The only thing I try to do is make sure the company I rent from is the holder of the calender in other words they are the ones working for the owner. It is nice to know that if you have a problem you are talking to the person that can do some thing about it.

how do you find out who the holder is?

Go to: www.mclaughlinanderson.com
They are the actual managers of about 50 some villas in STT and also in STJ as well as other Islands!
Very reliable and hold the calender!

Have to agree with sherri. We've used McLaughlin Anderson several times and have always been pleased with the results.
Wonderful company to deal with. Have a great trip! Be sure to report back with pics and stories.

You should always rent from a company that has professional managenent--on call 24/7--and is actually located in the Island where you are going--it's hard to fix a problem if your rental company is 2000+ miles away.

I should state that McLaughlin Anderson is located in STT and is on call 24/7!

I never understand why McLaughlinAnderson continues to be promoted here. They list only 19 STJ villas, none of which to my knowledge, they manage! They are on STT. There are now more than a dozen STJ based agencies that actually manage these villas, not just book them----Caribbean Villas, Destination St. John, VIVacations, Seaview, Windspree, et al. Support the locals.

I've often wondered if "manage" is the word that should be used in the context of some posts/discussions. For example, I've got Flamingo Point Estate/Water Island ADVERTISED via VINOW as well as another site and also maintain my own web site. But, my property manager is Mary Coe who has a property management company on Water Island who I pay to help me look after my home, property, and guests. I make the first contact with perspective guests and, once confirmed, I alone update the calendar and then connect the guest directly with Mary Coe who handles the registration process, prepares the home, meets the guests, and is available to them throughout their stay should they require assistance. I may also request her services to monitor/manage contractors from time to time as needed. So, I'm wondering.........if "manage" is the correct word depending on what the "management company" is being paid for doing on behalf of and by the property owner. There are a menu of services that property owners can select from any given "management company".

On STJ many companies can book some villas, but in most cases one agency manages the villa. For renters the key question is who do you call if something goes wrong. A booking agent will simply call the managing agent to have a problem fixed. It sounds like Mary Coe is the person who will be called for your property which seems very reasonable since she is on-island. Why are you adverse to calling her a manager, especially when compared to any booking agent that you might allow to book the property?

Hi there! First, let me say that I am not representing McLaughlin Anderson, I am giving you my own point of view. I manage (as Mary Coe does) 2 villas that are rented thru the above mentioned company and I truly like what I see in this company! All villas have caretakers, maids, pool cleaners, etc. all hired by the owner. McLaughlin on the other hand, not only handles the calender, advertises, and staffs Maintenance Managers, etc. etc. is on call 24/7 for all of its guests. When or I should say IF the maintenance person of a villa doesn't do his part, than McLaughlin is who, bottom line is held accountable. They do far more than even this for their owners- such as pay phone/power and even mortgage pymts. The same process works in STJ and mind you, STJ is not far away! lol!
What I like most about a company such is this is that if there is a problem that can't be resolved, the guest is more than likely to be moved to a different villa.
The reason they are mentioned so much? People such as divapam and many more says it all! 🙂

MLS, I'm not adverse to referring to Mary as my "Property Manager" as that is indeed the role she is in and the services she provides. For us, she is one of the keys to our success. She treats our guests with great care, is very responsive....everything that I need to ensure guests are satisfied with their stay. I was simply pointing out that depending on what services the property owner pays for, the management companies will do as much or as little as the owner has agreed.

Sherri,
I find your responses disingenuous and probably dishonest too.

"I am giving my own point of view" and "I am not representing McLaughlinAnderson," but "I manage 2 villas that are rented thru the above mentioned company." That means McLA pays you either directly or indirectly.

To me KARYN seemed to be asking about St. John. Everything that you mention is about St. Thomas! For example are your two villas on St. John? All the functions you mention that McLA is doing for their owners-are any of those on STJ? Perhaps you didn't know that "divepan" has never rented from McLA on STJ. You assert that McLA will move people from villa to villa if there is a problem. Do you know one example of them doing that on STJ, aren't you exclusively talking STT?

You conveniently fail to address whether or not McLA actually manage any of the STJ properties, but "McLA is who, bottomline is held accountable." Give me a break! If someone rents "Villa Paulette" on STJ, they will be looking to Caribe Havens to solve their problems, if they rent "Sun Moon & Stars," Windspree will be getting the call. The managing agent on STJ always gets that call. Certainly as the broker McLA may have handled the money, which in these cases also means they added a brokers fee.

"STJ is not that far away!" except it is at least a ferry (that doesn't run all night ) ride away.

McLA may be wonderful people doing wonderful things for villa owners and renters on STT, but there are dozens of STJ based agencies doing the same functions for their owners and renters and they are not a fery ride (minimum).

Every time I see McLA lauded about STJ, I suspect a shill.

I never wanted to do this, but I have to reveal myself as an employee of McLaughlin Anderson. You may search all of my posts and see that I have never shilled undercover, I am an honest person and I expect others to be as well.

That being said, I will have to respectfully beg to differ with your assessment of Sherri. I have known Sherri for a lot longer than I worked for McLand, and she is really not as she is being characterized at all. "Don't Taze Her, Bro'!"

