Inside John's Locker

Wasn't it in the movie "Help" that Ringo used that line? He probably wasn't the first person to say it, and it likely came from the Beatles' fascination with Eastern religions at the time. Anyway, we can be pretty sure that he wasn't referring to second homes when he said it!

But the line is relevant to the discussion here. Because what is and isn't a second home is pretty much in your mind. In another post, we described a second home as someplace different that is familiar as well. A known quantity. Instant relaxation. You know, you don't have to actually own a second home to have a second home mentality. As long as you like coming back to familiar territory, it doesn't matter whether you own it outright, own part of it or rent it. A hotel room you come back to time and time again, a timeshare or vacation club interest you own, a condo you own and rent out when you're not there. All of these can be a just like a second home if you want them to be.

Second homes aren't for everyone but there are a lot of people out there who like to take a break by returning to a familiar place again and again. And, it's this concept of familiarity that is at the heart of what we at Owner's Locker like to call the "second home mentality."

This second home mentality is not something that can be particularly defined and is extremely personal. It's the feeling of comfort you have when you are surrounded by things familiar to you. Here are some examples:

-Being able to find your way from the airport to your resort without a map.
-Being recognized by the waiter at your favorite restaurant.
-Reaching for the shampoo and it's the brand you always use.
-Pouring champagne into your own special glasses.
-Being able to come straight to your resort without having to stop and stock up.
-Sitting in the same spot by the pool.
-Knowing the best shops to buy vacation clothes.
-Making fried chicken in your cast iron skillet.
-Needing a band-aid and not having to run to the store.
-Finding the swim goggles you used the last time you were here.

Not all of these will hit your radar screen. What makes one person feel at home might seem odd to someone else. What examples can you add to the list above?

This second home mentality is what Owner's Locker is all about. It's our business to help make your timeshare or vacation club interest seem more like your true second home. We know that everyone has different ideas about what will make them feel like they are at home. This is why resort companies really can't provide you with all of the comforts of home--because your idea of what this means is different from anyone else's.

And this is why we hope that you will think Owner's Locker is a good idea--because it will allow you to store whatever it is that makes you feel at home while in your vacation home. We're sure that there are lots of ways that you've tried to accomplish this already. Please share with us some of the things you've already done to personalize your time at your favorite vacation resort. And, tell us some things you have wished you could do or things from home you have wished you had with you. We love to hear what will make your stay special and it will help us design a service that will make you feel at home the instant you unlock the door.

JDVM
www.ownerslocker.com

Posted by JDVM at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

So, just what is a second home? That used to be a simple question with an easy answer. Second homes have been around for...well for as long as people have had homes, really. And, we tend to think of second homes as the expensive retreats of the very wealthy. The Pope has Castel Gandolfo. The President has Camp David (which used to be more aptly named Shangri-La), England's Queen has Windsor Castle (along with Balmoral and Sandringham) and Manhattan's elite have huge weekend getaways in The Hamptons.

Today, however, second homes come in quite a variety of flavors, shapes and forms. Some even have wheels---or keels. But, more on that at another time.

But what's the deal with second homes? Why bother? Isn't one home enough?
Do some of us really need a place of refuge? A place to escape to? Apparently so and in increasing numbers.

The idea of a second home is wrapped up in two concepts that seem diametrically opposed: it is someplace different....yet it is someplace familiar.

Just about all of us want to take a break from day to day affairs. That's easy. We like to get away. Sometimes it's no more than a trip to the movies, a picnic in the country or a boat ride on a nearby lake. Then there's the vacation, whether it's a two week, cram everyone in the car deal, or a romantic weekend retreat. Many people like to go someplace different each time they take a break. While for others the best break is to get away--but to a place that they've been to many times before.

There's a great feeling of instant relaxation when you unlock the door to your cottage in the countryside, build a fire in your fireplace, open a bottle of your wine and prop your feet up and chill out. It's also an exciting feeling to check into a hotel in a city you've never visited and have room service send up a bottle of champagne. Both of these activities are fun. Some folks like adventure while others like familiarity. The people who like familiarity will say the new hotel experience can be stressful. The people who like adventure may say that going back to the cottage in the country is a bit boring.

