Overpriced and in need of some work
Submitted: November 10, 2012
Stayed: August 2012
The very best feature about this house is the location which is directly on the beach. The front porch is where we spent the majority of our time and we loved it. Upon arrival, we also discovered that there were several air conditioner units in the house which we were very appreciative of.
However, the house is in great need of some TLC and some upgrades. We arrived right after a storm and the house had been opened up and everything was wet. The carpets, furniture and the master bed linens and mattress were all soaked. We were not able to find a phone number to call anyone for help so we needed to spend quite a while stripping beds and doing laundry and drying off the furniture as best we could.
Also we were traveling with a person who is handicapped and did not realize that the step spoken of in the details which we thought was to enter the house was actually a deep step between the kitchen and living room area and the downstairs bathroom was off the kitchen and required another step back up to enter. So each time that bathroom (which was very small and not adequate for some people who are handicapped) was used it required a step down and then making a right turn and going back up a step. This could be a difficulty for the elderly and some handicapped people. I mention this because if we had this information beforehand we would have needed to choose a different house. Also the window areas need to be cleaned and need some new treatments so that neighboring houses (which are very close together) cannot see into the bedrooms. . There were also openings between the air conditioner units and the windows in some rooms.
And we did not notice this aspect when we were searching for a place to rent but it became important when we were there so I want you to know that there is no dish washer. We needed to spend a lot of time doing dishes as we cooked in all week.
But I do want to say that our experience with Cheryl was very positive. She was very helpful and personally accommodating to our requests. I am doing this review because times are difficult these days and we felt that the price was just too steep for what this property actually offered.
Owner's Response: Dear Debbie
Thank you for your well written review of Johns's beach house. I always hope that when I write the advertisement for each of the houses that I manage, I am accurate in my description. I think the very best point you make here is that the potential guest should read and ask the owner or manager questions about the house. Ask questions about those things that are important to you.
Once I popped by the next day, I pointed out my property book of notes, house details and local attractions. I think I must put a single sheet of information on every Fridge, basic info, at least. I know myself, coming into a strange place and getting settled can often be a daunting task.
I did review my listing after I read your review and I hoped that when I wrote " classic 1920's Beach House" the reader would understand that this house is relatively unchanged since
the 1920's. The bathrooms are sparse and the sinks small ~ they remain unchanged since
the 20's. No, the kitchen does not have a dishwasher, but in the advertisement I DO NOT
say that it does. Many guests do not care that a beach house is not updated. AND if a guest wants a more modern house, this is not the one for them!
This house does need renovating but the owner likes it the way it is. As a result of the visits from Irene and now Sandy it will AGAIN be painted and newly carpeted. The Storm Hurricane Sandy caused havoc to the entire first floor, as did Irene. It will also have NEW furniture for the third year in a row, on the first floor. I had not yet had an opportunity to post new pictures for 2012 and another storm comes by!
You have made a very good point mentioning the storm and the wet bed linens etc. I do not stick to a strict check in policy and this is sometimes a problem. If you had checked in at 3:00 pm, when there was no rain in sight, this would not have happened. But if you recall, I left the house open for you to check in on your time frame and durning that time the rain came. I assumed you were already there and I never thought I had to go and close up the house because
of the storm. This has made me rethink my check in policy. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. It will be helpful to other potential guests!
Best!
Cheryl
Helpful votes: 2/2
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