HERE IS A THOROUGH REVIEW THAT I HOPE IS HELPFUL TO BOTH FUTURE GUESTS AND THE HOST. This is a good rental with pros, some easily fixable cons, and some inaccuracies in the description.
First, the inaccuracies:
The description says this is a newly renovated apartment. It’s not. It’s perhaps newly furnished and decorated (very nicely!) but not renovated. The fixtures, such as the bathroom vanity, stove/oven, bathtub/shower, and tile, etc., are most definitely quite old and in need of some minor TLC, but hardly the end if the world. The refrigerator is brand new, however. The dryer was so old it nearly caught fire. We pulled our laundry out of the smoking dryer and had to throw away some smoke-damaged clothes.
A fireplace is listed under heating sources. There is indeed a fireplace but it doesn’t appear to be functional. There are no instructions for use. It’s a wood-burning fireplace. If it’s usable you’d have to consult with the host and purchase wood, matches, etc.
Shampoo and soap are in fact NOT provided. Well, there is hand soap but not body soap. There was an old, lidless bottle of shampoo that was basically empty in the shower caddy. Plan to bring your own or purchase. The hand soap also doubles as dish soap in the kitchen.
The listing says one bedroom has a queen bed and the other a single. But both beds are very nice queens.
The cons:
The bathroom was filthy and disgusting when we arrived. There was thick black hair in the shower and black mold all over the tile and bathroom sink. (I have photos!) I immediately went to the store and bought Tilex to spray it all down. Had to unload half a bottle of Tilex to eliminate all the black mold. The bathroom sink was grimy and gross and also full of black mold. The bathroom window sill was covered in black and dirt. The bath mat was dirty and had a big glop of blue toothpaste on it. The top of the cabinet was thick with dust. Spent the first morning of my vacation cleaning the dang bathroom but finally had to make peace with the dirt factor. Keep in mind the cleaning fee for this rental was $220. Not happy!
The rest of the apartment was tidy but in need of a deep clean when you looked more closely. Thick dust over doors and on floor boards. Dead bugs in window sills, etc.
Only four bath towels and four hand towels provided for a week’s stay for three people. No washcloths. Two kitchen towels and one kitchen washcloth. No scrubber for dishes.
The host does not proactively communicate, e.g., you have to ask for check-in info and how to access washer and dryer, etc. We had to guess that it was OK to park in the driveway. But she was quick to respond and very nice and accommodating. An info sheet would be helpful.
It would be easy to make a few inexpensive, cosmetic fixes, such as replacing the rusty shower rod and towel fixtures, rusty shower caddy, rusty dish rack, etc. also, repair broken cabinet handles throughout, broken glass pane in garage door.
The host left an envelope in the entry with a handwritten request for cash tips. Not sure what for???
The pros:
Cleaning issues aside, it’s a cute, charming, spacious apartment. It’s the kind of place I’d live in. Old-school charm.
The location is perfect for tourists whose main activities are in the downtown area. Close to everything and in the middle of the action. And yet it felt snug and private and nestled away. Neat spot.
The beds are super comfortable.
Netflix is provided.
Overall this will be a great place with a deep clean and some nicer touches of hospitality. When you pay a $200+ cleaning fee, it’s galling to arrive to a dirty, gross bathroom. Otherwise quite nice, but a superhost designation won’t be warranted until a few things are fixed.