Horrible Experience - Not Recommended
neal1984
(Los Angeles)
Review submitted: April 26, 2013
Date of arrival: April 11, 2013
The house is wonderful, however the renter, Linda, really sours the whole experience. Because of her, this property is simply not worth the trouble. There are so many other beautiful properties available to rent in the area for much less headache.
To begin, Linda failed to advise us of any external gate to the property, for which an entry code was necessary. She also provided the incorrect address for the property.
She mistakenly expected us to check out a day before we had actually arranged to check out, and called very early, waking us up, to advise on how to check out that morning.
Throughout our stay, she continually showed up at the house unannounced, called about various things, and insisted on meeting with us in person. We have rented many properties in the past without ever having to meet or speak with the renter, so this was quite unusual and annoying to us.
On the final morning of our stay, she suddenly became very upset that seven of us were staying in the house, and insisted that only four were allowed stay there. While we packed up our things, she paced around the kitchen berating us for roughly 30 minutes about how we had too many people there. She then insisted that we immediately pay her an additional $300, and that she would happily show me where in our contract it specifies the max number of guests. I accepted this offer to review the contract, so we walked across the street to her home where she proceeded to search fruitlessly for the contract for about 45 minutes while I sat quietly. During her long search for the agreement, her ramblings became increasingly emotional as her frustration grew. After a long search, it became clear that she would not be able to produce the agreement. So, in a final fit of rage, she picked up the phone and threatened to to call the police if I did not pay the additional $300 immediately. By this point, my friends and I were extremely tired of the whole ordeal and anxious to get going, so I let her swipe my credit card. Upon returning home, I found my copy of the contract and verified that, surely enough, nowhere in the agreement was a maximum number of guests specified. I called American Express to cancel the charge shortly thereafter. In summary: Don't bother.
Everything about the house itself was fine. The sauna control was a bit buggy. The master bathroom was especially large. There is laundry facilities and a 3-car garage. There is good internet service and a good-sized kitchen as well.
Owners response:
The person that I rented the house to didn't come. The reservation was for 3 people then he ask me if he could bring one more I said OK. I gave him all the info as he said they where here to work the Coachella Festival. How to get in the complex, my sister was here to greet them and said they looked like nice guys and there were no women. I said I would like to meet them and they replied give me a half hour notice, now I know why. I called them they did not answer so I went to the house mid afternoon. He came to the door and blocked it as not to come in I didn't ask to come in but I felt a little strange about it. I'm sorry about if he was to leave a day earlier as they where talking about 3 nights. I apologized about that. I told the fellow if he was going to rent and put the pool heat on it would cost extra but they used it anyway and put it on service mode and cost us 95.00 with the pool man as I didn't show him how to use spa as they said they were working not playing. I let them stay 2 hours extra but the made came a half hour earlier before the 2 hours extra and found the women there and they were nasty with the maids and told them to leave and she came to me and told me the women told her to leave so I went over there to see why there were more people and they said so what, what difference does that make? I said why not 20 people I said contract is for 3 then gave them 4 with no problem I have the reservation for 3 people I just could not fine it as I was so upset as they were rude to me. I didn't want to leave as I didn't even take a cleaning deposit as i trusted them I learn a lesson from that.
I told him he needed to pay 300 extra considering they ran the gas for the pool and had extra people there. I asked for cash they all said they didn't have any then I said I would take a credit card and he signed it but, now he said he stopped it I don't think he can as They were only to have 3 people in the house and I have that reservation. I hope all of you that reads this understands as the other people who stayed here were very happy and sent me letters so I will ask them to post a note that they will say I loaned them bike, blow up mattress and anything else they needed. Im sorry I had one bad experience as every one was so nice and want to come back.
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Helpful votes: 9 / 10