But we're talking second homes here so let's leave the adventurous couple to enjoy their champagne. With second homes, it's all about the known quantity. Familiar surroundings. Knowing instinctively what to do and where to go. Returning to a favorite restaurant where they recognize you. Going on a bicycle ride and not needing a map. And, not needing to rent a bicycle, by the way. To many folks these feelings are what a second home is all about.

Today there are many ways to enjoy the benefits of a second home without actually owning it. The marketplace has expanded to provide people with the second home experience through a variety of different products. People may not use the phrase "second home," but going to the same hotel time and time again is really a manifestation of the second home mentality. Buying a timeshare or vacation club interest is another way some people get that same enjoyment of getting away to a familiar place and Owner's Locker is a company that helps these owners get the second home feeling each time they visit. Does this sound like you? What are the things you like about coming back to the same place to get away? What are some things that would make your enjoyment of your vacation home even better? That's what we're all about at Owner's Locker. We're coming soon to the Orlando area and would love to have your comments and suggestions.

JDVM
www.ownerslocker.com

Posted by JDVM at 6:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you know that fractional timeshare owners have a storage facility at their resort where they can keep their personal items? That way, their time share seems more like a second home….and they don’t have to haul as much stuff back and forth every time they visit their resort. Great idea, but why is it just for owners of fractional timeshare units?

In the first place, what’s a fractional, anyway? In the old days, timeshares came in one flavor: the fixed week. You bought the second week in October in a specific unit in Gatlinburg to watch the leaves change color. That unit was yours for that fixed week in October and that was that. In the late 1980’s, vacation clubs came on the scene providing much more flexibility. You could come at different times, and in some cases, not come at all and save your time for another year altogether. But here’s the important part. With both fixed week timeshares and vacation clubs, each unit has approximately fifty owners.

The new kid on the block is the fractional timeshare which has a vastly fewer number of owners per unit. Instead of fifty, it’s twelve or ten or, in some cases, only four owners per unit. So an owner of a fractional timeshare that only has four owners can spend roughly three months per year in the unit. Perhaps not all at once but spread out over the year. Now that’s a timeshare. Or more accurately, that’s a second home!

As you might imagine a fractional timeshare costs substantially more that a typical timeshare or vacation club. And the owners not only pay a lot more, they get a lot more. The units are bigger and more glamorous. The locations are very nice, too. But the fractional timeshare owner also gets special parking spaces, concierge services and storage space. A place to put all of the things that make a place seem like it’s really yours. A place to keep all of the things you like to have to make you feel at home

The companies who build fractional timeshares knew that they were creating a premium product that they could sell for a premium price. And, they knew that the buyers would demand an exceptional degree of service and amenities. No small bottles of shampoo/conditioner in these bathrooms. While they knew that storage was a desire of many of their purchasers, they didn’t quite realize just how important it was. In fairness, the purchasers of the fractional timeshares probably didn’t realize how important the ability to store personal items was until they began utilizing the storage space provided…and then asking for more.

A major developer of fractional timeshare resorts has said that the main difference between their first project and their second was the doubling of the storage place provided for each owner; and the difference between the second and the third project was the doubling of storage space for each owner yet again. It seems like the more storage space you have, the more you need.

So why should fractional timeshare owners have all the fun? Why can’t timeshare and vacation club owners have a place to store personal items between visits?

Well, can you imagine a resort building fifty storage areas for each unit? The storage areas would be bigger than the unit! It doesn’t mean that you’re out of luck unless you own a fractional, though. Now there’s a company called Owner’s Locker that will allow you to have the same convenience that owners of high end fractionals have. Even better, actually because we pick up your stuff from your resort when you leave, store it while you're away and have it waiting for you at your resort when you return. And it’s available now in the Orlando area. Let us know what you think of our service that helps make you feel like you own the place!


JDVM
www.ownerslocker.com

Posted by JDVM at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (1)