BookSmart Properties

“Unfortunately, the property felt much more dated than the listing photos. There were pet stains on the living room rug, the poolside TV did not work, patio furniture was scattered, the outdoor shower was dirty, and only about 30% of the windows functioned. Before arriving, I specifically asked if the hot tub would be operational and was assured it would be. Upon arrival, we learned the motor was blown and the hot tub was unusable for our entire stay. The pool’s well pump was also broken when we arrived, making the pool unavailable for about the first day. We experienced multiple vendor visits each day of our stay, with little to no-notice, including landscapers blocking the driveway on Saturday morning. A vendor also mentioned preparations were being rushed for more important guests arriving after us, which felt unprofessional. For what we paid for four nights, we expected the property and amenities to better match what was advertise”

“The location and actual house is 5 stars! Our experience was just unfortunate. The AC was not working when we arrived and was not able to be fixed until our 2nd day of our trip. When the tech was able to fix it, it blew hot air out for over an hour and the house got up to 98 degrees. We had two pets with us that are prone to overheating so we were very concerned. Thankfully the sunroom was not connected to the AC and we were able to put our animals in there. Eventually it was fixed and the house became cool 2 hours later. The house is adorable and was clean! The location is great and quiet area.”

“Location was amazing, interior nice and clean, exterior still in the midst of renovation, backyard not useable and pool/hot tub not cleaned for use”

“The house was suppose to come with private beach passes they were no where to be found and he didn’t offer to give us new one or anything. Plus the lights at the pool didn’t work. There was trash left under the bunk beds from past renter. But most of all We were very disappointed in not getting our private beach passes that was advertised. The good things about this house was the pool and the view and the ice maker.”

“The elevator got stuck. The theater did not work. We paid for the pool the be heated prior to our arrival and to our disappointment the water was cold.”

“Our stay was just ok. We arrived and was told the pool was working but it was green. We were excited to use the pool and contacted James but it was not fixed during our stay so we couldn’t use it. The place fit our group but overall was not very comfortable. We had a bed that had a hole in one part of the bed so you fell into it and one bed, the queen was hard as a rock. After we left we were notified that we would be charged for the bed that was uncomfortable because we allegedly broke the bed frame which was not true. I would never consider staying here again as the rest of our friends in Corolla had a much better experience.”

“I am deeply disappointed and frankly overwhelmed by the total lack of urgency regarding this significant breach of our rental agreement. I specifically booked this "fully equipped" home to avoid the stress and high cost of dining out, yet I was forced to scramble for ten days of my 14 day stay without a functional kitchen, resulting in a mounting financial burden and the total loss of the peaceful experience I paid for. It has now been three days since I was told the owners were "reviewing" my situation, and this continued silence feels like my time and concerns are being intentionally ignored while I am left to absorb the costs of a major amenity failure. I have acted in good faith by being patient and providing clear documentation, but I cannot be expected to wait indefinitely for a fair resolution to a problem that was entirely out of my control.”

“The house was disgustingly filthy. I took pics. Air vent over stove was black with dust and dirt. The living room fan was so thick with dust it hung in strands. The top master bedroom door to deck missing screen or glass on bottom of door. The living room couch was badly stained and the bottom was black with dirt. The carpet throughout the house, especially living room, was badly stained and dirty looking. It clearly has not been shampooed in a long time, if ever. The fridge top was dirty and grimy & required cleaning before storing anything on top. No frying pan, we had to buy one. Some pans were dirty. It was really a shame that the windows on top floor in living room and one in kitchen were so dirty on the outside. The front facing living room ones had fingerprints on inside. Fridge was dated and small. Dishwasher missing key component to easily use. The entire house needs updated. We’d never rent from James again.”

“We were unable to check in early because cleaners were still working from a previous guest, which we initially understood. However, when we arrived, it was clear the home had not been properly cleaned or maintained. There were dirty linens left on the front porch, the house had a strong odor of dog, and there were stains throughout the home, including on the walls. We also found food left in the sink. The pathway leading to the hot tub was broken and unsafe. The air conditioning was not working, leaving the home at 79 degrees, which made the stay very uncomfortable. What was most concerning was safety. We locked the door when we left for dinner, but when we returned, the door was unlocked and the trash cans had been moved. This was extremely unsettling for our family. The worst part is that our children used the hot tub, which was clearly not properly cleaned. They have since developed a bacterial skin infection and now require medical treatment. Because of this, we had to leave a”

“This was one of the most disappointing Airbnb stays we have had. We booked this property specifically for the hot tub. We arrived at 9pm and saw it there, but it was removed the next morning. When we returned, there were two trucks and about eight workers at the house for much of the day, and the replacement could not be installed due to electrical issues. We never had access to it. Two bedrooms then lost power for about 24 hours, and the breaker boxes were locked. The host was unresponsive. None of the TVs worked, so we couldn’t even watch a movie as a family. They said they’d send maintenance out and didn’t, their trouble shooting also did not help. The house felt very bare. Beds and pillows were uncomfortable, no throw blankets, and only one hand towel per bathroom. We paid a premium for amenities that were not available. I strongly recommend choosing another property.”