This is the first time I’m writing a negative review on Airbnb - and I’m not trying to be mean. The host was VERY nice and did reach out and try to help out with repairs.
My issues
1. Check-in was at 3pm. Our host messaged us an hour or so before check-in and requested we come at 3:30pm since the previous renter had just left. We said it was fine. We pulled into driveway almost around 4:30pm... and the rental was not ready. The host was there trying to clean and do laundry. He said he needed more time, so we just dropped our stuff off and we just left.
2. When we did check in later that night - the home did not look clean at all. There was dirt and crumbs on the floor. It looked dingy. We even found some trash left in bathroom from - I assume - the previous renter. There was also random alcohol/sex/drug paraphernalia decor in the home (which is fine and I’m sure some people like that , but that was not advertised in the home description.) The mattress was just covered in a flat sheet with no mattress
Cover/protector.
3. We were warned that the previous tenant may have broken the hot water faucet for the bathroom. We finally checked in late on our first night - my boyfriend took a shower and struggled to turn on the hot water. Finally after he finished - he could not turn off the hot water faucet. We tried everything to get it to turn off. The water was getting so hot that the entire apartment was steaming up and you couldn’t even touch the facet handle anymore, even with a towel, because it was scolding hot. We were able to contact host who turned off the hot water and he said he would have it fixed next day. I wasn’t able to take a shower that night. Next day - we went back out. We returned and host had messaged me that it was fixed. It looked like he had just put some tape around the threads near the faucet. I was able to take a shower and turn it off. Then my boyfriend took a shower - couldn’t turn off the shower. Same thing as night before (steaming, too hot). We tried messaging/texting/calling the host multiple times. Meanwhile the water is running. We opened all the windows. It got so bad my boyfriend went downstairs to try to find the water Heater to turn off the water himself. Host finally got back to us and drove down to turn off the hot water. He said he was going to get a professional to fix the faucet in the morning. Next day we went out - we got message that he tried to fix it again but the faucet needs a vintage part that he needed to order. But he said we could probably turn the water on and off with a valve outside of the tub. We came back home - we tested the valve. Only Cold water. We gave up at this point. No shower.
I feel so bad writing this review. The host was very nice and did his best to help out. I’m just little upset we had a late check in, couldn’t even take showers, and we got charged cleaning fees when it was obvious the cleaning was rushed.
The location itself is great - it’s about 30 minutes from San Francisco and less than 10 minutes from downtown San Mateo. It also allows pets and is near some parks/schools. Very cute neighborhood. The home itself is Cute and has its only little vintage feel.
I think this stay would be great for people who just need somewhere to crash. It has the basics.