Seth Godin – Best Selling Author – New York
Michael Feeley, A real estate agent on the tiny island of Saba, found the right people for
the right homes. (from the book – This Is Marketing by Seth Godin)
Michael D. Cleaver – President & CEO – WINAIR
Michael – Just a short note to express my thanks and appreciation for all the assistance you and Albert have provided me with the management of my property in Saba.
As you know, pre-covid, we remodeled and effected major rebuilding of my home on Saba in anticipation of a sale of Sea View Cottage home, as I was not using the property due to time constraints; the home was just not being used. Both you and Albert made the time to assist and advise me with this project as I continue living off-island; this was a huge task.
Our plans changed with the COVID pandemic shutdown in the region; once again, with your assistance, we have pivoted and have made and executed a plan to rent the property until market conditions returned, making the prospect of a sale again a feasible plan.
Your assistance in preparing the home for rent, assisting with the everyday chores of yard cleaning, housekeeping, maintaining the property has been accomplished without thought or concern on your parts. Not an easy task during this pandemic, but we got it done.
Service, communication, and caring are obviously several of the planks of your business; your efforts are noticed and greatly appreciated. Your caring for your customers, assisting, and suggesting possible action plans clearly demonstrates your deep caring and commitment for your customers. Old fashion caring customer service is very much evident in Saba Island Properties creed and code.
(A scarce commodity in today’s business environment.)
Thank you for being a true partner and friend in assisting me with this project.
I wish you continued success and thanks.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Cleaver – President & CEO – WINAIR.
Larry & Graziella Sanchez – Property Owners – Saba
“We would like to thank you and express our appreciation, Albert & Michael, for the impressive services both of you provided to us via Saba Island Properties in our recent purchase of our property in Upper Hell’s Gate.
Your company’s ability to provide “cradle-to-grave” service from searching, finding, negotiating, buying, and closing on the property made this one of the easiest purchases of the many we have ever made — in locations where other international name-brand real estate companies have failed to meet the high-level threshold of service provided by Saba Island Properties.
Clearly, your small (and relatively new) but effective real estate company is a product of both of you — the two people who have infused their past work experience, work ethic, and enthusiasm into establishing the ethos of this Saba-originated, homegrown service on this small but rich 5-mile square jewel.
We think your former occupations in customer service, home design, furnishings, and your diverse international cultural roots have made you the ideal duo for bridging the aspirations of interested outside investors towards Saba.
You are able to bring the islands “heart” to outsiders and help them appreciate the benefits — outside the actual beauty of the land — which is the kindness, caring, and heart-filled devotion Sabans have for their own and those who become part of their own. It is what makes Saba, Saba… and it is one of the reasons we love it, we are glad we have established roots here, and that you two are the advocates for letting those who care about the things we do know that it exists.”
Dr. Terika L. Haynes – Dynamite Travel & Writer – The Washington Post
Sybolt ten Hoopen – Owner – The Old Gin House, Statia
We live on neighboring Statia and had a friend come pick us up with a Saban lobster fisherman, a quick 42-foot well-maintained boat. The boys’ weekend out started with a great trip on calm ocean waters.
Coming into Saba by boat is an experience on a whole other level than by air. The mountain rises from the water majestically and boasts adventure when the forest tops are in the clouds. It’s a lovely experience.
We departed a little late due to our customs being on Island time but were greeted with all courteousness by the harbor officials and customs on Saba. A quick passport stamp, and we were on our way. We were in touch with Michael, our host, and Haiku House property manager, all the way and apologized for being late. Michael responded by telling us his 30 minutes were all bliss as he could see our fishing boat plane into Saba waters from way high up.
A perfect welcome with classical music playing, flowers, an abundance of towels and amenities, a well-stocked fridge, and all the explanation one needs to run this gorgeous place called Haiku. The house is a three-bedroom and bath wooden cabin based on Japanese design and blends in with the mountain rainforest landscape as it has been sitting there for decades. It’s all nature, wood, and bliss.
The house was squeaky clean with amazing linens and amenities; it’s a 5* all the way. Pool and Jacuzzi well maintained and cleared from leaves daily by the lovely pool lady Cece.
We spent our days listening to music, talking, napping, lounging, and drinking great bottles of wine in and around the pool. Sleeping with the doors and windows open only to be woken up by a cloud passing through the bedroom or the mountain creatures coming alive in the early AM hours.
Thanks to Haiku, Michael and his team, our fisherman’s friends, and the lovely island of Saba, we had an unforgettable experience.
Sybolt ten Hoopen
Owner / Director
The Old Gin House
Orange Bay 1, P.O. 72
St. Eustatius – Dutch West Indies
Ben Baker – President & CEO – “Your Brand Marketing” – Vancouver, Canada
Michael’s unique gift is empathy — that you absolutely care about your clients and facilitating a lifestyle change.
It’s not a house Saba Island Properties is selling, but a home. The distinction is vitally important.
Your niche is being the full service expats that you are. Allowing people the opportunity to live out their dreams and making sure that the reality lives up to their fantasy. Not many realtors from
New York, to London, to Vancouver take this extra and vital step to deliver Marketing Joy.
You understand what it is like to move from one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US, if not the world (New York City) to an island that can fit inside Central Park. It’s being able to tell a unique story, to a unique audience that will absolutely trust you as you have been there and can help them make the decision that is best for them… and they will tell their friends.
You enable a lifestyle and your goal is to make people feel like they have won the lottery. You do that!
