What's new @ Alexander's Homes?

New Home Tours:
We noticed that as the amount of our home tours increased our "home tour" pages and they began to fragment. They began to load very slowly for guests and editing the pages became very difficult. Although no one could see them many errors began to appear in the code. It was time for an overhaul!

You will Notice:
At the top right of each home tour page is a link to the featured "home tour of the month". When you scroll your mouse overtop of the navigation on the left the color of the links will change from White to Red.

Adventures in Pop-Culture:
These days It seems that everyone is uploading videos to YouTube and posting blogs on MySpace. Alexander Holiday Homes is no exception! Follow the links below to our YouTube page. Click on the MySpace link and become our friend, "fan us" on Facebook and more!

The Diamond Collection
You may have noticed a new section of our Home Tours called "The Diamond Collection". The homes featured in this collection are ones that we consider to be the most opulent, the best-of-the-best. These are vacation homes that are a step above "Executive Class".

So why a Diamond list?
It all started with our home called the "American Dream" at Formosa Gardens Estates. The homeowner asked for special rates because of her high-end decorations and amenities. We decided to place this home tour at the top of our "Executive" list as we expected it to be a difficult sell. WE WERE WRONG!

Google Maps
You know the old saying "Location, Location, Location". Most people who look at our home tours are concerned with location and to meet the customers demands we now include Google Maps on ALL of our home tours.

When you click on the Google Logo (see image below) a pop-up window opens showing the exact location of each neighborhood. WE DO NOT list the exact locations of each home for security reasons.

Click the logo below for an example:

 

 

Other Information for all Homeowners:

 

Quick eMail Directory:

Reservation Department Hours:

High-Speed Internet:
Chances are that you have gotten to this page using a high-speed connection. Remember the old days when you had to dial-up to get online?

Remember the old days when your connections dropped out constantly? Remember the old days when if to many other people in your neighborhood were on the phone the connection was as slow as a snail?

Nobody Likes Dial-Up NOBODY!

Many of our guests are forced to live with dial-up because their vacation home does not have High-Speed. But why are people going on the Internet when the Walt Disney World® Resort is around the corner? For the same reason they go online at home:

Communication

They go online to check their email, the weather, the news, to instant message friends and family, to have video chats and more. We also get many clients who are here on business and while Mom and the kids are at the theme parks, Dad is at the vacation home working.

-Almost every hotel these days offers High-Speed Internet
-Most at an additional daily fee for guests

The NUMBER 1 THING PEOPLE ASK FOR when booking a vacation home is the High-Speed Internet. More than a pool with total privacy, more than a home closest to the theme parks! We have seen time and time again that people choose a home 10 miles from the Walt Disney World® Resort over a home 3 miles from the Walt Disney World® Resort because the home has High-Speed Internet.

We at Alexander Homes encourage ALL owners to get this optional service to attract potential reservations. The cost is as low as a mere $30 per month. High-Speed Internet is almost everywhere and it should be in your home as well.

 

Games, DVD's and CD's:
Guests love them but guess what? They love them so much they run off with them! Alexander maintenance will not keep inventory on board games, books, DVD movies and music CD's that owners put in their home.

We suggest owners DO NOT supply them at all. You may consider these items as added luxuries but they are not. If a guest books your home because it has a PlayStation2 games system, let them bring their own games!

Let reservations staff consult you about exactly what luxury items you should and should not include in your vacation home.

 

Cable Television:
Believe it or not we get MANY phone calls from people asking to reserve a vacation with cable television in every bedroom. Not as many as the High Speed Internet, but cable televisions are popular.

You may be asking why anyone would come on vacation to watch TV when they have the theme parks at their doorstep? The answer is that parents have different tastes in television then children and while they may not watch a lot of it, THEY DO WATCH TELEVISION!

When mom and dad want to watch the weather channel the children can watch cartoons in their own bedroom. When mom and dad want to plan their next day the teenagers can play video games in their own bedroom, in private.

Having a cable television in every bedroom
provides guests the most convenience

Let guests choose your home because of what it has,
don't turn them off because of what it does not have!

Games Rooms:
Billiard and Games rooms are popular if they are placed properly. Many owners put their games room in the garage because its the only extra large space left available when they decorate their home.

In the heat of the summer a garage games room becomes unusable, even with the garage door open. We recommend that while having a games / billiards room is a good idea, consult with us first to determine its potential to attract reservations.

One of our homeowners got rid of the Dining Room table and made it a billiards room. The best part of that idea was that it required no special air conditioning. The impact of a games room with air conditioning was a near doubling of reservations within a year.

 

Jacuzzi Hot Tubs and Spa's:
A "Spa" is small a bubbling oasis connected to the swimming pool. A Jacuzzi Hot Tub is separate from the swimming pool and provides a bubbling massage combined with high-heat relaxation. Many of our vacation homes have these luxuries and we have seen that these homes are more popular.

But why would anyone want high-heat in Florida? Why a Jacuzzi Hot Tub? The only way to answer that is if you have ever been in one. Yes the sun can be intense but the relaxation of a Jacuzzi Hot Tub is truly rejuvenating.

A quality Jacuzzi Hot Tub costs about $2500 including installation. We charge additional fees to guests for use of a Jacuzzi to compensate for the additional electricity expense.

Not all homes are suitable for this luxury feature. We suggest you consult with our reservations staff to see if your home is suitable for this option.