Enquire Direct

Forget Amazon and Google. There's another monopolistic internet company out there which is quietly taking over all of our lives. It's called 'Owners Direct'.
 
Innocently looking for a website through which to market my house, I have discovered that I am not alone in finding myself choosing Owners Direct. Of around 100 families paying the fees for my children's posh, expensive school, it turns out that at the very least, five of them are renting out their properties to help make ends meet. And every single one is signed up with Owners Direct.

Turning abroad I discover that both of my friends who rent out their continental properties also use the company - whether it's called Owners Direct, or 'HomeAway' it's the same headquarters based in Bressenden Place in London, representing nearly 200,000 properties around the world.

I chose it to market my house because there are no fussy agents involved, no one demanding 30% commission, while making me empty out my cupboards and clean my fridge.

And now I have just received my first enquiry. From a nice-sounding man called Jim, who is looking for three nights, for three
families comprising six adults and five children. Perfect! I immediately confirm I have availability.

I then spend nearly £2,000 in a morning, on 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, duvets, duvet covers, mattress protectors; twenty pillows, twenty pillow protectors, and thirty towels.

Jim gets back to me to say he has found somewhere else, cheaper.

I am relieved. It was all too much, too fast. Yet it demonstrates that Owners Direct actually works! It could really happen! I might succeed in renting out my home in its entirity for a substantial sum!

How scary! How exciting!

Hurray for Owners Direct!