Vrbo recently contacted us via email to review our stay at Tropical Retreat. During this time, with all the sadness in our world due to Corona virus, I contemplated whether or not to write a not positive review and if it was appropriate. We tried to work our situation but to no avail. VRBO obviously wanted a review so here it is....
The rental is an older home with well used furnishings in an okay but run down neighborhood. It is close to Old Naples which is a plus. The back yard/waterfall is beautiful and the pool is in fairly good condition. The home is typical of most rentals. Not impeccable but nice for a stay in Naples. Of course their were some things that were in not the best condition. Light out in shower, only one landscape light worked, water always on a part of the pool pad, dingy kitchen chairs, picture on the floor, soiled area rug, dog scratches on the paint, fence that was lose and our dog did get out once, blinds that either did not work correctly or let light in, noisy neighbors, etc. but we never expected it to be perfect!
If you rent the house, I would ask to do a walk through with the owner before and after your stay. While the owner or assistant inspect the home after you leave, I’d ask for the owner. Possibly there is a discrepancy between the two? At the minimum, I’d take pictures of any issues you see at the house and document them as soon as you arrive. This will help given any complaints and the possibility of withholding your our entire deposit as happened with us. How could the claimed damage be exactly the amount the owner could hold? The blinds in the guest room were yellow and slats were broken when we arrived. We were accused of letting our grandchildren paint a chair. If anyone looks at it, they would realize that no child under 4 would be capable of doing so. We were accused of extra soiling yet you will find soiled kitchen table chairs, rug and furniture when you arrive.
We paid a lot for a months stay plus a dog fee. Any extra soil in the house could be due to the new water line in the back which created mud. We mopped the floors before we left and felt, left the home exactly how it was when he arrived. Our dogs did no damage. Our last week, beaches and restaurants closed. We never complained once about many things that were not right within the house and tried to do extras to even make it better.
We use VRBO a lot in the states and in Europe. I am saddened that this ended up going wrong.