stazmatic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2008
- Messages
- 508
We rented a home at Emerald Island through the owner. It was a 7 bedroom pool home and we got a great price that included a free night and free pool heat.
When we arrived at the home the lanai screening was ripped in at least 20 places and there was animal droppings all over the lanai. The game room's XBOX was broken and the TV was only used for the game box, no dvd player or cable hook up. There was no dartboard as advertised, the pool table was not usable because the cues were all broken. The home was cleaned, but not really clean. The carpets were stained and unusually worn. The linens were all stained and looked gross. The TV/DVD combos were in every bedroom but were 10 inch TV's that were too small to see from the bed. The stairs were wooden and had large staples sticking out that were very painful if stepped on.
We contacted property management, who came over right away. They cleaned up the lanai and basically told us the owner is too cheap to do anything the right way and they were embarrased to be running it. They said the owner knew about all of the problems and would likely offer to fix the problem or offer an additional discount. They weren't authorized to fix anything else. They told me that racoons are living in a tree right above the lanai and was likely responsible for the droppings. They also said that the owner uses 2 property management companies to bid against each other and uses whichever one gives the lower price. The guy that came out also took the time to remove all of the staples that were sticking up, even though he wasn't supposed to because the other company recently replaced the stairs and should be responsible.
I contacted the owner who pretended to know nothing about any of these problems. I believe he falsely stated the amenities of his property in his listing. I stated the game room was completely unusable and the screening needed to be fixed because racoons were getting in the property. His solution was to turn the lights on and the racoons wouldn't bother us if we were outside. After a very lengthy conversation he said he would contact property management and see how quick they could get out there. This was Friday. Later that night the kids were swimming in the pool and the racoons were sitting by the edge of the pool drinking the water. The kids couldn't get out because we were afraid they would be attacked.
On Saturday the property management guy came back to check and make sure I talked to the owner. The owner must have contacted the other property management company because the guy that came out still wasn't authorized to fix the screens. Saturday night we tried to eat outside about 7ish and again the racoons joined us in the lanai. We called the owner on Sunday because the screens still weren't fixed. Sunday night the racoons were in the lanai AGAIN. He stated that the guys don't work on weekends so we had to wait until Monday. I told him there was a guy here that was willing to do it, but the owner said that guy charges too much. I told him about all of the encounters with racoons but he didn't believe me.
Monday it rained - all day. Would have been nice to have a working game room.
Finally, on Tuesday afternoon the other property management company fixed the bottom portion of the lanai screens. The upper portions still had very large holes, but luckily the bugs weren't too bad. Coincidentally, the dryer stopped working that day as well. The guy that was here tried to say we broke the dryer at first. He finally admitted that there had been problems in the past with it.
Wed - no incidents.
Thursday it rained ALL DAY AGAIN with no game room. Between the weather and dealing with all of the problems with the house we lost significant park time. We contacted the owner too see what he could do for us. He generously offered us an extra night stay free since he had an extra day before the next guest checked in and we experienced so many problems. We happily accepted and thought all was well.
Until yesterday when we received our security deposit back MINUS the extra night we stayed plus pool heat and tax. $272 When we contacted him he said he never offered us a free night and none of the above problems could have been fixed any better than what he already did.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't make my mistakes. I should have contacted him in writing with all of the troubles I experienced, or at least followed up our last conversation by email. I should have gotten references before renting.
I have rented by owner before and have never experienced anything like this. I would like to think that most owners are honest and trustworthy, but I found out the hard way that is not the case.
When we arrived at the home the lanai screening was ripped in at least 20 places and there was animal droppings all over the lanai. The game room's XBOX was broken and the TV was only used for the game box, no dvd player or cable hook up. There was no dartboard as advertised, the pool table was not usable because the cues were all broken. The home was cleaned, but not really clean. The carpets were stained and unusually worn. The linens were all stained and looked gross. The TV/DVD combos were in every bedroom but were 10 inch TV's that were too small to see from the bed. The stairs were wooden and had large staples sticking out that were very painful if stepped on.
We contacted property management, who came over right away. They cleaned up the lanai and basically told us the owner is too cheap to do anything the right way and they were embarrased to be running it. They said the owner knew about all of the problems and would likely offer to fix the problem or offer an additional discount. They weren't authorized to fix anything else. They told me that racoons are living in a tree right above the lanai and was likely responsible for the droppings. They also said that the owner uses 2 property management companies to bid against each other and uses whichever one gives the lower price. The guy that came out also took the time to remove all of the staples that were sticking up, even though he wasn't supposed to because the other company recently replaced the stairs and should be responsible.
I contacted the owner who pretended to know nothing about any of these problems. I believe he falsely stated the amenities of his property in his listing. I stated the game room was completely unusable and the screening needed to be fixed because racoons were getting in the property. His solution was to turn the lights on and the racoons wouldn't bother us if we were outside. After a very lengthy conversation he said he would contact property management and see how quick they could get out there. This was Friday. Later that night the kids were swimming in the pool and the racoons were sitting by the edge of the pool drinking the water. The kids couldn't get out because we were afraid they would be attacked.
On Saturday the property management guy came back to check and make sure I talked to the owner. The owner must have contacted the other property management company because the guy that came out still wasn't authorized to fix the screens. Saturday night we tried to eat outside about 7ish and again the racoons joined us in the lanai. We called the owner on Sunday because the screens still weren't fixed. Sunday night the racoons were in the lanai AGAIN. He stated that the guys don't work on weekends so we had to wait until Monday. I told him there was a guy here that was willing to do it, but the owner said that guy charges too much. I told him about all of the encounters with racoons but he didn't believe me.
Monday it rained - all day. Would have been nice to have a working game room.
Finally, on Tuesday afternoon the other property management company fixed the bottom portion of the lanai screens. The upper portions still had very large holes, but luckily the bugs weren't too bad. Coincidentally, the dryer stopped working that day as well. The guy that was here tried to say we broke the dryer at first. He finally admitted that there had been problems in the past with it.
Wed - no incidents.
Thursday it rained ALL DAY AGAIN with no game room. Between the weather and dealing with all of the problems with the house we lost significant park time. We contacted the owner too see what he could do for us. He generously offered us an extra night stay free since he had an extra day before the next guest checked in and we experienced so many problems. We happily accepted and thought all was well.
Until yesterday when we received our security deposit back MINUS the extra night we stayed plus pool heat and tax. $272 When we contacted him he said he never offered us a free night and none of the above problems could have been fixed any better than what he already did.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't make my mistakes. I should have contacted him in writing with all of the troubles I experienced, or at least followed up our last conversation by email. I should have gotten references before renting.
I have rented by owner before and have never experienced anything like this. I would like to think that most owners are honest and trustworthy, but I found out the hard way that is not the case.
That would have really burned me to have such great expectations only to be disappointed!
I know...I am having a hard time making decisions! LOL!
