choosing a villa - feedback to adverts

[mizzy]

recently i've had the pleasure of looking for my next holiday villa for the 3rd time[msnsmile] the choice of villas available from these 3 sites is incredible and the standard advertised makes it very hard to choose so after a while, although enjoyable, it did become a little bewildering[msnscared]

trawling through lots of adverts and the replies to my enquiry i have some feedback on adverts that are in no way a critism but little snippits of information that i have found extremely helpful when it came to that final choice

ariel photos showing how a villa is situated, i've been very impressed with this as it gives a possible guest a good idea as to how the villa and the pool is located in relation to others, which way it faces and what the villa backs onto

a villa floor plan OR

360 tours, which is nice to give an actual feel of being inside the villa

the villas location in relation to the actual road, especially those bigger roads such as the US27

and finally how long it would normally take to hear back from an owner after that initial enquiry is made

like i said this is no way a critism but is based on the actual questions i was sending out when i received emails of villas and their availabilty

the ariel photo shot, i know thats a hard one so another question i was asking especially when it came to those final few in the shortlist was a street address and zip code so i could see for myself how the villa was located using msn live local maps or google earth

now i know others looking for a villa would not have the same list as myself when it comes to choice or would not care about any of the above but i'm sure as villa owners you would perhaps appreciate the feedback from a future guest or maybe not?

[caroline]

Thanks for that Mizzy, it's really helpful - I'm actually trying to get an aerial shot included on our website so this has kicked me into making sure I do it sooner rather than later[msnsmile2]

[heathercobbett]

Although we are villa owners,we still often rent other peoples homes when ours is booked.

I rather miss the "surprise" element to booking a home;not too many years ago you would only get a description and a front view to go on.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

I think the aerial photo idea is an excellent one. The only problem for most owners is getting the photo as most of the online aerial photo sites such as Google Maps / Earth and MSN Live have maps that are very out of date and just don't show most villa communities at all.

[Linicia]

That's great feedback Mizzy but unfortunately, many of the homes that have been built in the last two years still show as a patch of sand , or trees on most of the mapping sites that show aerial views. Our address is not even recognised on any of the online maps, nor even on any sat nav system. The only way we could get an aerial shot is if I went up in a light aircraft and took my camera. Not sure my camera skills are that good.

Another point is that most owners will not be happy to give out the exact address until full payment has been made. You would be amazed at the number of scammers and thieves there are out there who we owners have to be constantly on our guard against. After showing the world what we have in our homes, via video tours and photos, if the precise address was known we could easily be targeted by those thieves who know what they want to steal.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

It's not just those built in the last two years - I know of lots of homes built 6 or more years ago that are still patches of sand / woodland.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Linicia
That's great feedback Mizzy but unfortunately, many of the homes that have been built in the last two years still show as a patch of sand , or trees on most of the mapping sites that show aerial views. Our address is not even recognised on any of the online maps, nor even on any sat nav system. The only way we could get an aerial shot is if I went up in a light aircraft and took my camera. Not sure my camera skills are that good.

[/quote]

[LiesaAnna]

we have been looking at ariel views lately and we know for a fact on that near Terra Verde where we will be staying there is a new community that has gone up, i believe its crystal cove, on google live it is just cleared ground, our friends have just spent Easter at TV and say that crystal cove is as good as finished, i have heard of other places that are now there and dont show up on google earth or live search behine medieval times
so wouldnt trust them alone when looking around like be nosey!

[Shirley G]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
I think the aerial photo idea is an excellent one. The only problem for most owners is getting the photo as most of the online aerial photo sites such as Google Maps / Earth and MSN Live have maps that are very out of date and just don't show most villa communities at all.
[/quote]


Where our villa is the Google Earth Map is still showing one of the villas in our street without a pool, and this is from 2003 when they were built. So an aeriel photo for us is not much good until they update.

[chrizzy100]

Ours is now up to date...well last year...I can tell that because our grass was bad for only a short time...until last month we were just trees...so it is being updated...

[Ian Dee]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Linicia
That's great feedback Mizzy but unfortunately, many of the homes that have been built in the last two years still show as a patch of sand , or trees on most of the mapping sites that show aerial views. Our address is not even recognised on any of the online maps, nor even on any sat nav system. The only way we could get an aerial shot is if I went up in a light aircraft and took my camera. Not sure my camera skills are that good.

Another point is that most owners will not be happy to give out the exact address until full payment has been made. You would be amazed at the number of scammers and thieves there are out there who we owners have to be constantly on our guard against. After showing the world what we have in our homes, via video tours and photos, if the precise address was known we could easily be targeted by those thieves who know what they want to steal.
[/quote]
I agree with Pat.
I dont give the actual numbered address until a Security Deposit has been received. It was one of the must NOT do instructions we got when we first bought.