Why should I choose Designs for Homes?
We believe that the quality of our designs speak for themselves and that we offer the best service of it's kind available today. Furthermore, unlike other companies offering similar services we make no attempt to tie the customer into lengthy contracts or monthly payments: our websites are offered for a single, one-off payment.
What is "hosting"? How much does it cost?
Once your website is completed it must be placed on a "web server" (a computer which is permanently connected to the Internet), in order for people to access it anywhere around the world at any time. At Designs for Homes we offer web-hosting at a cost of £5.99 per month. Whilst we recommend that you host your site with us there is no commitment for you to do so and you are welcome to host with another provider should you so wish. If you do choose to host with us your website will be physically stored on a server housed in a specialist data-center in a climate-controlled environment.
What is a "Domain Name" and how do I choose one?
A domain name is the unique name that identifies an internet site e.g. www.myholidayhome.com and this domain name must be registered before your website can be published. As part of our service we'll help you choose a unique domain name for your site and we'll also register your domain name for you for 2 years. After 2 years your domain name will need to be renewed: the administration fee for a further 2 year renewal is £15.
Can I change my Domain Name in the future?
Yes. There will be small charge for the purchase of the new domain name, and we'll transfer the site over for you.
Are there any other hidden costs invloved in running a website?
No. Aside from the monthly hosting fee and the domain name renewal every two years - that's it.
Will I still need to advertise my property after my website has been created or will the site start generating rentals on it's own?
You'll almost certainly need to continue advertising through other media in the short to medium term. A personal website should be seen as a means of increasing rental income and bookings rather than as the sole means of advertising a property. We recommend advertising through an established online holiday-home marketing company (e.g Owners Direct) which allows a link through to your own personal website where you can really showcase your property.
How does the process of setting up my website work? What involvement do I have?
You decide on the template for your site from our list of styles and have a preliminary dicussion with us about content and design. You then send us lots of photos and information about the property and we start work on your design. You can have as much or as little input into this process as you wish. We'll write the content and choose the photos we think are best or you can specify exactly want you want. We post each revision of the site online for review until you are completely happy and ready to go live. No payment is required until you go live with your site.
How long will it take to design my website?
This largely depends on you. If you already have photos of your property and a strong idea of the content then we can build your website very quickly indeed, possibly within a week. Typically the design process takes around 2-3 weeks.
Do you list my website on search engines?
Yes as part of our service we'll submit your website to all major search engines.
Do you accept payment in different currencies?
Yes we accept payment in all major currencies.
Do you offer a discount for multiple properties?
Yes we do. Please check our prices page for our latest offers.