This apartment is in a good neighborhood, convenient to shopping and dining. It is a pleasant, furnished and decorated apartment with a kitchen/dining/living room combination and tiny balcony. Two good sized bedrooms each has it’s own bathroom. Aside from being required to take off our shoes before entering, it looks to be a comfortable place to stay.
Unfortunately, it soon becomes apparent that the owners have no idea that by renting to paying customers they are now in the Hospitality Industry, and there are expectations and standards. The apartment had the appearance not of being readied for guests, but of having been abandoned. Personal items covered virtually every surface, and crammed every space. Boxes of jewelry, cigarettes and even a stack of uncashed checks were left lying around. Closets and cabinets were jammed with stuff, save some hanger space in one closet. Oddly, there are no dressers. The large TV in the living room is only watchable with a laptop to connect.
An un-emptied vacuum was left in the living room, amidst a tangle of partially deflated balloons. The refrigerator was full of half eaten fast food, perishables and unidentified items. I investigated two jars of jam for possible use, and found both seriously moldy. Stove and microwave were greasy and spattered. Wastebasket was half full. On the balcony was trash, Hard Cider Bottles and cigarette butts.
Beds had mattress pads and quilts. No linens. Only 4 tattered hand towels and one bath towel. Two towels were finally delivered the next evening (newly purchased, as we got covered in fuzz), and handed over from the hall. We mentioned some of the problems. She exclaimed “Well, if you need anything else cleaned let us know” and then dashed away. We didn’t find any cleaning supplies anywhere.
The bathrooms were bristling with mostly empty bottles of stuff. In the shower: scraps of damp washcloth, used razors, dirt and hairs and yuck! Wastebaskets were full. Towel ring fell off the wall the second day. Toilet seat was so loose you could end up sitting nearly sideways. Only 1 roll of toilet paper so had to buy more.
This could be a very nice place to stay if the owners wise-up. We have rental properties and make sure they are spotless, well appointed and hospitable in every way. We get great reviews and numerous repeat guests. This rental appeared to us to have been done as a lark—“let’s rent the place out, stay with friends for a week and make some quick cash” sort of thing. If they are actually serious about doing this rental stuff, and learn to treat it like a business and maintain respectable standards, then they could really have a winner with this apartment and location, and make more than just some quick cash. We do hope they decide to take it seriously.