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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 firsthand
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many were charming, we were compelled to leave some behind due to outdated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.villasoftheworld).
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, beach front 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.
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