Luxury Real Estate

Courtesty of Whistlerheather of seatoskynation.com

Now we completely expected the market in Whistler to cool during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic period of February and March. We also expected that January would be slow due to infrastructure that still needed to be realized; and of course April to start cleaning up after the party… May and June are known as the shoulder months so a slight slow down was also expected during this period. That would bring us right through to the third quarter 2010.

However looking at the number of sales year to date we can clearly surmise that January – May & June have been consistant in terms of sales. By the end of June it appeared Whistler was well on its way to a great summer in real estate. Then July finished and our balloon had a slow leak… No pun in tended. Trying to figure out why was not hard…

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By Andrew Harper

Getting a better room is easier than you might think – and it never hurts to ask.

Most travelers never think to ask for a hotel room upgrade, which is regrettable. During the off-season, large hotels frequently run high vacancy rates, and moving a guest into a nicer room doesn’t cost anything except for some extra laundry expenses. As with so many other things in life, there is simply no harm in asking politely.

An upgrade doesn’t have to mean a larger room. Perhaps it’s an ocean view, a king-size bed or a room in an especially quiet wing. The important thing to remember is that hotel upgrades are mostly about personal relationships, rather than loyalty programs or special credit cards (though those can certainly be helpful).

Upgrades are given at the discretion of the hotel manager or the front desk clerk. These people tend to receive a fair amount of grief from finicky guests on a regular basis, and they appreciate being treated with respect and patience. Acting entitled or being deceitful usually won’t help your case – these are professionals who have seen it all before.

Dress nicely, and be as friendly as possible, even if you’re exhausted after a long flight. Inquire about an upgrade after you’ve given your name, but before you’ve been assigned your room. Do a little research on rooms beforehand, and make a specific request (e.g., “Would it be possible to be upgraded to an executive suite at no extra charge?”).

Simply asking for a “better room” is not as effective as requesting a particular room using the hotel’s terminology (Central Park Suite, Harbor View Suite, etc.). Don’t be disappointed if an upgrade is not possible – this is a matter of availability, after all.

In large-city hotels, upgrades are more likely during weekend, due to the absence of business travelers. For smaller hideaways in scenic locales, your chances are better during the week. Frequent visitors or members of various hotel reward programs will gain preferential treatment, but more often than not, hotel management is happy to lend a favor to a calm, amiable guest. It’s good for business.

Here are 10 tips for securing a hotel room upgrade.

1. Contact Management Before You Arrive: If you are celebrating a special occasion, feel free to mention this in an email. A personable and enthusiastic call to confirm your reservation also can help.

2. Book a Mid-Range Room: You’re more likely to be upgraded from a mid-range room than the cheapest room in the hotel.

3. Time It Right: Large city hotels tend to be busier during the workweek. For a smaller hideaway in the country, try for a midweek booking if you have some flexibility.

4. Arrive During Mid-Afternoon: Checking in between 3 and 5 is optimal. The front desk clerk will have a better sense of the day’s bookings and cancellations.

5. Look the Part: Dress appropriately. A nice jacket can make a world of difference. If you’re traveling with tired children, it probably won’t hurt to have someone mind them in the lobby while you’re at the front desk.

6. Be Personable: Ask nicely. Mention that you’d be happy to reference the counter clerk’s name in customer evaluations.

7. Be Specific: For example: “Would it be possible to be upgraded to an ocean view?” If you have a preferred room that you’ve stayed in before, feel free to mention it.

8. Mention Relationships: If your company does a lot of business with the hotel, feel free to mention it. If you use a travel service or a credit card that has a “special relationship” with the hotel, by all means, pipe up.

9. Take Advantage of Minor Misfortune: Laundry gone missing? Noisy neighbors? Kindly let management know that an upgrade will wipe the slate clean.

10. Leave On a Happy Note: A nice tip for the doorman. Smiles for the concierge. A note of approval to the manager. Every little bit helps, especially for the next time around.


Editor’s Note:
For more information on this company, contact Margaret Temple, the Business Development Manager at Andrew Harper in Austin, Texas. Andrew Harper is an exclusive partner with Luxury Real Estate. This is some great advice for travelers seeking great deals. For more than a quarter century, Andrew Harper has explored the world as an incognito traveler. His unbiased reviews of the finest hotels, villas, yachts, restaurants and culturally authentic travel experiences are legendary. Through a variety of media, complemented by highly personalized travel planning services, members of Andrew Harper’s luxury travel club enjoy the resources to dream, plan and realize an unparalleled level of globetrotting.

By Renaud Rippert

Before the current season began, there was some concern as to how the real-estate market in Saint Barts would fare, given the number of uncertainties which presently affect global markets.

This concern is clearly justified by factors such as the sub-prime financial crisis, the weakness of the U.S. dollar in comparison to the Euro, and the economic hardship felt in parts of Europe and, most notably, across the United States.

In reality, for Saint Barts, the analysis is very positive.

The island’s position as a particularly unique market has only been reaffirmed. It remains limited in size and thus in development opportunities and its patrons have proven to be less affected by the factors cited above.

North American clients, who continue to show emotional attachment to the island and who find themselves so conveniently located geographically, are able to invest in a strong and secure market and to diversify their investments in a dominant currency.

