Sorry to have to post this!

[chrisj]

Karen

I agree, thats nice that you make the offer. As for us I have ticked the box before and
was pleased I had. As this thread has said, its hard to please everyone and I can understand
both sides. All I can do is comment from my own experience. If it wasnt for this site we
would not have had the best holiday we have had in years, and also we would not be going
back next year for 3 weeks. Its a fine line trying to please everyone but I think on the
whole this site does that. Thats what I think and I have said so to John or is it Sarah

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

You have - and it's very much appreciated Chris

quote:Originally posted by chrisj
Thats what I think and I have said so to John or is it Sarah

[chrisj]

Your more than welcome. I am one to complain like everyone else, but I also say
thankyou as that to me is as important.

[chrizzy100]

quote:Originally posted by chrisj

When ive looked if there is a calander I have always checked, way I look at it, if they
are booked when I want saves me wasting an email and time

I was looking for a place in case it was needed...and I only looked at the ones with calanders.....I like seeing the calanders it saves a lot of time with weeding out place already booked....and not taking up owner time if you're not sure you'll need to rent.....

[Carla]

I am very anti having an online calendar showing when my home is and is not occupied. It is not only honest guests who can use the info, but also burglars have been known to use rental home calendars to determine when a home is unoccupied and therefore ripe for the picking!!!

As far as I am concerned it is almost the same as me putting a sign on the front lawn that says "Unoccupied until mm/dd/yy - all yours - come and get it!!"

That's also why I have light timers outside and inside my home, just to keep any would be burglars guessing as to whether anyone is there or not!! I also have a monitored alarm system so can't do any more than that.

[chrisj]

Carla

Thats wise about the lights, we have them all over our house so it looks as though people
are in, also have a monitored alarm system. When we go away I have a neighbour even move my
car around on the drive so it looks as though someone is around

[steph_goodrum]

Tink
I hope you won't let your experience put you off using the site for future enquiries as I'm sure you'll agree that it has one of the best selection of homes where you can actually deal with the owner that I've ever seen.
One way round the problem in future which would work as you are aware of how the system works would be any any future enquiries that you make to put a note in the "comment" box on the enquiry form stating that in the case of non availability "please advise but do not pass back for general circulation" - that way the owners who received your specific enquiry would realise and as your comment would be on the form the owners of the site would be aware you didn't want it circulated. Hopefully that would solve your problem of tooo many mails but let you know to try a few other villas to find what you are looking for.
Hope this helps

[chrizzy100]

quote:Originally posted by Carla

I am very anti having an online calendar showing when my home is and is not occupied. It is not only honest guests who can use the info, but also burglars have been known to use rental home calendars to determine when a home is unoccupied and therefore ripe for the picking!!!

As far as I am concerned it is almost the same as me putting a sign on the front lawn that says "Unoccupied until mm/dd/yy - all yours - come and get it!!"

That's also why I have light timers outside and inside my home, just to keep any would be burglars guessing as to whether anyone is there or not!! I also have a monitored alarm system so can't do any more than that.

That is a very good reason not to have one.....we just don't have crime here.....I sometimes forget I'll have to change my way of living somewhere else.....I'm losing my streetwise......

[Chris7]

I hadn't thought about the security aspect (I think most of you don't want to put calendars up so other's can't see how full you are[}])

For what it's worth, I favoured villas who did have on-line availability so I could check first before mentally "deciding" on a property.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

The security aspect is why I did not specifically say about the reason we do not have online calendars. I don't want people going away thinking the villa communities are crime ridden and unsafe - in fact they are amongst the safest places you are every likely to go - we always feel very safe when in the US - but as with everywhere else in the world if an unsavoury person sees an opportunity they will seize it and online calendars along with pictures and descriptions of where the villas are are just such an opportunity .

In our experience the majority of enquirers ignore calendars and make the enquiry on the off-chance there has been a calcellation or something. I know on our own villa website we clearly state in large letters we are fully booked for 2003 but that does not stop lots of enquiries coming in for 2003 dates anyway, let alone all the phone calls we take for 2003 dates too. Not saying we mind this at all (we LOVE talking about Florida anyway ) but just saying it to illustrate the point.