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My wife
Wendy and I have been asked numerous times over the years, "How did
you get into this business?" Let me present a brief history. . .
Back in the early '80s, we met in Paris where Wendy was studying as an
exchange student. When I heard what she had to go through to find an apartment
(along with her two big golden retrievers), the idea occurred to us that
there must be many others in this same situation that could use assistance.
This sparked
the birth of our first company, Student Housing Service Inc., in 1984.
Slowly we grew from small student budgets, to parents willing to help
out with the search for housing and villa vacation needs for summer visits.
Before we knew it, Villa Overseas Connection was created. We began our
travels through France, making all the desirable stops: the French Riviera,
on to the Swiss Alps, Spain, Italy, and finally England. During these
travels we commenced our search for vacation rental properties.
We combined
the best of both of our worlds from the beginning:with Wendy's first-hand
knowledge of the American standard of living and my knowledge of the sweetest
European resorts, we succeeded in selecting the perfect locales. Although
many were charming, we were compelled to leave some behind due to outdated
bathrooms, kitchens, poor bedding or noisy locations. We shot endless
photos of the areas and the properties we did like, and that we thought
had both charm and met high standards.
With these
selections made, we returned from Europe. Intuitively understanding and
anticipating clients needs to view lots of pictures to make selections
of homes across the Atlantic, we produced the very first video catalog
of rental properties ourselves, using a generous friend's professional
editing studio during the night time off hours. Then began our quest to
conquer the busy but exciting Caribbean vacation villa market. Working
out of our apartment in Manhattan and house in Sag Harbor (Long Island),
our company weathered the storms of a recession, the Gulf War, and the
real estate market crash of the late '80s.
Fortunately,
because we were a small company, we held fast, gradually updating our
business with computers and fax machines (every dollar earned went back
into the business), and readying ourselves for the next real estate boom.
As the years went by we grew into a full-fledged real estate company,
and opened our first office on the Long Wharf Promenade in Sag Harbor
in the Hamptons.
With the
globalization of all markets due to the Internet equalizing the competition,
our vision is what kept us a small step ahead of our competitors. On both
local and international levels, we began working with the upscale end
of the market, bringing in the premium, top-of-the-line properties. We
forged an excellent reputation through our ability to focus on details,
and accomplish the impossible, thus service an affluent clientele. We
firmed up our working relationship with local and international contacts
and brokers for both rentals and sales and are now a full-fledged, International
Real Estate Network.
What was
once a concept based on helping students find housing is now a fully realized
dream that went beyond any of our greatest expectations. Our background
as artists allowed us to understand the client's unquenchable desire to
see pictures and learn more and more details ‹ this coupled with our unique
in-house abilities to do what most pay dearly for: self-taught internet
design, photography, graphic skills-- lead us to produce two key marketing
tools for the growing listing of exceptional properties we were accumulating:
Villa Magazine and our Overseas Connection Internet site. With the production
of our first magazine and our on-line systems, we were able to feature
up to 4000 rental properties around the world (we hope you have visited
our website: www.overseasvillas.com).
Our clients also have worked with us in building some of the finest new
villas in the Caribbean.
A perfect
example is Cerulean, a villa in Anguilla, which we represent exclusively
and have helped develop and market, consulting upon staff, amenities brochures
and press and public relations. Its four-star chef, beachfront setting,
spectacular pool, tennis court, concierge, and full staff, rank this as
a true 5-star villa residence.
Cerulean
has attracted the attention of the entire travel industry as well as the
media, and is considered a signature property among the top handful in
the Caribbean, Europe, the Bahamas, Mexico and the USA. You may ask, "What
is next for Overseas Connection?" Simply, that we will continue to
expand our horizons, setting our sights on new lands and creating new
villas.
Also, in
order to grow and meet our goals, we need to hear from you. As you read
this article, feel free to call us. We will listen to what you are looking
for, and as our commitment is to assist you in accomplishing your dream,
we will work diligently to help you realize it, whether it be as owner
or guest, nearby or abroad, for a week or a lifetime.
Overseas
Connection today
Villa Rentals Worldwide
Overseas
Connection offers a hand picked selection of the finest quality properties
for rental. All services are provided for and organized by our company
from maids to masseuse, chefs to child care, fax machines to festivities.
. . We specialize in the best properties in each resort location and service
an upscale, discerning clientele. We keep detailed files on our accounts
and apply the information regarding client requirements to multiple vacation
opportunities. We have ongoing, long-term accounts which rely upon our
judgment and services to bring them, their guests and family to properties
of excellence that will not disappoint, are problem free and pleasure
assured. Our personalized attention to detail has distinguished us in
the villa rental field for 14 years.
International Brokerage Service/ Network of Resort Properties
We offer
Americans and Europeans the unusual service of brokering a portfolio of
the top quality villas in all of the major resort areas. We have a distinguished
network of on site brokers with whom we have had business relationships
for many years. We can offer clients the convenience and time-saving methods
of reviewing properties and locations via e-mail, Internet, or hard copy
portfolio of properties in order that clients may preview options prior
to traveling on site to personally view their options and selected choice.
Overseas Connection can refer you to specific locations and local agents
who can work with you on site. We also offer the unique service of "villa
shopping˛ in which one of our agents makes full arrangements for charter
flights, accommodations, dining and transport, and accompanies and guilds
clients to multiple Caribbean and European villa locations with an agenda
of on site villa viewings and organized agent assistance . This is particularly
interesting if clients are not settled on one destination and have multiple
locations in mind for possible purchase.
Villa Consulting Services
Few realize
that personal vacation homes can be carefully structured to not only pay
for themselves but also to produce substantial revenue for their owners.
We offer owners a review of their villa properties whether existing, new
ownership, or planned construction, and make careful suggestions to improve
rental revenue. Utilizing our Signature Property formula, we consult upon
methods of successfully creating marketable villa properties that will
offer owners financial security from their real estate investments.
Marketing and Public Relations Services For Real Estate Investors
Our in-house
team of photographers, art directors and graphic designers are available
to owners of villa properties to develop quality brochures, and marketing
and advertising materials, as well as careful planning of marketing programs.
Overseas Connection has been featured in all of the finest travel and
luxury magazines, as well as prominent newspapers (see masthead). We target
specific quality private properties to top travel writers, editors and
publications and organize all visual and data materials for the frequent
editorial coverage our properties receive.
Publishers Of Villa Magazine and Internet Site
We offer
both owners and clients the nationally distributed 4-color, glossy Villa
Magazine, which targets and describes in detail areas in which most clients
are interested, as well as new, exciting discoveries. This is a one-of-a-kind
upscale vehicle for villa owners and the marketing of their properties
as well as a valuable tool for clients looking to either rent or purchase
private resort properties.
Our top
notch internet site www.overseasvillas.com
offers electronic cataloguing of our extensive listing for owners & clients,
on-line.
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