Florida Vacation Homes

[soojay]

Just another point of view............
Although at the risk of upsetting anyone - I will say up front that I have read this Forum with interest for some time, and think the info to be gleaned is amazing - and I have been coming to Florida for 18 years ! However- I will just give you a differing perspective on renting a villa for a vacation. I own one, and am not soliciting for bookings - I always have more than enough ! I just want you to know how it works to help you all on your way
Firstly Martina, at the risk of pouring oil on troubled waters, you have pushed me to register to reply Everything that ridge and fleisure say is true !! I know a lot of what goes on, and you should make sure that your privately owned villa is safe and secure for your families vacation. Why trust an owner that doesn't do things correctly ? Will they then have the required protection should anything go wrong ? Not if they skimp on management, to start with ! If they have a manager who isn't licensed - WHY ?!?!
So you find a home in an area you like, you ask the appropriate Questions, but that info will probably be offered firstly, by any responsible owner. You normally fill in a booking fee, pay a deposit direct or via their Manager, and the owner will then trust you, and hold their home for you. Before you go, or when you arrive, you pay the balance due, and you have someones dream vacation home, with many extra's to make it a home, for your vacation. How simple is that ?
Not so simple for the home owner, but a great value vacation for you.
Just another option for you, I don't mind answering any Q's that will help. Vacations are expensive, and should be enjoyable.

 

[Lakul]

And another perspective -

We also have a rental home that is fully licensed. Our caretakers are not members of the CFPMA. They are totally reputable and have looked after our home for 18 months without any problems to us or our guests.

Our previous management company(who lasted 7 months) were members of the CFPMA and I wouldn't let them near our home again if they were the last people on earth.

Please don't give the impression that if you are not a member, you shouldn't rent from that owner. There are plently of small and large caretakers who are honest and trustworthy. As someone has said, ask the owner of the home you want to rent, lots of questions and enjoy your holiday.

 

[soojay]

Originally posted by Lakul
And another perspective -

We also have a rental home that is fully licensed. Our caretakers are not members of the CFPMA. They are totally reputable and have looked after our home for 18 months without any problems to us or our guests.

Our previous management company(who lasted 7 months) were members of the CFPMA and I wouldn't let them near our home again if they were the last people on earth.

Sorry Kerry - wasn't casting aspurtions........ there is one Caretaker with a good name, just as there are only a few MC's with a good name also - it is a small town once you own a property isn't it ? If I only knew before what I know after etc. Of course individuals will care about their homes but it is a way of trying to safeguard the risks.

 

[martina857]

Simon
"And Martina, please don't go making wild, unsubstantiated allegations. It's very tiresome."

I apologise because I did some research last night and it seems this company may or may not have been a CFPMA member, as the incident happened in 1997/98 and it seems cfpma was started in 97. That does not set aside though that this was a very large company, I think they were called Connoiseur or something similar, so not exactly wild accusations if a little misinformed. My point being that there is as much chance of a company going under as there is any one else, I am a member of a trade association for my own business and it means nothing.
Fleisure is here for 1 thing only and that is to promote his business, now that is tiresome! These boards should be used as a tool to relate vacationers experiences good and bad so we can make a decision for ourselves without any "business" influence interfering, constantly.
Fleisure,
I have been reading these boards since they were started, I choose to read most of the time and not post unless I can help, over the years I have had invaluable information from here (not from you.
What was it you called me "wicked witch"? Thats OK I can take that DOPEY!

 

[soojay]

Well I think it is good to have a sound professional, not asking for bookings, but giving an insight into things..........a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing...............so why refuse more ?
So Fleisure ..........knowing of you, are you touting for trade ?!?!? As one of the most successful Management companies in Kissimmee, I doubt that.However, I agree with what you say about some organisations being next to useless, but CFPMA is trying its best to bring up standards for both owners and rentors, with some considerable success. THe company you mentioned, Martina, was notoriously well known - the benefit of FLeisure's advice and experience would have saved heartache there.
I think all points of view are good - it all adds to info wanted whoever it is from - if you don't like their point of view, discard it, but don't close the door to another avenue of information, I say, be it from witches gnomes or whatever

 

[FLeisure]

Soojay,
I started coming on these Boards after the Go2Orlando Board closed. That really was a great Board and had many great people on it who gave valuable insights into their experiences. One such character was called Disney Dave who has never posted again since the G2O Board closed down in its then format. A great loss.

As I have repreatedly said, I come on here to increase awareness of vacation homes and some of the things that folks should look for before they actually commit to booking one for their vacation. Sure, I occassionally get a benefit from this but that is not the reason I come here.

I moved to Orlando 5 years ago after visiting for many years and eventually owning a home that I rented out. I fell in love with the area and then moved here....acquiring a MC business in the process. From there, I made it my goal to find out as much as possible about the STR (Short Term rental) business and why it had such a bad name.

Eventually I joined CFPMA as it is the only association that has rules and ethics of behaviour in regard to the STR business. That doesn't mean to say that some companies or individuals within that group don't cause the odd problem as they do, but they are dealt with and educated in the correct way of doing things. At present there is absolutely nothing out there to govern the way that MC's or individual owners go about renting their properties, as long as they obey certain State and County rules....and it is something that is open to abuse by unscrupulous business or individual home owners. The fact that many companies haven't joined the CFPMA troubles me....some of them cannot as they cannot agree to the code of ethics.

Frankly, CFPMA is not the solution to all the problems but it is a starting point. One that is growing and one that will have some influence in getting MC's licensed one day...moves are a foot in that direction. It will be a good day for everyone concerned when it finally happens.

