Aside from just a few things that detracted from our stay, this place was sufficient for what we needed for this visit - a clean place for 2 people to shower, sleep comfortably, and it’s close to TCU.
Note: When the host contacted me after we checked-in, I let them know of some issues that can be easily taken care of, so those things aren’t listed here.
Things that detracted from the stay & are good to keep in mind if renting here:
*Other than “backyard is shared”, the listing says that the rental is for the entire home. This is actually two rentals in one house (a duplex), so the footsteps and the normal-level voices from people who are renting or cleaning the Airbnb in the adjoining unit can be heard. Parking in front of the house is also shared with the adjoining unit. We parked on the side of the house, so we didn’t have any parking problems, it’s just worth noting. Pro tip: You can click on the host’s profile to view their listing for the other half of the house.
*The couch cushions were lopsided/wonky, so it’s uncomfortable to sit on after about 15 minutes.
*There is only one available electrical outlet in most rooms, so it just takes a little juggling when figuring out who will charge their phone/devices in which room.
*In the kitchen there’s a free-standing privacy screen (to hide the water heater that’s located next to the stove/oven), but the screen is not attached to anything, so the screen is easily knocked over if it’s bumped or not perfectly balanced.
*The bathroom only has one electrical outlet & it’s on a master switch, so the light has to be “on” in order to work and it surges if something is plugged in before you turn on the light, but luckily there is a “reset” button on the light-switch/outlet to get the outlet working again.
*There are a LOT of super-strict house rules added in and there are extra fees for any violations of those house rules, so we were a little nervous about using things in the house, or possibly being blamed for preexisting damage, and it wasn’t as comfortable of an Airbnb experience as we normally have. Example: The towels are all white and there is a $50 fee per towel, washcloth, etc that gets a stain on it (which seems like it should be part of the normal wear & tear of having a rental, not an extra $50 fee per item).
*We only stay with Airbnb Superhosts, so aside from the hand soap that was provided, this was our first experience with a Superhost listing that didn’t have things like body wash, shampoo/conditioner, hand lotion, fabric softener for the laundry, or even a little something special like welcome snacks. The listing does say that they don’t provide shampoo, so I’m just noting it as a good reminder to bring your own toiletries.
*In addition to paying the $130 cleaning fee when I initially booked this 1-bedroom place, the host emailed me the day before we checked out to give me a list of checkout tasks to be done before we checked out (laundry, dishes, garbage). They didn’t say it was optional, they just said it what was needed for a smooth checkout process. I later read in one of the previous guest’s reviews that they were told the chores were optional, but I’m a rule-follower either way, so I’m noting it here because it’s just good to be prepared for the list of chores ahead of time.
*If you stay here on a Tuesday you’ll need to take all of the large trash cans from the back yard down to the street (even if you aren’t checking in until Tuesday night, you’ll need to take the previous guest’s garbage down to the curb when you check in).
Things that enhanced our stay:
*This location is walking distance to TCU (15 minute walk to the TCU Office of Admissions and a 25 minute walk to Amon G Carter Stadium).
*It was clean.
*The AC worked great and kept the place cool.
*We slept well on the comfortable queen sized bed.
*The shower’s water pressure is ok & there’s plenty of hot water IF you get it going a particular way. The best way we found to get the shower ready is to turn on the hot water all the way (it has low pressure, even if it’s running at full blast by itself) & then slowly turn on the cold water until it’s the temperature you like (the cold water will then also give enough pressure for the shower head valve to work for a nice hot shower).
*We didn’t end up cooking anything, but there was enough liquid dish soap for washing dishes by hand & there was exactly 1 dishwasher pod available for the dishwasher if we needed it.