This review is a year overdue and the reason is that I don't like revisiting negativity. But, as I sit poolside on the lanai of my own home and the topic of our rental from last year comes up, my husband and I recall the shabby treatment we had there and decided to share it here.
We rented a condo in a high rise in downtown Sarasota for three months last year. Prior to leasing, we asked about cleanliness and were assured that the place had to meet certain standards. Upon arrival, we immediately noted the stained carpet, a cable wire dragging across the living room floor to a plug, rusted out and broken balcony furniture, filthy carpet on the balconies and cracked tile floors.
I soon discovered that the vacuum cleaner was broken. I called the rental agent who received permission from the owner to replace the broken vacuum with a new new one. When used, the bag filled up and had to be emptied several times so the "standards" were loose at best. Seeing the amount of dirt in the vacuum, I figured the floor wasn't clean either. An understatement, it turned out. There were no cleaning products in the place. I was told I had to buy my own. Bottom line: I spent the first several hours cleaning at my own expense. But beyond the need of a thorough cleaning (and higher standards), the condo itself was in disrepair. Moisture in the A.C. vent caused the ceiling paint to crack and peel. The windows were so dirty, you couldn't see out of them. Apparently, in this association it's the responsibility of the owners to clean the outside of their own windows. This particular owner didn't bother. She also didn't bother to pay her cable bill on two occasions. We had to call the rental agent twice due to no service.
Many condo associations forbid construction during peak times. Not this one. The entire time we were there, there were tractors beeping and we heard drilling, hammering and banging from on going construction in and around the building. Then a notice was posted that the water pump was being replaced so the water was shut off for half of one day. The pool heater broke down the second month of our stay and was never repaired.
Jeannette Properties contacted us at the end of our lease term wanting to know if we were interested in renting there again. We responded with a letter saying "no thanks" and detailed again in writing the conditions of the condo. That letter was not acknowledged. Here is the tipping point: Jeannette Properties charged us over $600 for a cleaning fee when we left and never bothered to apologize for the many inconveniences we endured during our stay nor did they respond to a second letter requesting a reason for the excessive cleaning fee.
While we understand that Jeannette Properties cannot be held responsible for events within an association and/or a building, they should have been aware of the conditions of the condo they were renting and, at the very least, be professional in their dealings with clients and customers. They have a long way to go but my observation is that they really couldn't care less. read more