Anne Czerner – Co-Founder – ‘Essential Africa’ – Johannesburg, South Africa
What is rare in the world of real estate, is finding someone that genuinely cares, has empathy and humility, that is in this for the long run, that takes the time to discover exactly what you are looking for and sifts through all the options and comes up with a property that is absolutely ideal for you.
A property investment is not only one of the largest investments you ever make, but it is an investment in a lifestyle, a decision on what is truly important in life, what matters.
Michael and Saba Island Properties takes you through a process that allows you to distil the essence of what you truly desire, and then match this with the appropriate property.
He does this because he is totally passionate about life, about Saba and all it offers. He has moved to Saba himself, understands what it takes to make this move, and can guide you every step of the way.
Regards – Anne Czerner – Essential Africa
James & Linda Mackay – Canada & Saba Property Owners
We were hooked on Saba the first time we took a day trip to the island. The people on Saba and the fantastic sense of community, culture and conservation made us feel at home. This paradise captured our hearts and each time we returned, we became more and more convinced that we needed to establish a permanent presence on the island and share it with others.
Working with Saba Island Properties on this initiative was a great experience for us. Yes, selling real estate is a business, but Michael and Albert treated us as guests rather than customers. They took the time to hear our voices and listen to our dreams so that they could find us the perfect property.
Michael and Albert patiently guided us through many potential prospects and answered our countless questions along the way. The experience and knowledge base they possessed was obvious, yet the manner they worked respected the fact that this was not only a leap to a new home for us, but also a leap of faith to a system that was far different than what we were familiar with.
Working with Saba Island Properties gave us the confidence to realize our dream of land ownership in Saba. Michael and Albert are skilled professionals who know the island, know the industry, and know the right people to get things done.
Early on in our search, Michael and Albert identified a property that they believed was a great match for what we were after. They saw our vision, guided us along and supported us as we weighed our options. Ironically, eighteen months later, in the midst of a pandemic, their patience and quiet persistence paid off. Michael and Albert operate with compassion and sincerity and we look forward to working with them as this project continues.
The Fraipont Family – North Carolina
Beautiful – architect designed house with stunning views
Our family just spent a week at Haiku House on beautiful Saba. The house is well designed and perfectly located to enjoy cooling breezes and lovely views of the ocean and town (the Bottom) below.
Michael (Saba Island Properties) was an outstanding host, volunteering to buy groceries for us prior to our arrival due to holiday store closings. He also coordinated our car rental, dinner reservations and taxis. He made the arrival process smooth and pleasant. We felt quite pampered by him!
Haiku House has three nicely decorated bedrooms with a/c for comfortable sleeping. The windows in the living room and master bedroom slide open completely, allowing the tropical breezes to blow through the house. The house has a large, comfortable office (if one sadly has to work during their stay!). We enjoyed drinks and dinner on the deck most nights during our stay. Other highlights: sunsets and stargazing from the lower deck, warming up after diving in the jacuzzi, watching the clouds blow by during brief rain showers.
Saba was a very pleasant surprise! The diving is outstanding. The hiking is also very good—we particularly liked the Sandy Cruz trail which ends very close to the house. The architecture on the island is charming—red roofs, “gingerbread” trim. The locals were welcoming and seemed happy we were there (probably since Saba isn’t overrun with tourists like many other Caribbean islands).
Our family has stayed in many vacation rentals over the years. We agreed that this was our favorite to date!
Lisa and Paul – New York
We recently spent two wonderful weeks at Haiku House. The house is beautiful and comfortable in a serene setting. We enjoyed taking our coffee outside and watching The Bottom (the capital of Saba) come to life in the morning with the blue ocean beyond. When the clouds roll down the mountain, you feel suspended in the air; your only companions are the birds, a chicken or two, and the occasional goat. At sunset, we would take cocktails down to the lower deck to enjoy the view over the neighboring hills. There is ample room to spread out and relax either on the various decks, in the pool or hot tub, or on the couch in the bright and airy living room.
This was our first visit to Saba, and Michael at Saba Island Properties was gracious and welcoming. He helped us book the house through the owner and took care of all of the details, including stocking the house with essentials, sending a taxi to the airport to meet us, arranging for a private chef, recommending restaurants, and more. Every request was handled promptly and efficiently. Michael & Albert are most charming and seem to know everyone on the island. Whether you stay at Haiku House or another of the houses they manage, you will be in very capable hands. The owner of Haiku House, Caroline Hompes, was lovely to deal with and followed up after our visit to make sure we had an enjoyable stay.
While it was tempting to stay at the house all day, we did manage to see most of the island and take a number of hikes, including the trails up Mount Scenery and to the abandoned sulfur mine. The Sandy Cruz trail, another favorite, starts very near the house. The hiking can be as easy or as challenging as you like, and there is an excellent trail guide in the library at the house. You can also hire “Crocodile” James Johnson, a fifth-generation Saban, to guide you. We never saw another person on any of the trails and the views are striking as is the profound silence when you walk through the forest or along the cliffs.
While The Bottom is quieter than Windwardside, the other town on the island, it has two excellent places for breakfast or lunch, Bottom Bean and Island Flavors, as well as a bakery and two grocery stores. Saba may be one of the friendliest places on Earth, and strangers really do wave at you as you walk or drive by! As time passes, you become familiar with the rhythms of daily life on the island, including the much anticipated arrival of the supply boat on Wednesdays. You will feel part of it all very quickly. We could have easily spent another two weeks on Saba and hope to return soon!