Europeans, who are less troubled by our currency, are more and more present in our high-end market, which remains reasonable in comparison to other affluent markets, where such clients are frequent investors, as well.

This being said, one can safely affirm that our market is experiencing neither a rise nor a fall, but rather a consolidation of justified pricing. Because, on the contrary, the overestimation of certain properties, which has been observed in the past two years, no longer allows for finding a buyer. Regarding the high-end spectrum of the market, there is considerable demand for such products, with significant prices being offered on exceptional properties. In this respect, the situation in Saint Barts is comparable to those markets that attract a similar clientele, such as The Hamptons, Aspen and the more desirable neighborhoods of London.

As an agency historically and intimately linked to the creation and development of the real-estate market in Saint Barts, Sibarth Real Estate has consistently positioned itself as a “market regulator,” advocating the preservation of the market’s stability over time. We have never participated in the thoughtless inflation of prices or sought to simply market the “Saint-Barth Effect.” It is our mission to sell properties in Saint Barts for their intrinsic quality, and certainly not to sell them to the detriment of the island, capitalizing solely on its popularity, with no respect for appropriate counter values. Our conservative appraisals support a long-term vision, anticipating the present consolidation of our market.


Editor’s Note:
Renaud Rippert is a real-estate agent with Sibarth Real Estate, a LuxuryRealEstate.com member in Saint Barthélemy, Guadeloupe. This is absolutely wonderful. It is so nice to hear from decent, respectful people who will stand up for good and not sell themselves short for a quick sale. Good work being such a responsible brokerage, Sibarth Real Estate. You set a great example for others to follow and I applaud your efforts.

By Meghan Barry

As a Seattleite and lover of the bean, it is hard to ignore the recent changes at the Starbucks Coffee Company. In January, with their stock price in a freefall, Starbucks fired the current CEO and put Howard Schultz back at the helm. Starbucks is poised to take on another challenge. In a shot across the bow, McDonald’s will start offering lattes (Note the blatant nautical references… I read Moby Dick). McDonald’s is even offering free small lattes during breakfast hours in the Seattle market this month.

Although this has nothing to do with “luxury real estate,” it has everything to do with a concept everyone in the real-estate world is familiar with – cost vs. value and what boutique services are really worth.

Starbucks is the boutique brokerage firm, McDonald’s is the commission-cutting broker. Starbucks charges $3-$4 for an espresso drink, McDonald’s charges $2-$3. Is the Starbucks experience really worth more? Are the green-apron-clad (and usually well-educated and overqualified) neighborhood baristas better than the minimum-wage-earning, polyester-donning McDonald’s staffers?

For more, visit www.unsnobbycoffee.com, and consider the fact that, no matter what, you usually get what you pay for.


Editor’s Note:
Meghan Barry is the Executive Vice President of LuxuryRealEstate.com. She works closely with CEO/Publisher John Brian Losh to organize a variety of Luxury Real Estate programs, events and services. Now here are some very interesting insights into the luxury real estate market or any market, really. Are consumers mainly interested in the best deal or do they care more about quality? Very interesting questions. What’s your answer to this conundrum?

By Jason LeMoine

We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better...stronger...faster.

Your home may not be as cool as Lee Majors, but it has the potential. Why settle for a modern home when you can have a home of the future? Home automation—the process of creating “smart homes”—is becoming increasingly prevalent in the real estate market. Smart homes allow homeowners to control everything from lighting to security to entertainment all with the touch of a button. These systems can be controlled from any room in the house and even remotely via a computer with an internet connection.

Want your lights on a timer while you’re out of town? No problem. Hate shoveling that driveway? Have it automatically heated. One of my friend’s parents actually wired several of their rooms to a central karaoke system for parties (be careful before implementing this one—you may regret it).

Home automation doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either. Many smart features can be implemented yourself with a trip to the hardware store and a little “do it yourself” spirit. For more complex features, installation is available for reasonable prices, and the return on investment is more than worth it. Automating certain aspects of your home can increase the resale value, add piece of mind while away, and help lower energy bills.

The next time you’re contemplating a home project, consider automation. We have the technology, and it won’t cost you six million dollars.


Editor’s Note:
Jason LeMoine is a Technical Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. He is responsible for many of the advanced features you find on www.LuxuryRealEstate.com, as well as the sites we’ve built for members.

By Brian Langhorst

This morning, when Ben Bernanke and the U.S. Federal Reserve cut the benchmark interest rate by 0.75 percent, they made a strong move to show individual consumers and the world market there is nothing to fear. Rates are at an all-time low! Now is the time to buy! Markets are flooded with great deals and unprecedented value. With a professional REALTOR® to guide you in your transactions, there has never been a better time to buy!

If you would like to speak with a REALTOR® in your market of interest, please contact Allyson Metters, the Luxury Real Estate relocation manager, at 888.711.2010. She will be happy to direct you to the leader in your market of choice.

Buy low! Now is the time!


Editor’s Note:
Brian Langhorst is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com, so he works closely with our members to meet their marketing needs. I really like this blog entry because it’s timely and it has a lot of exclamation points! That just shows what an energectic man Brian is.