I propose that any place that's worth staying at has three things that make it successful. These three things, broadly speaking, are property management, location, and the home itself. Let's break down each one.To provide some context on who is providing feedback on said things include a dog, a 9-5 vegetarian, and a work from home omnivore staying for a bit more then a month.
Mary Jane has an impressive portfolio of properties. With almost 50 beautiful homes listed, there is a lot that’s going on behind the scenes. I am under the impression that management and employees are stretched thin and are having trouble keeping up with properties. On initial booking, I reserved a place that wasn’t actually meant to be available and was moved to a place with vacancy. When I was supposed to move in, I was told that heating was not working and that all the ducting needed replacing. They placed me in another home. Then they moved me back before the heat was working again. Then I was sent back to the other property before the problem was completely resolved. Sometimes it was hard to get a hold of someone for issues that probably seemed minor but were big for me and my partner including skylights in the bedroom that took 3 weeks to be covered. I appreciate that these issues were resolved by management. I do not take it for granted that they could have simply left us in a house without heat among other things. But my expectations are for things like heating be prepared before I move in. Something I am struggling to let of is their scheduling of pest control without any notification from Mary Jane or associates. Traveling with a dog it is understood that I must make concessions. However, I do expect to be notified when a place will be visited to be sprayed with pesticides, if not for the sake of my dogs safety, then my own.
The location itself is fine. Located on a corner next to a school by an artery means high traffic area. There’s always noise from cars, trucks, people walking their dogs, cars, kids walking to and from school. Right next door is a property that is currently being heavily renovated and is a constant source of noise a few days a week along with a few neighborhood dogs that love to announce the occasional car. As far as food goes? Its hard to find something for vegetarians that’s worthwhile (read; more than iceberg lettuce salad) but there are a few spots in the neighborhood that have great options including Julias vegetarian restaurant, Namaste, El Cantaro, and a few others. As we zoom out a bit, the location is definitely out of the way, requiring the use of the PG tunnel or access through Highway 68. Iconic and scenic areas that are often packed with traffic. All that being said, the location is beautiful. I wouldn’t want to live there but a week may convince you you’re on the edge of paradise. You need a car to get the most out of it but with spots like Patisserie Bechler and Lovers Point a 5 minute drive away, it’s easy to see the appeal of Pacific Grove.
The house itself is dated and would benefit from being modernized. It has been lived in and there's evidence in the wear all around the house. The exterior is well landscaped but the charm quickly rubs off when you realize when that same landscaping prevents two cars from being parked comfortably on the driveway which will scrape your sedan at all but the most extreme angles. The house sits on a small and enclosed lot. One of the gates enclosing the lot does not close all the way and if your dog is an escape artist, I would suggest you rethink this specific property. The kitchen is awkwardly laid out with a lot of lighting options and starter home appliances. The floors are nicely textured and the decor is fine. The internet is incredibly reliable, fast, and easy to connect to. There is no workspace making work from home less than ideal. Storage is plentiful. The living room is nicely put together but the skylight shades were broken and not available for use. Hot water is available throughout the house quickly. The bed in the master bedroom was comfortable. The bedrooms let a lot of light in due to the abundance of windows and/or skylights making it hard to sleep in.
I expect that most of these things will not be issues again and would be willing to stay at another of Mary Jane's properties. While the property was not perfect and it was sometimes hard to get a hold of someone, a meaningful effort was made to keep me comfortable.