Inquiry Etiquette

[dougsmom98]

Hi guys. I just put in a general inquiry to Windsor Hills. I have already gotten back a few responses that are out of my price range, should I email them and let them know I am not interested? I can imagine that there will be a lot of offers. Do you let everyone know that you are not interested or only those that you follow up with and put on your "short" list?
Thanks.

 

[Zeebs]

I don't think you have to but I didn't feel right not sending a wee note saying I had found something else and thanked them for taking the time to email me their details. I had replies from some of them asking what they could do differently in the future or if there was anything I particularly liked or didn't like which I was happy to answer.

Kirsten.

 

[dougsmom98]

Thanks for your reply. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the responses so far and it has only been several hours.

 

[Brian Noble]

I believe it is proper to respond to each message with at least a short reply, even if the message was auto-generated from your inquiry.

 

[Zeebs]

Thanks for your reply. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the responses so far and it has only been several hours.

I'll tell you how I dealt with all the replies, I set up a spreadsheet, I put the name, website, price in and then after a couple of days when I thought they had all come in I went through them one by one with my requirements and either marked them as a possible or marked them as a no. At this point I asked extra questions if I had any, to be honest though I didn't do a lot of question asking because I kinda felt if I couldn't find my answers in the information I was given I marked it as a no. (I am not too fussy either)

Because I had so many I used the email I was originally sent as my first decision point, some just seemed friendlier than others they went on the maybe pile.

I also said no to the most expensive ones, I didn't see why I should pay over $900.00 all costs included I didn't think that a huge television and premium furniture was worth that much more.

This is what I sent back to all the unsucessful condos.

"Thank you very much for taking the time to email me with the details of your condo. Unfortunately we have decided to go with another unit. With so much selection we found making the decision quite difficult. Because we received so many responses we made our decision on the amenities each condo could offer that we thought would suit our needs the most. Thank you once again for getting in touch."


Anyway I hope this is of some help to you.

Kirsten

 

[skmommy]

I also felt that a quick "thank you, but we booked another home" was the polite thing to do. I figured if I was an owner it would be what I would expect. We did have about 3 owners thank us for responding and ask if we wouldn't mind letting them know why we chose the other home and what they could do differently the next time. I sent them individual emails with a longer explanation.

I also kept a notebook of all the details for each home and the offers so that I could refer back and try to make the decision easier. I'll have to try a spreadsheet next time- it sounds faster.

 

[dougsmom98]

Thanks for the replies. I will do a quick thank-you after I think I have gotten all the replies back. I am a little disappointed. There is not one place, so far, that I feel like we can honestly afford. I would LOVE to stay here as so many people on these boards have, but since my in-laws are coming we need a four bedroom or bigger and the prices are almost double what we paid for a 6 bedroom last year outside of Windsor Hills. Maybe someday we will stay here, but it is not looking good for our next trip.

 

[mareed]

Thanks for the replies. I will do a quick thank-you after I think I have gotten all the replies back. I am a little disappointed. There is not one place, so far, that I feel like we can honestly afford. I would LOVE to stay here as so many people on these boards have, but since my in-laws are coming we need a four bedroom or bigger and the prices are almost double what we paid for a 6 bedroom last year outside of Windsor Hills. Maybe someday we will stay here, but it is not looking good for our next trip.

If you dont mind, I'm curious as to whether the 6 bedroom from last year was in one of the other close-by neighborhoods (Formosa Gardens area like Windsor Palms, Emerald Island, Indian Creek, etc) or whether it was much further away?

I've stayed in the Formosa Gardens area many times in condos/townhomes and villas and found Windsor Hills prices to be a bit more, but certainly not double! I'd say I found Windsor Hills to be around 25-50% more, depending on whether comparing condos, townhomes, or villas but for some people and in certain circumstances, it's justified because it's currently the newest. When it's just us travelling, we're fine with one of the slightly older properties, but for our upcoming trip where we're splitting a 5 bedroom home with another family, we wanted the newness and amenities of Windsor Hills.

Hope you find something that meets your criteria!

 

[dougsmom98]

If you dont mind, I'm curious as to whether the 6 bedroom from last year was in one of the other close-by neighborhoods (Formosa Gardens area like Windsor Palms, Emerald Island, Indian Creek, etc) or whether it was much further away?

This past February we stayed in the Solana Resort in Davenport - Davenport is further out but it doesn't bother us at all. It was a 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath home. We paid $1300 and that included pool heat and taxes. There were three families splitting that cost and that made it a great deal. I re-did the math and most WH homes are 60-70% more expensive than we paid last year, not double like I originally posted. Some are only 4 bedroom homes though so 60-70 % higher is not comparable to a 6 bedroom home. I totally understand why WH prices are higher. I know that it is the most popular community and the location is fantastic. I almost wasn't going to put in an inquiry at all because I kind of knew it was out of my league , but you never know. If I don't find something there this year, I will add it to my list of dream places to stay sometime in the future .

 

[mareed]

I totally understand why WH prices are higher. I know that it is the most popular community and the location is fantastic. I almost wasn't going to put in an inquiry at all because I kind of knew it was out of my league , but you never know. If I don't find something there this year, I will add it to my list of dream places to stay sometime in the future .

I sent you a PM with info about a Windsor Hills home that might work for you.

 

[gqchicago]

Hi guys. I just put in a general inquiry to Windsor Hills. I have already gotten back a few responses that are out of my price range, should I email them and let them know I am not interested? I can imagine that there will be a lot of offers. Do you let everyone know that you are not interested or only those that you follow up with and put on your "short" list?
Thanks.

I know a lot of people responded saying they would send owners a nice quote saying "xxxx"....but honestly, most people never do, so I don't think you should feel obligated to do so. It's a lot of work to send back a lot of emails like that, so I don't think it's rude or anything if you don't. It IS a nice gesture, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it's necessary. If you had been corresponding back and forth with someone for a while or something that would be different, but if they just sent you 1 quote, not really. Just my 2 cents! =p

 

[mareed]

I know a lot of people responded saying they would send owners a nice quote saying "xxxx"....but honestly, most people never do, so I don't think you should feel obligated to do so. It's a lot of work to send back a lot of emails like that, so I don't think it's rude or anything if you don't. It IS a nice gesture, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it's necessary. If you had been corresponding back and forth with someone for a while or something that would be different, but if they just sent you 1 quote, not really. Just my 2 cents! =p

I'm glad to hear that from an owner because I don't respond at all to many that are just unsuitable for us due to price or other reasons (like no king bed). I probably send follow-up inquiries to less than 10% and do let those who've I worked with know if/when we make another choice.

 

[dougsmom98]

I know a lot of people responded saying they would send owners a nice quote saying "xxxx"....but honestly, most people never do, so I don't think you should feel obligated to do so. It's a lot of work to send back a lot of emails like that, so I don't think it's rude or anything if you don't. It IS a nice gesture, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it's necessary. If you had been corresponding back and forth with someone for a while or something that would be different, but if they just sent you 1 quote, not really. Just my 2 cents! =p

Thanks so much for the information. If I email anyone asking for more details, I would let them know one way or the other for sure. I was feeling overwhelmed thinking that I should email everyone back.