Avis NO STORM DAMAGE, YES WE HAVE POWER! Lakefront, Sunsets, Sandy Beach, Relax!

This renter requested and was given an early check-in. On arrival, she claimed there was no hot water. We sent a licensed plumber to the property the same day (at our expense of course), and he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the hot water. Thereafter, this renter confirmed the plumber’s findings when she admitted in writing that there was hot water after all. There are other claims made by this renter that contain discrepancies. Our post-stay inspection of the premises has led us to the conclusion that this renter created and/or exaggerated issues in order to attempt to extract a refund. “OLD, SQUEAKY IRON BEDS” – This renter never complained to us about bed squeaks. Her review was the first time she made mention of this alleged issue, and her review does not identify which of the eight beds in the house sqeaked. This is an active rental and vacation home. It is in use frequently. We have no iron beds, but every bed frame is metal. If a metal bed needs screws tightened, we will certainly attend to this at the earliest opportunity after an issue is reported and a when a renter provides sufficient information such as which bed is the issue. The renter in question had the ability to message me during her stay, and did not hesitate to do so, but again never mentioned this issue. “A FEW THINGS WERE BROKEN, SUCH AS A COFFEE TABLE FOOT” – The “coffee table” the guest is referring to is an antique cedar chest (hand-made by my husband’s grandfather) on wheels that sits on an area rug in the living room. Our post-stay inspection revealed that someone had attempted to move the chest and one of the wheels had popped off as a result. It has now been repaired. This did not affect the functionality of the chest as a coffee table. No other “broken” things were identified in the renter’s review. However, she wrote us directly (via vrbo messaging) and reported a “chip in the stove top glass”. There indeed is a chip in the glass of the three-year-old induction cooktop courtesy of a prior renter. It does not affect one’s ability to cook on it and the cooktop is fully functional in all respects. She also reported (via vrbo messaging) that the “TV in den…doesn’t work”. In our post-stay inspection, the TV turned on and we could find nothing wrong with it. (Note that the den TV – one of three downstairs – is not the main TV). “THREAD BARE SHEETS” – this is particularly insulting – and a falsity. This home is full of sheets sets that cost at least $50 a set (twins) and upward. Name-brand sheets are the norm in this house, including Ralph Lauren, Sealy, etc. (Although this likely to change in the future if sheets sets such as the one at issue continue to disappear.) The subject sheet set was only two months old. There are no "threadbare" linens whatsoever, period. “BLOODSTAINED SHEETS” – This renter’s reservation was for four adults, one child and unspecified “pets”. The alleged blood (a few pin drops per the photo submitted to me after check-out), was on a twin sheet attached to a twin bed. The blood color in the photos appeared to be new (red). The location of the subject sheets was what is typically used as a children’s room and has four twin beds. Perhaps a child or pet had an abrasion that caused the sheet damage. We do not know. However, what we do know is the sheets that were allegedly stained disappeared with the renters. Upon arrival post-stay to inspect, the set of sheets was missing from the property. A nearly new set of king sheets was also missing from the property. And we had to replace the missing sheets, which we did at our expense. “BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER SHEETS OF SEVERAL BEDS ARE PEPPERED WITH BLOOD SPOTS” – This is a falsity. This renter specifically and solely reported several tiny-sized blood drops on ONE set of single sheets in her vrbo messaging to us during her stay. In addition, in our post-stay visit to the property, we inspected all linens. We found no such additional “peppered” sheets. EXTRA SHEETS WERE AVAILABLE - Additional sheets for all beds were located within the house during this renter’s stay. When, halfway through the renter’s stay, she reported the soiled sheets, we advised her of the available extra sheets. She acknowledged that she had replacement sheets available to her: “I understand there are extra [sheets] in the closets…” At no time during her stay, or in any message to us, did she assert that the extra sheets were not acceptable in any way. Yet in her review, she claims, for the first time, that the “linens in the closet contained the same moldy smells”. This is contrary to her messaging during her stay. In fact, in her messaging, she acknowledged that she had used the extra/replacement sheets that were available and made no complaints about them. IT WAS UNNECESSARY FOR THE RENTER TO WASH THE ALLEGEDLY SOILED SHEETS – In seeking a refund afer checkout, the renter cited that “we had to wash the sheets we took off the bed.” (Again, this was a single set of sheets for one "bed" that she reported.) But in reality, she did not have to wash the sheets. We encouraged her not to spend her time washing the sheets and let the housekeeping service deal with it later. Despite this, the renter insisted she felt compelled to do laundry: “I understand that I don’t have to wash the sheets because there are extras in the closets but I’m sure you will understand that I feel the need to wash them,” without further explanation to justify her compulsion. Actually, no