I lurk a lot, but Sherri offers her opinion on a variety of matters. She may come off to you as a bit of a cheerleader, but this is because like the another contributor to this topic, she's just a satisfied customer and happy to say so.

As an employee, I can say that our level of care is only as good as the island manager in charge of the villa, and we have top notch managers on St. John as well as the other islands we represent. We find that many of our direct guests would prefer to deal directly with an on-island rental company because they want assistance, service and contact.

Conversely, just because your manager is on your island does not mean you will be totally satisfied - it all comes down to the integrity of the company that you are dealing with, not where they are physically located. Which brings me back to the original post. My opinions:

carribbeandays.com - very reputable, many years' experience
vrbo.com - dealing directly with the owners, hard to say as this will vary. ask for testimonials if you can
stjohnrentavilla.com - not familiar with them but this means nothing, you can research further
suitesstjohn.com - they are a class act and reliable
caribvilla.com - not familiar with them but, this means nothing...

Hope this helps.

Perhaps KARYN is only interested in St John, perhaps not. My husband and I routinely look at villas on STT AND STJ before deciding. MLS, have you met Sherri? Your comments are way off-base. We rented through McLaughin Anderson for our first trip 4 years ago. And it was one of Sherri's villas. She rolled out the red carpet the minute we met at the airport. And not because she had to. You can tell when someone loves what they are doing. And this is Sherri to a "T". When I see her opinion on the board I trust it.

After being on the board daily for the last 4 years this is my 5th post max. Your comments struck a nerve. Makes me wonder what your personal motive is.

BTW our experience with McLaughlin Anderson was head and shoulders above the two St John on-island companies we used. They weren't bad. McLaughin Anderson was just better. Our next trip is in a few weeks so we'll have another company to compare as well. Cheers.

Sherri is a lovely person. McLA is a lovely agency. STJ agents are a mixed bag, some better than others. McLA has apparently done random acts of kindness and generosity, but apparently no one can cite any on STJ.

This is a forum;perhaps it would be nice if posters informed. That, island fever, is my motive, but feel free to question it. I do thank you for at least providing some information-it is helpful to know that your high opinion of McLA encouraged you to rent on STJ from an STJ agency. It might be helpful if you shared why as opposed to continuing to tell us how great McLA and sherri were on STT. Poor selection, not on island, not the real managers, didn't want to pay the upcharge?

A Davis, I have made some pretty direct accusations disparaging claims made about McLA. Please inform us. Does McLA manage any STJ villas (careful STJ agents may lurk too)? Which ones? Maybe the best way to determine the real agent is-who is responsible the hurricane shutters get put up as a hurricane approaches? Did you not read that your "satisfied customer" never stayed on STJ thru McLA, but you'll reference the remark anyway? Your fourth paragraph is almost delusional-are you really claiming McLA is an "on island rental company" on STJ? I liked you better as a lurker than a shill.

KARYN, I sure hope you were looking at St. John. Here is a list that might prove useful. I make no claims to there ability to walk on water, but you might care to compare these (I'm sure it's not complete) STJ based agencies with STT based McLA. Most of these agencies manage all of their listings; all manage at least some.

Caribbean Villas
Destination St. John
Catered To
Seaview
Private Homes for Private Vacations
Windspree
Caribe Havens
Vacation Vistas
Carefree Getaways
VIVacations
BookIlVI
Island Getaways

upcharge huh? Funny the only company with an upcharge is Caribbean Villas. The first one on your St John list. Maybe that is who you are representing.

Sorry KARYN for hijacking your thread. There's another USVI message board you should look at. PM me if you would like the link.

My Sincerest apologies KARYN, I am so sorry. The only company that I am familiar with that you mentioned above is Carribbeandays. com and they are reputable.

A. Davis, I am sorry to you as well, I was only trying to recommend a company that I believe in. Which, by the way, I will continue to recommend on this forum and others!

Island Fever,
Thank you so much for your kind words! You boosted the ego! You are right, I DO love what I do and wouldn't trade it for the world! I am lucky to not only represent the 2 villas I take care of, but also do p/u's for most all of McL's villas in STT! I take pride in what I do and always try to do my best.

MLS, You seem angry, hope you find happiness. As for Island Fever then going on to using other companies, doesn't mean that they will not rent thru McL again, It means that they are trying other villas in other areas, MANY people do this, even those who only visit STJ.

I suggest you go to VRBO.com. It lists all the properties. Go to Carribbean, St. Thomas and then chose a location like Sapphire Beach were we have our place. But VRBO then gives you the phone number of the owner, or his representitive and then take if from there.

Billd

island fever,

"Upcharge, huh? Funny the only company with an upcharge is Caribbean Villas." "Maybe that is who you are representing."

Rent Villa Paulette from McLA (the STT based agency) in the low season, like now, and you pay $6000/wk. Rent from the STJ based managing agent Caribe Havens and the most you pay is $5500 (11-12 people);you might only pay $3500(1-4).

Maybe that's not an upcharge to you. But that's between a 9% to 71% whatever you want to call it.

Caribbean Villas is first on my list because they are the largest on STJ. I actually have never rented from them (although I have rented from more than half of the rest)-one reason is because they used to be based out of Maine, although now they have an STJ base, and I have always been very serious about supporting the locals.