Martina mentions Connoiseur Homes in her post. No, they haven't been members of the CFPMA at any point and this is a typical example of what can happen to innocent people...both homeowners and guests alike. Wonder if Martina is aware that the people who ran Connoiseur are alive and well and running exactly the same type of business in the area today ? These are the people I am keen to get booted out of the industry and these are the people that you should avoid.

Frankly, I would like to see more MC's come on this forum but they are frightened to because of reactions like Martina's. It's understandable I suppose, if you take a very narrow view of life, but I am not afraid to take the abuse in offering a different perspective on the whole STR business...one that is ever growing.

I take comfort from the many emails and pm's I get from folks who just want advice who have read my posts here. Many's the time folks have asked me for information and I have freely given it. Martina seems to think that these boards are for people to give their vacation experiences...good and bad.....she fails to realise that by using these boards intelligently one can seriously limit the amount of poor experiences one can have. Further, she fails to realise that these Boards can be a valuable source of information and that folks can learn more about an industry if there is open debate from both sides.

 

[SimonV]

And that is quite enough of that particular debate, folks, for debate it has become.

This is purely an information forum and I am quite happy for the info to come from all sides. Occasionally it helps to know from which perspective the info comes (especially from local sources), but I am not happy with tit-for-tat debates which help no-one.

Sermon over!

 

[dgaston]

I just wanted to add that I have booked a home in Windsor Palms for December. I was looking at Fred Hallam's homes, and thanks to earlier posts from FLeisure was able to figure out that the location was further away than I wanted.

Thanks Fleisure!

I know you often ask about why choose Windsor Palms. For us it was the advantage of the community offerings for a really wide spread out age group including 9, 11, 15, 20 and 23 year old children for my brother and myself.

 

[FLeisure]

dgaston,
Hope you have a great time at Windsor Palms. Judging from the popularity of the community, I'm starting to reconsider my opinion and may even buy a resale in there just to cope with the demand this place obviously gets !

PS.
Thanks to everyone for the emails of support. I'm glad my posts are of use to some of you !

 

[Mr D]

I have been a member of the DIS boards for over two years, daily I read postings but usually do not post often.
I have seen before a somewhat intrusive behaviour from the individual above and the fact that his comments are usually to the direction that his are the final say so about renting a home. And I have seen him chastised also about discouraging remarks aimed at other corporations in the rental home market and to the ideas of other posters and their rental home plans which to say the very least is very popular nowadays.
But why intrude a discussion board to possibly discourage would be home renters? Sure there are bad apples out there but they are soon weeded out.
Everytime or almost every post I have ever made about my happy rental experiance is to pass on good news about how it was, not to advertise or subtly suggest that if it doesn't have a certain....rating its a ripoff. I can do my own research, but having somebody try to aim or steer me for monetary gain here on the boards really gets my goat. Perhaps this person feels he is helping but over a period of time its apparent the motives do not change.

If they want to advertise I suggest another means than hogging the discussion board proclaiming to be the world expert, I find that most annoying and an afront to my intelligence.

No names are said on who...

Personally I would like to see a new seperate forum aimed directly at Vacation Rental Homes, so we can get the trip reports, ratings and locations, the extras etc. I rented mine especially because it came with a PC and internet access.

 

[FLeisure]

Mr. D.,
And if you had been a victim of Connossieur Homes, etc. going bust you might have a different view. Believe what you will about me, I just hope that you always make wise choices.

I am no world expert on vacation homes but I do have more experience than most. If most don't want the benefit of that then fine I'll disappear....but the number of emails I get would suggest otherwise. You're entitled to your opinion and I to mine.

Your idea in regard to a seperate forum for vacation homes is an excellent one however. ZI hope it is taken up.

 

[Mr D]

A little research helps.

My trip planning starts immediately after a trip, I booked the next home 9 months in advance, they recieved a deposit and so far so good.

The way I see it is that the rental home business is getting very very competitive in the Orlando area, but advertising is minimal. Now for obvious reasons the big parks would rather have guests stay on property, the advantages for a long term visit of over 10 days is readily apparent in the savings of food made at home (breakfast and dinner).
But many people would rather eat out and accept the costs perhaps of their yearly income. Myself I am just a mechanic, but that doesn't mean a cheap short vacation for my family, most the opposite, we plan for two or 4 week stays, relax in privacy, no noisy late parties, our own pool, many luxuries like a PS2, DVD, widescreen, garage, W&D that comes at a more afffordable price, actually all that in a three bedrrom house not far from WDW, plus the costs of a heated pool for about $100 a day taxes incuded.

If I was a homeowner and renting while I was away it would be difficult trying to reel in the public to me, being part of a well know agency helps for obvious reasons but from what I have seen is that alone adds to the home rental, so its an inbetween, finding a group of owners and then selecting the best home.

Thats what I did, some homes were very affordable, some were too big, but a couple had what I wanted. The owner also has his own discussion boards, sorta like a mini-DIS, live chat too. Very nice people they are, they mostly live in the UK.

 

[soojay]

I advertise with OV also, Mr D, we pay a commission for any booking through them. THey are very good.
THe rule of thumb seems to be..........if you have a home near to Disney, built to a good standard, etc you command a better rental- with good reason- your mortgage will be higher, as you have paid more for the home. If you are further away, you offer more incentives to capture the market.
If it doesn't matter to you how long it takes you to get to and from theme parks etc, or what area you are in, this is great. Again - the power of freedom of choice. However, you need to make sure the home is well looked after etc - no probs with OV, as all the owners are a dedicated bunch ! FLeisure should know - lots are his clients