Search found 518 matches

by ccazes
Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:18 pm
Forum: The Cafe
Topic: Renewing UK passport from abroad
Replies: 21
Views: 5143

I had to have a document translated for my UK passport while living in France and the Consulate provided a list of local translators that they accepted translations from.
Maybe worth asking if they have such a list in Italy.
by ccazes
Tue Mar 29, 2016 9:29 am
Forum: Managing your property
Topic: Ikea kitchens??
Replies: 30
Views: 8974

Hi, We have an ikea kitchen in our rental house, it was installed in 2002 and still looks great! It has the same integrated fridge and oven, still working fine! (Whirlpool) The only thing I don't like about it is the doors close quite sharply, if they could introduce a slow release drawer and door s...
by ccazes
Tue Mar 29, 2016 9:25 am
Forum: Managing your property
Topic: Ikea kitchens??
Replies: 30
Views: 8974

Hi, We have an ikea kitchen in our rental house, it was installed in 2002 and still looks great! It has the same integrated fridge and oven, still working fine! (Whirlpool) The only thing I don't like about it is the doors close quite sharply, if they could introduce a slow release drawer and door s...
by ccazes
Mon Mar 28, 2016 4:07 pm
Forum: France
Topic: ORANGE BROADBAND
Replies: 28
Views: 5687

This post is exactly what I need to hear! I will be enquiring about the suspension options ASAP! I have to agree with Cassis, I have had problems with SFR beyond the realm of belief, I could have cried from frustration after my last call if I weren't completely gob-smacked at the stupidity of the si...
by ccazes
Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:30 pm
Forum: France
Topic: New driving regulations in France
Replies: 12
Views: 3129

I understand it that you can still use an integrated phone device in your car but not your phone in "main libres" or blue tooth mode.
So if your car lets you receive calls thru the dashboard so to speak then it's still ok for the time being.
by ccazes
Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:18 am
Forum: Handling rental enquiries
Topic: BBC Radio 4 seems to really have it in for rental owners :-(
Replies: 15
Views: 7029

Holiday Rent Payments Homeaway use a service called HolidayRentPayments this is a Dublin based organisation part of the larger Yapstone Inc. They take individual owners as well as large groups; I don't know what they charge but I understand that it's easy to call their payments system from your own...
by ccazes
Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:49 pm
Forum: Spain
Topic: Thoughts please
Replies: 10
Views: 1927

Who knows? I know nothing of running a B&B in Spain and what similar businesses are going through at this time. But if you do a bit of research and write up a business plan keeping in mind what your minimum standards of living are, you could evaluate what kind of minimum turnover you would need ...
by ccazes
Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:00 pm
Forum: Handling rental enquiries
Topic: How much do you take upfront to book?
Replies: 22
Views: 5975

I phoned up HA.co.uk to enquire how it worked and was told that the full security deposit amount would be transferred to my bank account with the balance payment. I would not have to pay it back by bank wire but through their system and was told that the fees associated with the security deposit amo...
by ccazes
Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:44 pm
Forum: France
Topic: Shower cubicle cleaning
Replies: 22
Views: 5546

aasta wrote:for very hard to clean spots mix the vinegar with baking soda.
I would second this combo, more efficient than vinegar alone!
by ccazes
Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:41 pm
Forum: Handling rental enquiries
Topic: How much do you take upfront to book?
Replies: 22
Views: 5975

We ask for 25% to confirm the booking then the rest 8 weeks before. I think that asking for more than 25% to confirm can be off putting too but at the end of the day they have to pay up at one point! I have processed one payment through HA's new payment system and I saw there was an option for the s...
by ccazes
Wed Apr 10, 2013 2:31 pm
Forum: OTAs: Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking, Tripadvisor, etc.
Topic: Woman power in renting!
Replies: 44
Views: 4353

I would also never use a book it now button and I wonder too if guests do want this, then I think the big sites MUST have done some market research to show that people want it?? HL say that enquiries increase by 40% if there is a book it now button on my advert and I also wonder if thats true or ar...
by ccazes
Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:26 pm
Forum: OTAs: Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking, Tripadvisor, etc.
Topic: Owners Direct to impose Commission Model on owners
Replies: 48
Views: 9918

...I can recoup my subscription fee with one weeks rental in high season.... Even at the Platinum level ? Sooner or later, one way or the other, they'll get to you and you'll have to upgrade or you won't even get that one booking :cry: Although I agree that the tiered subscription system is another...
by ccazes
Mon Apr 08, 2013 5:13 pm
Forum: OTAs: Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking, Tripadvisor, etc.
Topic: Owners Direct to impose Commission Model on owners
Replies: 48
Views: 9918

Of course you have a great point E-Richard but his discourse was so one sided that I can't believe that big investors do not investigate further. It doesn't make for a very interesting interview when the journalist asks relatively easy questions that an averted audience can see through. Their new co...
by ccazes
Mon Apr 08, 2013 4:37 pm
Forum: OTAs: Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking, Tripadvisor, etc.
Topic: Owners Direct to impose Commission Model on owners
Replies: 48
Views: 9918

I don't know if this is of any interest, as my hearing isn't good enough, but it's a TV interview from 27th Feb HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples discusses the company's new subscription model http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-02-27/we-dont-consider-airbnb-competition-homeaway-ceo Just listened to ...
by ccazes
Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:49 pm
Forum: OTAs: Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking, Tripadvisor, etc.
Topic: Best listing sites for USA, Canada and Australia?
Replies: 8
Views: 1185

Hands down VRBO has been a big winner for me but I don't have the same type of house as you. I get shoulder and peak enquiries from Vrbo, from families, groups and couples so there is good variety too, it's not just for the 4 weeks of August that everyone else wants! The "buying your position&q...