It's safe to say that our family is more conflicted on this property than any other we've ever stayed at through VRBO/Home Away. On one hand, you simply can't beat the view from the huge front windows, and deck--simply spectacular. There are other positives too, from the brand new leather sectional, to the great Sonos system, new gas grill, and lots of room.
Unfortunately it's the small things that really dragged the experience down for us. First was the general lack of cleanliness. I don't know who the owner is contracting with for cleaning services, but they should be fired immediately. Here are some of the issues we encountered:
- Most dishes, glassware and silverware in the cupboards and drawers were covered with tiny pieces of dried food. This meant you couldn't trust anything you pulled out to use without examining and usually re-washing it by hand. Having used their dishwasher while we were there, I think that's the problem. Even though we thoroughly rinsed everything prior to using it, most items still ended up with food residue.
- The top of the refrigerator was covered with frosting and candy sprinkles from a previous tenant. Maybe they only have short people on their cleaning crew?
- A child's pacifier was found under one of the beds.
- Owner's don't have you strip the down comforters from the bed, so they presumably seldom get washed. Our kids found hairs and other evidence of previous use.
- Stains on some of the bedskirts indicated they probably hadn't ever been washed.
- Grease film on vent hood and tea kettle.
Beyond cleanliness, there were other annoying things that made us assume the owners weren't paying attention:
- The refrigerator is badly out of level, so the front door constantly swings open and bangs against the wall directly next to it. Since the paint is worn away where contact occurs, I'm guessing this has been a problem for a long time.
- None of the sliding glass doors or upstairs bedroom windows have screens. The wall of west facing doors and windows allows for great views, but even on a 65-degree day, the inside temperature quickly climbed into the mid 80s, and we couldn't open the sliding doors or windows to cool off without letting in flies and mosquitoes. The sliding doors didn't have shades or curtains of any kind.
- The vent filter above the stove is still barely attached (from a previous review).
- Downstairs bedroom shade doesn't work.
- Foosball table has broken pieces.
I don't think we'll return.