Thank you for this review and I do take on board all that you have said. I am very grateful to be given the chance to respond. I apologize for the lengthy response, but I feel as a host, that this is warranted so I can address all the facts.
This is one of the first reviews given on Virbo and sadly, though it is not favourable, again I take on board all you have to say. My property and personal ‘host’ reviews is 100% on other platforms where the property is listed.
To respond to your points. Firstly, and unfairly as regards your review, you did not even stay at the property yourself, you booked it for 4 of your colleagues to stay for 6 nights, so on this point you were not even here to witness and comment fairly with no prejudice. You only had the word of your 4 colleagues.
Guest check out is at 1030am and I arrived at the property at 1045 am. The garage was flooded, the washing machine door was open, it was flashing a light and there was wet underwear and towels, half in and half out of the machine which did not belong to us. It looked as though the machine had been stopped mid-cycle.
I took photos of the flooding and the machine, and upon trying to start it again with no success, I took a video of the outcome – ie, the flashing lights upon trying to start it.
I went through the correct channels from this point on. I contacted a whitewear specialist who could not come out for 2 months (there are only 2 business’s of this nature in the area) I informed yourself of the damage and I rang and spoke with Vrbo directly, and sent them the photos and video.
Unfortunately, I have no control over the decisions made by Vrbo. They agreed it was damage and were happy to refund. However, and this is quite an important point - as you and I both communicated via the platform, I was more than happy for Vrbo NOT to pay out anything until the report had been done. I was prepared to wait 2 months for a decision to be made, once the report was back.
With full bookings ahead and not wanting to have guests inconvenienced, I had no choice but to get a new washing machine - out of my own finances. I feel it is my business as to which machine I purchased however, in light of heavy future use with guest traffic.
Vrbo did pay out a damage payment 3 weeks later, though I know it was the understanding between myself and yourself to wait for the report – again this was out of my control, and I feel your upset around this should have been something you could have taken up with Vrbo yourself.
After the 2 months, I sent you the whitewear/plumber report which stated clear ‘flooding’ within the machine. I declined to get it fixed as by this time, 2 months later, there was no need. I had already needed to invest in a new machine.
I sent you the invoice for the new machine – though I did not have to do this - out of my own integrity and to show you the cost. Let me be clear here, it was always my intention after the report was in, to refund any financial difference owing to you – as we both, again, had communicated on the Vrbo platform.
However, I still await your completed bank details as the message sent to me is missing information. You sent me a bank account, but I am unclear as to which country this belongs to – New Zealand or Australia. I still await the Account Holder Name, IBAN Bank Code, Bank Address etc – all the details needed to do an international transfer. I feel it would be best also, for you to send the full company name through which the accommodation was paid, and not your own personal name. This is best for my own records, thank you.
I have already addressed with you the matter of the delivery address but again, for the validity of this review response, I had the machine sent to our urban business address. This is something we always do as due to living rurally delivery costs can easily double. I do hope this makes more sense to you, and that you have received my earlier message via Vrbo this morning with the business / delivery address intact.
We are professional people with integrity. We have no need to ‘scam’ and seek monetary gain such as this. I simply followed the guidelines and rules as laid out by Vrbo. Thankfully, these are in place for the protection of any ‘host’.
As a further point of note from myself, even though your 4 colleagues did leave the property in an okay condition, there was damage to a sun lounger for which I did not claim, one bathroom was left in a very distasteful condition, and not to give rise to too much suspicion, all 7 beds had been slept in when only 4 needed to be used. It did certainly make me wonder whether other people had been invited back as numerous items including pillows had been left behind in these other rooms.
As per the host rules around this no parties or events are allowed, and for extra guests there would be a small charge. This is conjecture however and cannot be proven. As per your request I have now disposed of these items.
Again, thank you for your feedback as any feedback is always appreciated.