The place is beautiful at first glance, but in the light of day, tiles were horribly broken and cracked, things like furniture, fireplaces, and doors were broken and the furniture and sheets/towels were shabby. The master bedroom shower was broken, the sheets on the daybeds outside were dirty and/or torn, the knobs on most of the patio doors pulled off or didn’t lock, the outdoor heater didnt work, outdoor lights stopped working after a few days, the fridge is gross and dirty, and overall, it has the feel of a place that used to be beautiful and elegant.
Watching Frankie the monkey in his cage daily was heartbreaking. It felt like a zoo. Most importantly, there feces was on his glass cage several times which looks out to onto the kitchen. to say it was unappetizing was an understatement. None of us ate those days and it took hours to get it cleaned up.
Additionally, there was very little privacy while we were there. We got constant reminders about little things that someone would only know if watching us because it had just happened. It was uncomfortable. Of note, Lisa let me know one morning that they were aware that we were filming in the house—we hadnt yet started. there were 4 of us DIY filming a small course—and they sent a man who called himself ‘the muscle’ to try to scare us into paying an additional fee for filming. I paid the fee without incident or negotiation because I was unaware of the rule and would have paid it had I known, and I didnt want any more intervention from ‘the muscle’. I am a Black woman and don’t enjoy being threatened by white men. I would have gladly paid a fee to use the place if I was aware of their policy. We never had more guests than were allowed sleeping over, but were accused of throwing a party by ‘the muscle.’ The entire stay felt very disrespectful. I’d hoped to keep communication cordial but feeling threatened and watched has left a bad taste in my mouth.
Initially Lisa was responsive to requests, but when I noticed the large number of things broken, damaged, or simply not as advertised, my guests and I decided to focus on what was beautiful to avoid complaining. The scenery is lovely, the view is breathtaking, and the beds are comfortable. Practically everything else is not worth the headache or being bothered constantly by Lisa and the homeowner. Needless to say, it was not a good experience.
The house has beautiful features but as I mentioned, it is fragile, dated, and old. I am unsure why one would invite guests to stay in their home if they need to have constant surveillance on them, or if their items are fragile. Don’t trust other people with your house if you dont want to trust other people.
Be cautious before you book this house.