Our stay started out on a positive note. The unit is located at the top of the brownstone so beware of the stairs. We felt safe and secure once inside. Unit was clean. It did get very hot at one point. Window coverings need to be kept closed if temperature is hot outside during your stay.
Unfortunately, I had several questions, and I felt the host became annoyed at some of them. In one specific instance, I asked about the dishwasher. I could not get it to turn on, so I asked for help and if there were any other instructions. Host replied “This is a first.” I felt the comment was unwarranted and not relevant to the solution that was provided—which did not fix anything.
There was a list of exit instructions sent via the chat, and I tried to make sure they were all attended to. However, I still ended up receiving a post departure list of things I did not do —which were not intentional. This had the feel of being scolding and/or setting the stage for additional charges to be levied.
Apparently the back door was left unlock, though I thought it was locked.
I was also told that I did not close the dishwasher and that was the “reason” it would not run. Again, I pushed the door as hard as I could while I was there, but to no avail. Since the dishwasher would not start, I washed and dried the dishes by hand all week long and did not leave them for the cleaning crew to deal with.
Lastly, I was told sheets were missing and stains (per host “it looks like finger nail polish or something similar”) were left on the mattress cover of the sleeper sofa. The stains were there when mattress was pulled out upon arrival. I thought it was from the frame of the sofa and that they were not necessarily dirty, so I did not bring it up to the host. There were no sheets found or used by me for the sofa bed which means the unit did not have what I needed.
When I brought this to the attention of the host, based on the post departure list, their reply was “We will get a resolution today. No need to over react.”
If there is no need for me to over react then why bring it to my attention in the first place? I responded, (I didn’t over react), because there is also a list of charges that can be applied if said sheets or towels are stained or damaged. I did not want to be charged for sheets I did not use or see. As of today I was not charged any additional fees.
So I have generally no complaints about the stay but more about the customer service experience and communication from the host. The one suggestion I made to the host is to have a notebook in the unit with detailed instructions for things like trash disposal and other troubleshooting issues that may arise. Having a book may alleviate any miscommunications between guest and host.
We stayed one week, had a desire to treat the place well, and feel like our accommodating nature was poorly reciprocated. As I stated in the beginning…our stay started out fine but definitely ended on a disappointing note.