Vacation Home??
- Thread starter TSWJan78
- Start date
tednvon
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2000
- Messages
- 1,661
Yes..they have a good rep and their homes are privately owned by real people like you and me but managed by Families First, as are most all homes in Orlando for rent.....Just wondering, how did you hear about Families First?..........thanks, Ted
My family of 5 stayed at one of their homes last year just after Thanksgiving for two weeks, at that time we paid $66 a night, last time I checked recently it was about $85 per night the home was PERFECT! There was absolutely nothing wrong with Families First and I will be making a repeat visit again this year for our annual orlando vaction.
We are from Alaska and mostly its just the internet and the couple of mouse sites that I learned about the vacation rental homes. I had originally planned on a 10 day stay at the Villas in WDW but having your own heated enclosed pool, privacy, pure quiet and a spacious fully equipped home that was 1/4th the price made my decision, go for it. There are others that have more to offer but we were happy.
We are from Alaska and mostly its just the internet and the couple of mouse sites that I learned about the vacation rental homes. I had originally planned on a 10 day stay at the Villas in WDW but having your own heated enclosed pool, privacy, pure quiet and a spacious fully equipped home that was 1/4th the price made my decision, go for it. There are others that have more to offer but we were happy.
Can't believe that these folks are doing such ridiculous prices. No wonder homes get foreclosed and the industry gets a bad name when another guest comes along only to find the house they tried to rent is no longer there.
Whilst this may be good if you are looking to rent, it certainly doesn't do anyone else any good. Exactly how much would have these homeowners have seen for their home ? After sales tax is taken out FF did the house for $ 58.08 - assuming they paid the sales tax !
Frankly I'm infuriated by this and I personally believe it it very bad business. Families First are a booking agancy (please correct me if I'm wrong) so presumably they took their cut of say 10%. They then had to pay the management company they borrowed the house from, who then took their cut. The owner of the house probably made $30 a night for supplying a nice, clean, fully furnished house complete with swimming pool.
Folks, whilst this may look like a great deal this is exactly the type of circumstance where things can go wrong. At such low rates don't be surprised if the house is double booked, is poorly kept or if the booking agency/management company is cutting corners.
My recommendation for a good home :
Go to www.cfpma.com and use one of the management companies mentioned there. These are reputable companies who abide by a code of ethics and supply the best homes in the area. Alternatively use VRBO.
Whilst this may be good if you are looking to rent, it certainly doesn't do anyone else any good. Exactly how much would have these homeowners have seen for their home ? After sales tax is taken out FF did the house for $ 58.08 - assuming they paid the sales tax !
Frankly I'm infuriated by this and I personally believe it it very bad business. Families First are a booking agancy (please correct me if I'm wrong) so presumably they took their cut of say 10%. They then had to pay the management company they borrowed the house from, who then took their cut. The owner of the house probably made $30 a night for supplying a nice, clean, fully furnished house complete with swimming pool.
Folks, whilst this may look like a great deal this is exactly the type of circumstance where things can go wrong. At such low rates don't be surprised if the house is double booked, is poorly kept or if the booking agency/management company is cutting corners.
My recommendation for a good home :
Go to www.cfpma.com and use one of the management companies mentioned there. These are reputable companies who abide by a code of ethics and supply the best homes in the area. Alternatively use VRBO.
I am still planning on booking with Families First come next week for another two week stay, possibly longer, most of those "other places' ask for a deposit and other fees and the rates are higher. I can understand why some folks do not like to see guests NOT stay at WDW and be spending money elsewhere, and so far I have never heard bad news about them.
FLeisure Are you not promoting an association you belong to?
Families First is a wonderful company. I think it is pretty low of you to come here and try to disparage them and promote the company you are affiliated with.
Don't be discouraged by his comments. I used them in December and found them to be a dream come true as did many different people on these boards. Do a search and you'll be hard pressed to find a negative comment about them!
TednVon - I found them through posts, not advertising.
Families First is a wonderful company. I think it is pretty low of you to come here and try to disparage them and promote the company you are affiliated with.
Don't be discouraged by his comments. I used them in December and found them to be a dream come true as did many different people on these boards. Do a search and you'll be hard pressed to find a negative comment about them!
TednVon - I found them through posts, not advertising.
MOMTOMOOTOO
<font color=blue>The people in Shop Rite would not
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2001
- Messages
- 4,741
Could someone please post the link to Families First, I can't find it. Thanks.
I fully agree with you FLeisure (again)!
Even $66 is a bargain for what you get, never mind after everyone else has had their cut.
By the way the CFPMA is the "regulating" association for Central Florida and any decent management co. should be a member.
FLeisure isn't promoting anything, more just stating the obvious.
kristikae,
Thanks for taking the trouble to write. I understand your feelings and rather felt someone would come back with the comments you made.
The reason I come on this forum is to promote the use of vacation homes - I make no bones about it. Over the last 10 years I have seen the ups and downs of management companies who provide these homes to guests.
On the whole the MC's do a good job but there are always the unscrupulous amongst them - this is what I try to guard folks against.
I am certainly not saying that Families First are unscrupulous but I am simply asking the question of how can they do these rates ?
Let's face facts....
Mr D stated that he rented a home for 5 people for $66 a night. I am going to assume that this was a 3 bed home. From my experience the running costs of a 3 bed home equate to $15-18K per annum for an owner. Assuming a 20% vacancy rate an owner needs to obtain approx $50 per night to cover costs based on 15k and even higher on 18k.
