PROS: Good location, plenty of good shops and eateries around, easy parking, enough space to sleep 8 somewhat comfortably, and relatively clean. Kitchen well stocked with utensils, plates, etc. and useful concept of having "use some, leave some" approach to condiments, seasonings, etc.
CONS: Hazards, significant differences in pictures vs. actual condition, inaccuracies in listing, poor host communication style - more detailed insight below
HAZARDS
-Unkempt thornbush in walkway - family members got caught multiple times
-Ceiling not aligned with handrail - multiple family members bumped their head
-Uneven, tripping-prone stairs as mentioned in other reviews
-Massive amount of garbage/junk on the front porch and backyard with poor landscaping
INACCURACIES
-Pictures vastly different than current condition: treadmill and junk in entryway, beds have less pillows than what's shown, furniture is mismatched and in poor condition
-No cable package or Ethernet connection
-Extra pillows indicated as available - not actually so and the pictures show 4 pillows per bed when only 2 max are provided per bed
-No access to backyard / laundry room, no visible play area. The gate was tied closed to prevent access altogether
-No actual dedicated workspace. It's a significantly worn, small desk with a computer chair in an already cramped bedroom
POOR COMMUNICATON
An overall passive-aggressive approach that made my family feel somewhat unwelcome. Although the host was responsive, it was mainly to issues that shouldn't have happened to begin with.
Examples:
-Host came off as annoyed when inquiring about August Home app access, and I provided details for all adult guests who would be staying. If there is a preference to only setup 2-3 people, that should be stated and wouldn't have minded.
-When a family member approached the host about a suggestion for the ceiling hazard previously mentioned, the host said he would listen but not necessarily implement without even knowing the issue. Don't know if it was a poor joke, but it came off as insulting. When explaining the situation, we were summarily dismissed as nobody ever reported the issue and the building passed inspection - nonetheless, this was a hazard where multiple family members were hurt.
-Internet was not available upon arrival. When reporting this, I was told how the best internet available was paid and seemingly questioned the legitimacy of what was happening. Credit to host for responding quickly, but internet would proceed to go out again once more during our stay which caused me to miss virtual work meetings.
-When requesting extra pillows (we had a 5 year old and 18 month old with us), Host offered a strange response about how he had a recent Airbnb experience without pillows. Host seemed to be begrudgingly fulfilling the request despite having misreprentative photos and an inaccurate listing amenity that notes extra pillows. Then seemed to insinuate that we had more people staying with us than what was noted because of the request.
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I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, but I feel obligated to detail some of the issues we experienced so that it offers a more accurate representation of this listing. This may have been a solid property previously, but the overall rating no longer reflects reality, in my opinion.
This is my 10th Airbnb stay and my only truly negative stay. I do not recommend this place to families. It could work for younger occupants, but based on the price point for our stay, the experience fell way below expectations. This place works in a pinch and Toronto as a market is tough, but would recommend exploring other options.