Pros: House perfectly matches what is described. There was good communication with manager/host, easy check-in, very clean, had everything needed: towels, toiletries, ironing board, extra blankets, plenty of extra toilet paper, kitchen stocked with pots, pans, toaster, microwave, plates, utensils etc., snacks, waters, and comfortable beds. The location is walking distance to downtown Azusa with lots of cafes, train station and Target.
Cons: Upon check in the manager asked if I would need extra cleaning which requires two days advance notice. I explained I did not. I could not understand why I would need extra cleaning if I already paid $135 cleaning fee for a 3 night stay. The manager stated the extra cleaning fee is $90 per hour and there is a 2 hour minimum. There are quite a few extra guidelines with monetary penalties for not complying. This made me anxious I would be charged for something extra besides the $135 cleaning fee I paid when the reservation was booked. The $135 cleaning fee does not include trash removal so upon check-out I had to find the black garbage can which was already in the front of the home and not in the garage as listed in the instructions. The $135 cleaning fee includes mopping the tiled floor but shoes are not allowed in the home. The constant shoe removal was a challenge for the seniors I was traveling with. The bathrooms did not have bathmats which was also a slipping hazard for the seniors I was with. There were no instructions on how to work the TV remotes or air conditioner.
Upon check in the home was extremely warm because the air conditioner was turned off. It took several hours for the home to eventually get to a comfortable temperature. The following day I left the air conditioner on so upon our return ,the home would be cool and we wouldn’t have to wait several hours for the home to cool off again. The manager called me an asked me to turn the air conditioner off since we were not home because she feared the air conditioner would “burn out” if running all day. I found it strange that she knew we were not home. I felt as though we were being monitored. Also, what if I left someone from my group in the home, could they not stay in the home with the air conditioner on? Would the air conditioner “burn out” if we stayed in the home all day running it? I have central air conditioning in my home which runs 24/7. If my air conditioner stops working then I have to call a repair person to fix it. That’s just part of home ownership. I wouldn’t sit a hot house just to avoid the air conditioner from shutting down. It all just made me uneasy. I obliged the manager and had a friend drive me back to the house just to turn the air conditioner off.
Out of the hosts control, but the neighbors do keep their dogs in their yards which means you’ll hear barking at night. For a group on 5 there is only one sofa in the living room which can comfortably seat 3-4 people.
The home is beautiful, but, if you do not read all the instructions carefully you can be charged additional fees.