also get a number of bookings through Facebook, which lends itself to personal interaction between past guests and potential guests). We have had a number of guests actually request that we do have a Friday night dinner, and often use the occasion to show off their own cooking skills by preparing their specialty for the guests. Some of our guests like to meet island "locals" with their unique linguistic lilt, or patios, and this gives them an opportunity to do so in a marginally controlled environment; the guest list is tailored to the kind of guest we have. (One dinner hosted for a Danish couple consisted of 25 people representing 17 different nationalities).

The other end of the spectrum is the couple that flew in from NBC in New York for a few days and wanted no interaction whatsoever, which is exactly what we gave them. They wanted only to enjoy each other and some down time. We spoke to them only upon arrival and departure, with them actually "seeing" us only when we went through the front gate. They were a joy to have with us and took zero effort or time from us.

My point here, I suppose, is that it has worked very well for us because we are up front about it. We do not spring it on our guests; they are well aware that we live on the property. An upside we have discovered from this arrangement is that we have had people choose to NOT stay with us because they knew we were onsite, and then heard from our friends that did book them that the guest(s) was a drunken, doped up, belligerent pain in the ass. We would not have tolerated that behaviour. (Drinking is of course expected, and our guests are met with a glass of wine upon arrival; they have previously been informed that no dope is allowed on the property)

My final thought would be to not be overly concerned about being an onsite host. Just let your potential guest know and then give them what they want... as much or as little interaction as they might desire. Our reviews have inspired many of our bookings.

Tony and Jo

Re: owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:03:54 GMT

As I said at the beginning of this post, I rented 17 vacation homes during 2003-2009. I always had complaints about sharing, owner's possessions and owners closely. You can't risk negative online complaints

Sent from my iPhone

Jayne Frank

480/239-2410

Phone answers on EST 9am to 10pm

Re: owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sun, 29 May 2011 23:40:27 GMT

Wow!

That makes perfect sense.

Helena Looby, there have been a lot of interesting and insightful posts here, but this (what you wrote) deserves a bright gold star.

owners residing on property

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sun, 29 May 2011 23:31:32 GMT

I manage several vacation properties where I live and from my experience it appears that vacationers really like their privacy.

One of my units is a side by side duplex with the owner living on one side and renting the other. Each side has their own private backyard and patio. The unit rents well because it is a 3 bedroom and can sleep 6. Even though the owner is very close it doesn't seem like it because of the residential area it is located in with houses fairly close together.

Another property is a refurbished heritage-style home. The owner lives down the basement and rents the attic area to a long term local person and the main floor 3 bedroom unit as a vacation rental. In this scenario it is difficult to get a vacation renter because the yard is shared by all 3 units and visitors do not feel private.

So it kind of depends. Guests renting a larger acerage outside the city limits would also probably not like to feel they are sharing the space with someone else even the owner.

Just my 2 cents