I do not like to write negative reviews especially when I know property management and trying to meet everyone's "expectations" can be extremely difficult and sometimes impossible. However I do feel the need to write an honest review.
I stayed for 2 months bc of a work transition. Isis is very friendly and kind. And I didn't have a terrible experience. I did really like the layout and location of the stay and I love a brownstone!! for 2 beds and it being an older building I think it was good.
Let me first say again Isis was very friendly and kind. She even helped when my brother stayed with me and was locked out to have her grandmother come within 3 hours of him being locked out to let him back in. We tried to offer cash as a thank you and she wouldn't accept. We were grateful.
There were plenty of towels, bedding, etc. I did the laundry because I was staying there so long (bedding, bath, couch covers, kitchen covers, etc).
There were some damages in the apartment when I arrived that I would classify as normal, spots on floor/wall/ loose kitchen cabinet (we fixed it), loose door handles (we fixed it), broken kitchen tile (we were unable to fix for her). Etc. Normal old apartment things.
However there are some issues that occurred that I do think need to be aware of.
1) Communication/Safety-
A few weeks into my stay I was in the living room (front facing of the apt) watching TV. At 11pm we started to hear a jingling noise at a door which we thought was the back of the apt, terrified my friend & I started stating loudly "Hello who is there?!" repeatedly. No answer in our question. No ringing or knocking at the door. Then we finally heard Isis say "hello it's me" at the front door. I asked if she had called/texted bc I had my phone on me and she had not. She needed to grab personal items left behind (understandable) and she had asked earlier in the morning at 7am if she could stop by & I let her know my friend was there all day. But there was nothing until this incident at 11pm with no prior communication, we truly thought someone was breaking in and was extremely scared.
2) Mold -
To be fair in other reviews, a brownstone is an older building not luxury, and it is anticipated to not be brand new. I still liked the layout of the apartment. Also because I was staying such a long time, and had an Emotional Support Animal with me, I wanted to be respectful and I would deep clean each week. Mopping, sweeping, laundry from the bed/couches, etc. A few weeks before the end of my stay I noticed a smell that was terrible and wouldn't go away. I double cleaned. I put candles, etc. It was driving me crazy that I couldn't pinpoint the smell. I also noticed that a cough I had since moving in had gotten extremely worse that week. I finally pinned the smell to the basement door (which I never opened before) upon entering it I found extreme growing bright mold all on the floor and the smell was pungent going down.
I notified Isis of this and she did communicate that she would come and look at it and did, and would have it addressed, but for me I was leaving a few days later.
3)Emotional Support Animal Concerns with Charges-
Before I booked this stay I reached out to Isis to inquire about the extended stay (2 months) and being very transparent and upfront that I was transitioning to a new job/this was a temp stay until I could sign a lease/ that many family/friends would be visiting to help me move/adjust/and watch my ESA dog. I informed her that while I saw her stay was marked as "pet friendly" I did not have a pet but rather a certified - paperwork if needed ESA (Emotional Support Animal). She agreed it was no problem.
After approximately 1 month of being there all of the payment was made, in FULL. 1day after the payment was made Isis texted me that she would need to charge me a pet cleaning fee, stating that she knows she did not communicate it in the beginning but that it was standard for her. I thought this was odd bc we had already paid in full, and it was never communicated prior to final payment or upfront in the initial communication. But also because it is technically illegal in the state of NY and through Airbnb policy to charge any fees for Emotional Support Animals through the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
I did not want to fight this with her so I didn't address it again but I do find unprofessional to notify so "late" about something after payment was made in full. This more so bothers me because people with disabilities who have an ESA/Service animal should not be charged. I do think it's important to note it here for the future.
Overall for the bind I was in I liked it. Great location, neighborhood. But these concerns should be addressed/noted for future guests. And maybe they won't be issues for people who aren't staying as long and if the Mold issue is fixed quickly.
-Lynnette