3608 Dorsey Drive - a review of the rental property.

 Booking:  Booking was fine.  I was booking this house because it was near my daughters school and she has recently started to drive.  The criteria I needed for a house was in a certain budget and location due to insurance and I didn’t need 10 bedrooms — just 3.   Also I needed to bring my dog so there is another limitation.  After contacting several other places this was essentially the only one that would meet the criteria and had availability.

I ended up booking outside of VRBO because (the fees pushed me out of budget — over 4K for this house for a week). I was local and the host owns a local realty company - Parkside Realty Company.     There were a few times I felt she was condescending…and the voice in my head said ummm is this a good idea?     I paid / booked on Thursday before our check in on Sunday.  The house was listed as available up until this point.

I took the check to an address about 10 minutes from my house and sent a Zelle payment for the the deposit.  Signed all of the documents electronically.

Rental Income 04/16 - 04/24/2023  $2,850.00

Pet Fee 04/16 - 04/24/2023  $150.00

Cleaning Fees 04/16 - 04/24/2023 $225.00

Sales Tax 04/16 - 04/24/2023 $387.00

State - Hotel Nightly Tax 04/16 - 04/24/2023 $40.00

Damage Deposits 04/16 - 04/24/2023 $500.00

Check in:  We received the code the night before our stay.     We arrived around 4:30 to unload supplies for the week but my daughter, dog and I stayed at our house.   My husband arrived before I did and talked to the host.  She walked in with my husband and explained the A/C ( you cannot turn it below 73 or it will freeze).   She was picking up trash when I drove up.   We talked for a few minutes and I went inside.   

First impressions - it  was fine — I could stay there for a week and a couple of days.  There is a musty smell.   We brought our humidifier and air purifier over to help with that.  

The kitchen looks like the photos.  The refrigerator is nice and cabinets are stocked nicely.

The view is great.  As I mentioned before it is very close the water — so that was really nice.  

The family room - we didn’t use — the leather couch has tape on it on the back and the barstools look faded and outdated.

The bedrooms are oddly configured - the pillows sucked (According to my husband) and the master bed was not that comfortable.

The third bedroom did not exist.  There was a sunroom with a bed in it off the bedrooms.

The patio has had a rough winter.  There were utensils still on the tables near the grill from the last people who stayed there.  (Picture)

I showed up around 10:00 on Monday with my dog.    I work from home and set up my laptop and started my meetings on the main floor and set up my dog playpen and waterproof pad / bed for her.  

Around 11:00 AM I go over to the kitchen to make some water and I see this on the floor — still kicking:

I quickly find the broom / dustpan and throw him out of the door.    I was like this is fine….this is FINE.   I texted my husband.  I asked him if he had killed any roaches (he stayed overnight) and he said no but he had killed a few smaller bugs…

I killed 3 (didn’t get a picture of number 2) but here is number 3 that my daughter found going upstairs.

I killed other bugs too.  After this 3rd roach, I called my husband and told him that I could absolutely not stay there.  I couldn’t do it.   

We decided to text the host to see if we could leave and her to be — at the least apologetic.  

Alyson Engle:

Hey Joni.  We’ve seen 3 roaches in the house today

I can’t do roaches. 

HOST

I will have Dan come spray the perimeter. What area did you see them in? I think it’s all the rain we’ve had lately plus the trees and leaves coming out. We have never had any issues with bugs.

Alyson Engle:

One in the kitchen and one on the stairs.

I’ve killed 3 spiders and issued a stink bug out

And another one is dead on the stairs right now

Another roach

HOST

The exterminator told me that the stink bugs are going to come in and die but this time of year you’ll definitely see a few of those .

Alyson Engle:

This is the one from the kitchen

(Picture of roach #1)

HOST

All dead?

Alyson Engle:

No he was kicking 

And the other was too

The one on the stairs I have not inspected 

I can’t even. 

SHE DIDN’t REPLY.   I called my husband and we did a call with the 3 of us. 

I asked her for a refund on the remaining part of my stay starting with the following day and she said we would be disappointed in the amount and she wasn’t sure how much it would be.  She tried to talk to me about it not being a German cockroach…I told her I do not have roaches in my home and that we did when I was a child and I absolutely could not stay there with those roaches.   Those.roaches.fly!    She said that we could stay at a property up the hill but she couldn’t guarantee we wouldn’t see a roach there - and that she sees them in her house occasionally.  She said that she has never had a problem with bugs.    She told me that her husband wold come spray but that he would not be there until 730 or later.  I said fine and hung up.

HOST:

It might be 7:30 when he gets there.

The house next door is available until Saturday morning.

ME:

And any consideration for my request for partial refund and an early departure?

6:00PM We moved ourselves and all of our stuff out.   

7:00 PM

HOST:

We can move you next door with a Saturday morning check out if that interests you. 

Tomorrow morning we will have someone there to spray exterior and if you like, the inside as well. 

Let me know. Thank you!

ME:

I need a place until Monday.

SO basically we could stay in this other house but we have to be out 2 days before our agreed departure date AND it could have roaches too AND the exterminator now isn’t coming until the following day.   

There is ZERO protection in her rental agreement for the renter to have a clean and bug free/pest environment.  

ME:

Any consideration for my request for partial refund and an early departure?

HOST

We have to stick to our rental policy so unfortunately, that is not an option. 

ME:

Really? You said on the phone we wouldn’t like it but I thought it was something. 

You have a choice here.  You own the company. 

We’ve checked out.    Let me know when you have refunded my deposit 

HOST:

You decided not to stay or go next door?

You are going through a lot personally with your house and family and I wish you well. I will be back on Thursday evening and will refund Friday.

The $500 deposit refund will be back to Zelle

ME

Also we should be refunded the pet fee. Charlotte never spent the night - she was there on Sunday when we dropped off supplies for the week.

My biggest complaints - I see 3 roaches in a 5 hour period — there is a problem

Send an exterminator when I call not at 730 at night only to be told it would be the following day.  

She owns the company and could do the right thing and she did not - flat out refused. 

I got my deposit just before the close of business on FRIDAY.  I was out of that place on MONDAY - she held it for a week.   She kept $3265 without any hesitation knowing that I was staying in a house with flying roaches…but I guess at least they are not the German ones.  She owns the company.  

So no, I do not recommend Parkside Realty, any of these properties or any dealings with the owner.