we don’t. There is no need to interrupt a 3-day vacation to wash sheets when there are other sets available. ATTEMPTED TO WASH THE SHEETS” OR NOT? – There is a discrepancy in the renter's story as to whether she washed the sheets or not. Her direct messaging to me claims that she DID wash the sheets. Quote: “We had to wash the sheets that I took off the bed.” In her review, however, she says they “attempted” to wash the sheets but could not due to washer mold. Discrepancies like this are minor when taken alone but when combined with other discrepancies are not. "MOLD IN WASHER"– Because there was no need for this renter to be washing sheets, there was no need for her to use the washing machine, much less “clean” it, during her short stay given the extra available linen options provided. In addition, this renter’s description of the condition of the washing machine is a gross exaggeration. The washer at issue is a modern-style, approximately four-year-old Kenmore front-loader. Many front loaders are prone to gathering a small bit of water at the bottom of the rubber gasket that surrounds the door. When the door is kept completely closed, instead of slightly ajar, when not in use, it is possible for mold to grow in that area. We do our best to request that both the maid service and renters refrain from closing the washer the door completely but obviously cannot be there at all times monitoring the washer door. The machine has self-clean cycle option that is clearly marked. When we conducted our post-stay inspection, we found nothing out of the ordinary with the machine, other than the washer door was closed completely, and the usual small accumulation of water on the bottom center of the door’s rubber gasket as above-described. For good measure, we ran the “clean” cycle with a cup of vinegar, which is a part of the machine’s regular maintenance. This renter claimed in a post-stay message that her “friend professionally cleans and maintains washers and dryers.” If this were the case, then we are confused as to why simply using the self-clean cycle on the washer escaped them if in fact the washer was not clean enough for their liking given their insistence upon using it. "TOWELS WREAKED OF MOKD/MILDEW SMELLS" – This is false. We conducted a post-stay inspection and the towels did not smell like mold. Rather, they smelled neutral. Note that we do not use perfumes in our laundry detergent as some people are allergic. Perhaps this renter was not accustomed to towels laundered in detergent without perfumes. In addition, we note that there are towels and linens both upstairs and downstairs, and in three different locations within the house. We are skeptical that this renter could not find a satisfactory towel. ALL LINENS IN THE HOUSE HAVE BEEN RE-WASHED – Notwithstanding our skepticism of this renter’s complaints, and our own personal confirmation that the linens are not “moldy”, we have re-washed literally every single linen (towels, sheets, bedspreads) in the house (in perfume-free detergent). “SHOWER FLOOR HAD AND OLD USED WASHCLOTH AND SOAP" - This renter claims in her review that there was a used washcloth and soap on the “floor”. However, the photo she sent shows a wash cloth hanging from a hook, not lying on the floor. The maid service disputes the claim that the wash cloth and soap were left in the shower. We have no way to know for sure. But given the other discrepancies and confirmed inaccuracies, we are comfortable with our decision to refuse this renter’s demand for reimbursements. "STAINED CEILINGS" - WATER STAINS DUE TO RECENT WATER LINE BREAK – The hot water line for the upstairs recently broke, sending water through the ceilings of some of the downstairs rooms (namely the dining room). The line was replaced and the water damage remediated, but the ceiling has some water spots that remain. A painter has been retained to paint, but has not yet been able to access the house due to the pre-scheduled bookings. The ceilings will be painted when the current six-week renter vacates the property. PROPANE – After this renter had already checked out, she made a request for us to reimburse her for propane for the grill. As we told her, both a propane and a charcoal grill are provided as an accommodation to guests. However, we cannot be responsible for ensuring that there is propane in the grill tank at all times. We fill it when we are there. We have no way to control when the tank may run out. As far as this renter’s complaint about having to refill the tank on Christmas, this was not quite the hardship as one might assume, as she advised via vrbo messaging during the booking process that “we don’t celebrate Christmas". As we told her at the time she reported the empty tank, there is a Walmart, CVS and other locations within a mile or two of the house that will exchange an empty propane tank for a full one for $20.00. NEW HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE - For informational purposes, starting in 2023, we have a new housekeeping service. NEW NO-PET POLICY - Also starting in 2023, we have a no-pet policy.

Thank you, Hope G, for taking the time to review our family lake house. We are happy you "get" lake house life. We have many happy memories with our kids and their friends growing and playing there, and look forward to welcoming the next generation.

Cheryl, Thank you for your kind review and for sharing your time there with us. We love hearing about the people who stay, they activities they engaged in, and the fun they had at the lake. We hope to have you again!