Dang it - could be so wonderful with attention!
Submitted: August 11, 2012
Stayed: June 2012
It COULD be a great place, but several issues needed attention & one major issue changed our opinion from fairly good to horrible.
The 1st thing we saw was 5 bags of garbage in the carport. If the prior guest didn’t follow instructions & haul the garbage to the front gate, why didn’t the cleaning crew? Then we saw the pool…w/ leaves throughout. The pool net had huge holes in it, rendering it useless. There were no instructions for the pool, but we turned on the pump to circulate the water. We cleaned the skimmer baskets, which were full of debris. We noticed several pots, two Texas-shaped concrete pavers, & a lounge chair all broken but sitting around the pool area. Why not remove the broken decor?
We entered the living room to find men’s flip flops (again, if prior guest left these, why not remove them before the next guests arrive?) There were many broken/missing drawer pulls in the kitchen. Also, the front bedroom is especially dark, so having no bulbs in the wall sconces made it even darker. There were no bulbs to fit located on property. The views are beautiful but would have been more enjoyable to see through CLEAN windows. The place needs a thorough cleaning.
We got ready to cook that evening & realized photos on the internet (showing several nice-sized grills) were no reflection of what was actually on property, a very small round charcoal grill.
The next day we realized my niece had contracted a rash (HOT TUB FOLLICULITUS, diagnosed after our departure - treated w/ antibiotics.) We learned when the pool tech came for his weekly (not daily) maintenance that the pool & hot tub had NO CHLORINE. After learning of my niece’s rash, he drained the hot tub for cleaning later. He added chemicals to the pool, left, & returned in 2 hours to test before giving the “go ahead” to swim again.
My correspondences w/ Jennifer (owner) left me w/ the impression that she just wasn’t concerned about the lack of sanitation in the pool/hot tub. So instead of feeling assured that sanitation issues are being handled properly, I have come away w/ the impression they aren’t.
In spite of everything, my family chose to enjoy each other’s company, making the best of the situation. Had the sanitation issue not occurred, we could have overlooked the other items. We feel this place has GREAT potential and hope proper maintenance becomes a priority to the owners so it can be.
One note (no bearing on rating) we came across 2 scorpions in the house - wear shoes.
Owner's Response: Verbatim review from these same guests, written in our guest book & dated June 13:
"Had a wonderful family trip here! We enjoyed the views, swimming & outdoor retreat. There were deer spotted daily, & a roadrunner visited each day as well. The sunset from the covered outdoor area was breathtaking. We did actually have to “take care of” one scorpion, but it never made it to our bed. I think that is pretty common in this area. This is a lovely, peaceful place to stay, & we would certainly recommend it to others”.
Their online negative review was posted after we declined to issue a refund.
The pool is cleaned weekly to maintain chemical balance & the hot tub is treated after each guest. Per the guest's initial communication with us, 'Hot Tub Folliculitus' was their own self-diagnosis via internet research. It was noted that, as only 1 of the 10 people using the hot tub experienced any adverse side effects, it was indicative of an allergic reaction to water cleansers. None of the other 9 hot tub users had any symptoms. Our pool tech went above & beyond to drain, scrub & refill the hot tub to ease any concerns. Over the past 3 years, we have had 100s of guest use the pool & hot tub without incidence.
Our strict policy is no more than 6 people at the property and this highlights one of the many reasons why. The pool tech advised that there were 4-5 children present & that using the bathroom in the water greatly consumes the pool’s cleansers & disrupts the balance of pH & alkalinity. Please remember this during your stay!
Other reviews show that we actively maintain the property to ensure a relaxing & memorable time. If a broken pot or paver would detract from your stay, this old property's character & mystique may not be right for you. We work quickly to do same-day turnovers for the next guest's arrival, and you, our guest, are a part of allowing this home to remain available to the public. We ask you to inform us if there is anything broken, missing, or overlooked. If you see something that needs to be picked up or set aside to be fixed or replaced, please do so. Treat our home as it were yours & inform us of anything of consequence during your stay so we can respond accordingly.
Final notes:The grill is a top-of-the-line Weber charcoal grill which replaced a well-worn smoker & another lesser quality grill. The pool pump & vacuum are on a timer and primarily run overnight, please leave the settings as is. HAVE FUN!
Helpful votes: 8/9
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