House “Raffles”: Holiday Homes Agogo!

Now then. Yesterday I mentioned that I had come across some exciting win a house “raffles” and competitions – and here they are!

They are holiday homes – and they’re sweet.

The first one (above) is in Florida, not far from Disney. The property’s British owners are running the competition, and the website is here. It has lots of photographs. According to the site, the first prize “package” is worth more than $1.25 million and included a fully-furnished home with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a swimming pool and a hot tub, set in 5 acres of land. A brand new family car is thrown in, as is the first year of property tax and maintenance bills (not sure what the amounts involved are, though), plus one year’s membership of a local health club.

There are 104 runner up prizes of cash, with the amounts ranging from £1,000 to £100.

An online entry to the competition costs £25, and entrants must answer three multiple choice questions.

(Disclaimer: I nearly didn’t include the Florida home competition, because I found out that – unexpectedly – one of the companies for which I do freelance work was involved in putting the competition plans together. But damn it, it sounds like a tasty prize so I’m including it anyway!)

The Florida home isn’t the only one on offer though. Miss Thrifty reader Serena got in touch with information about another great contest to win a holiday home – this time, in Majorca (or Mallorca, if I’m feeling Spanish/posh).

This competition sounds rather, well… epic. Nine properties (including those pictured above) are up for grabs, ranging from £350,000 villas to £175,000+ studios. The properties are currently owned by Scott’s Boutique Hotels, which had been using the homes as a “second hotel”.

In their words:

We’re holding this promotion and raffle because when we decided to sell our properties we found ourselves in a nasty world of frauds, sharks, and despicable money launderers.

To see pictures of the properties, for more information or to enter, visit the competition website. From the look of it anyone, anywhere can enter – not just UK or EU citizens.

The entry process is relatively unusual. The fee for entering is 150 Euros (about £120); it’s a higher fee than most, but affords you entry into all of the draws. Ticket sales are limited to 33,333 and the earlier you enter, the more draws you will be eligible for. Three sets of draws are to take place (the first, for a studio apartment, has already taken place) as the sales reach specified targets.

Every entrant also receives a Scott’s voucher: visit them for a minimum three-night stay, and they’ll deduct the price of your competition entry from your bill.

Serena writes:

The odds, 10 winners in 33,333 participants, are much better, and the prizes are really delightful (I stayed in the holiday complex last season). Not only that, you can get your money back, either before or after the draws just by staying at Scott’s Hotel, a wonderful 4 star townhouse. Of all the competitions, this is the one.
Good luck if you enter — I’m planning on winning the big 2 BR house.

If you enter either of these competitions – or if you hear of any others that sound good – please add a comment and I’ll pass the news on…