When we first arrived at the house, we could smell mustiness. Not a big deal, until we found the source. Standing water and mold in the lower level, which is where two bedrooms are located. The mold was climbing up the drywall in some areas. We later found mold on shower curtains throughout the house. (We do have photos). Trying to be reasonable (and also, what else were we to do at that point with 12 people), we contacted the property manager, searched for cleaning materials, found a dehumidifier that was not turned on, started cleaning as best we could, and opened all the windows. The following day, we bought more cleaning supplies to try to kill off as much as we could. We had to clean most days. The mustiness never fully left, but we kept all windows open except the day it rained.
We asked for a refund of the cleaning deposit, since it was most definitely not clean and probably not safe, but the owners refused to grant it, alleging we did not tell them right away. We literally sent an email to them about it the first day, probably in the first hour. We also sent photos proving the conditions. We in no way exaggerated what happened. We are actually very chill people, and we’re polite to everyone, even when addressing issues (including a mouse in the kitchen).
This place has a lot of deferred maintenance and really old furniture. That said, the location is beautiful and the size of the house is nice. Kayaking from the back yard and enjoying a fire in the fire pit were highlights of the visit. The porches are great and have beautiful views. It could be a great place if they took care of it and invested a little.
It would be much better for future guests if the owners listened to feedback and fixed the issues rather than sticking their heads in the sand to keep a cleaning deposit. We have stayed in many VRBO’s throughout the country, and we are very low maintenance. We leave places spotless when we leave to try to make it easier on the cleaning crews. This is the first negative review we have ever submitted. Hopefully they will listen.