As in every situation there's always the positive notes and the negative notes.
Let's start wit the positive ones: The location is quite good on a calm neighborhood but still close to the beach and town. Swimming pool is big enough and works well for both for adults and children.
On the downside:
Very poor maintenance of the property:
* Children's park slide can't be used as it is very rusty and with open holes at the top.
* Tennis court needing a new painting, ground adjustments, new net, etc
* Kitchen furniture with closet doors not closing properly
* Water isolation on the shower areas wasn't been replaced in ages and we were asked to be careful when taking shower to avoid floods.
* Shower heads very old and falling from their support
* Dish washer and laundry machine colliding (not joking) while working.
* Tiles of the swimming pool falling off.
* Furniture was old but that wasn't the problem. It just looked to be brought from a house where it wasn't wanted anymore. Instead of recycling it, hosts decided to use it on this property just for the checklist.
* TV was from the 80's/90's. A flat TV is so cheap these days. It is more acceptable not having one.
* Garage was dirty and packed with garbage.
If I could sum it up, what strikes me most is the clear lack of from the hosts on ensuring a good experience to their guests. And this is seen on the lack of maintenance described above but also on some attitudes along the week.
- Asking us to take care on the shower to avoid water leakage? (that is just a matter of maintenance, not a guests' concern)
- We run out of gas (for cooking and showers) one night. We call them and they came shortly to realize that, while they had 4 tanks in place, 3 of them were empty and the 4th had little. Suggestion from them: "take a cold shower, it is ok." Yes, it could be, but you don't propose that to guests.
- When checking out at 11AM nobody has shown up and I had to call them. They asked to leave the key inside because they didn't have time.
- Clearly the hosts only care about getting the money and do the bare minimum to have the house "usable".
There would more to say, but will finish with a couple of recommendations to the property hosts:
* Guests are looking for a good and relaxed experience more than a house with a roof. Provide them that. Be attentive.
* Do proper maintenance
* Refresh the house equipment, decoration and furniture. You don't need such a big investment to improve it a lot.