First thing's first: Because of their horrible behavior as hosts, "Charity" asked us to forego writing reviews for each other, to which I agreed. Guess that's why they don't have too many negative reviews up. Lo and behold, "Charity" went ahead and wrote a review for me anyway, so here goes:
They're a corporate property management with terrible exploitative behavior of their renters. Let me just run down the list really quickly:
- "Charity," who I'm not even sure really exists, was unable to answer basic questions about the property. The photos don't clearly show if there's doors on all the sleeping areas. When I asked before arriving if there were doors, it took them days to respond and then the response was "I don't know." I asked two higher ups in the company and they also said "I don't know, probably not but I'll put up a curtain if you want." (Note: When I arrived, there was indeed a door separating the sleeping areas).
- After I booked, I was sent a big message about house rules/requests, etc. which is fine. However, included in the requests was specific instructions about separating whites from colors in the laundry and then running a load before I checked out. Very, very irritating. I'm a paying customer that this "host" charged almost $200 cleaning fees for a 4 night stay. I didn't say anything at this point because I didn't want to antagonize them before I arrived.
- Upon arrival, I receive another welcome message including helpful hints, sights to see, information about the neighbors etc. AGAIN: included in the message were the instructions to DO THE LAUNDRY. Irked, again, I ignored it.
- Finally, a day before check out, I was sent A THIRD MESSAGE telling me TO DO THE LAUNDRY. I snapped. This is completely unacceptable "host" behavior and Airbnb should crack down on this 100%. I am NOT doing your chores for you, and especially not paying almost $200 in cleaning fees to do your chores for you. This is not a work camp. This is what I wrote in response to this THIRD annoyance:
"Hello x, in the spirit of communication before writing reviews, as you say, I’m not particularly happy at being asked to do laundry several times in these official checkins. I’m paying a rather steep cleaning fee, and I’m being asked to check out earlier than the customary 11am so that the cleaning crew can come in. I would expect that the crew do the laundry for what I’m paying—as a customer, not as a casual house guest. As such, I will not be separating laundry and starting a load as you request since such duties, beyond my own personal preferences, were not stated in the listing or the house rules prior to booking. I would appreciate not being asked to do laundry for a fourth time. Thank you."
Bottomline: Why does this company not have a spare set of bedding so that the cleaners can switch it out and take the dirty laundry somewhere else to clean? Why are they cheaping out on bedding and then offloading that labor onto me, as a paying customer, to do their laundry for them?
- Immediately, "Charity" wrote back begging for us to not write reviews for each other and confirming that I didn't have to do the laundry. She laughably said that the request was a "gesture of kindness" from guests so that they could turn over the house in time for the next guests. I'm here on a work conference, I'm not here relaxing on a month long stay—the VERY LAST thing I want to do while I'm running around for work everyday is do your chores that you're making me pay for through exorbitant cleaning fees.
You're charging me almost $200 in cleaning fees. I am not obligated to help you logistically turn over your rental for the next person. I am not a casual house guest, I am a paying customer. If you plan your turn over so tight that it won't work without asking me to do your chores, then change your schedule. Don't ask me to do work for you.
These are corporate hosts. They didn't even know their place had doors! I have ZERO sympathy for these faceless corporates who want to incorporate chores into renter stays just so they can continue to pump out as many customers as possible, and pay cleaners less.
These types of "hosts" are the worst kind on Airbnb and if this company continues to cater to them and let them get away with this "charging guests for the pleasure of doing chores" nonsense, then I'm done with Airbnb for good.