Now you tell me how an owner obtaining in the region of $30 a night from FF/MC is going to make their investment pay ? What is the most likely outcome of this if the owner doesn't recover their cost ?
Let me now give you an example of what happened in this industry approx 5 years ago. A large company managing 400 homes went bust owing over $ 2 million ...mostly to the homeowners who on average lost $ 10-15k. Now imagine the hassle the guests had who made bookings through this company let alone the owners of the homes ?
Incidentally, the directors of the company (nothing to do with FFirst) that went bust reopened under a different name just a few months after walking away from the mess they previously created. Would you want to book with them ?
Forgive me for promoting an organisation where I know people will be looked after properly but my bottom line is ensuring that people have a great vacation and want to return. I don't want anyone to experience what happened 5 years ago.....imagine saving up for your vacation only to find the house you thought you had rented is no longer available to you ? The companies invoved in CFPMA have all made a commitment to improve standards, to treat people professionally and to improve the vacation experience when staying in a home.
Thanks for taking the trouble to write. I understand your feelings and rather felt someone would come back with the comments you made.
The reason I come on this forum is to promote the use of vacation homes - I make no bones about it. Over the last 10 years I have seen the ups and downs of management companies who provide these homes to guests.
On the whole the MC's do a good job but there are always the unscrupulous amongst them - this is what I try to guard folks against.
I am certainly not saying that Families First are unscrupulous but I am simply asking the question of how can they do these rates ?
Let's face facts....
Mr D stated that he rented a home for 5 people for $66 a night. I am going to assume that this was a 3 bed home. From my experience the running costs of a 3 bed home equate to $15-18K per annum for an owner. Assuming a 20% vacancy rate an owner needs to obtain approx $50 per night to cover costs based on 15k and even higher on 18k.
Now you tell me how an owner obtaining in the region of $30 a night from FF/MC is going to make their investment pay ? What is the most likely outcome of this if the owner doesn't recover their cost ?
Let me now give you an example of what happened in this industry approx 5 years ago. A large company managing 400 homes went bust owing over $ 2 million ...mostly to the homeowners who on average lost $ 10-15k. Now imagine the hassle the guests had who made bookings through this company let alone the owners of the homes ?
Incidentally, the directors of the company (nothing to do with FFirst) that went bust reopened under a different name just a few months after walking away from the mess they previously created. Would you want to book with them ?
Forgive me for promoting an organisation where I know people will be looked after properly but my bottom line is ensuring that people have a great vacation and want to return. I don't want anyone to experience what happened 5 years ago.....imagine saving up for your vacation only to find the house you thought you had rented is no longer available to you ? The companies invoved in CFPMA have all made a commitment to improve standards, to treat people professionally and to improve the vacation experience when staying in a home.
I think the price of his rental was directly related to 9-11. Let's face it, tourism was down. I got my flights to Orland for $52pp round trip. We rented a house for $85 per night. Those aren't their regular prices. If you check their website their prices are very similar to any other home rental company I came across. I looked at www.floridadreamhomes.com, vrbo, and others but I can't remember them right now. Prices for July are $129 per night to $179 per night.
I got many references from the company before I used them from people here on the DisBoards. Of course I would hope anyone would check references with any company before they use them. I can see you are only trying to look out for people. I guess some could probably look at my posts and think I secretly work for Families First, but the truth is just that our house we rented was way above and beyond what we expected and I can't help recommending them to others.
I got many references from the company before I used them from people here on the DisBoards. Of course I would hope anyone would check references with any company before they use them. I can see you are only trying to look out for people. I guess some could probably look at my posts and think I secretly work for Families First, but the truth is just that our house we rented was way above and beyond what we expected and I can't help recommending them to others.
I am delighted that you had a great experience and I am equally delighted that you recommend them - honestly !
Hopefully you are right in your assessment that it was after 9-11 and I certainly hope their rates have gone back to normal from the homeowners point of view!
I am a firm believer in the old saying that price isn't everything although I fully understand a families desire to find the best price possible.
I just find it a little hard to accept that folks will try to barter down a 3 bed home from $89 a night (industry norm) when you consider the prices WDW and other major hotels charge !
Hopefully you are right in your assessment that it was after 9-11 and I certainly hope their rates have gone back to normal from the homeowners point of view!
I am a firm believer in the old saying that price isn't everything although I fully understand a families desire to find the best price possible.
I just find it a little hard to accept that folks will try to barter down a 3 bed home from $89 a night (industry norm) when you consider the prices WDW and other major hotels charge !
Oh and by the way...in reference to working for FF.
I wish you did......and I wish that more MC's / rental companies would come on this forum and give their opinions. I sometimes wonder if I'm doing the right thing by offering an insiders view ! I'll continue for now until enough of you tell me to go away
I wish you did......and I wish that more MC's / rental companies would come on this forum and give their opinions. I sometimes wonder if I'm doing the right thing by offering an insiders view ! I'll continue for now until enough of you tell me to go away
EBONYPRINCESS2000
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
- Messages
- 62
Kristakae, I fixed your link: http://www.floridadreamhomes.com/. FLeisure, I see what you are saying. I am a little skeptical about something for almost nothing as well. Are there any vacation home/ condos you could recommend that are fair and resonable? I would be interested because I am already planning for next year.
Naturally I would recommend us but the others I recommend are featured on the CFPMA web site. VRBO is also pretty good.
www.cfpma.com
www.VRBO.com
www.floridaleisure.com
www.cfpma.com
www.VRBO.com
www.floridaleisure.com
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