6/10 Okay
Peter H., Colchester
18 Oct 2019
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A mixed bag
I would dearly like to give this accommodation a 5* rating but regret there were so many minor gripes that we were all agreed compared to other rentals this property rather frustratingly only gets 3*. Why 'frustratingly"? With a little care and attention there is no doubt this place could hit 5* but sadly the attention to detail is not there. As with previous reviews, we noted the dangerous bannister rails on the top floor - the uprights are loose and very dangerous when you try to grab them when struggling with a suitcase. The towel hooks in the top floor bathroom are also hanging off the wall - the basement towel rail was falling off and I had to fix it myself. Neither of the bathrooms/toilets had a locking door. The second bedroom only has one bedside light. The downstairs shower was not used - too much black mould around the bottom of the door. We would also suggest a proper linen/towel closet is provided as too much spare bedding is wedged into the second bedroom chest of drawers - and we also had to search for the towels. The back (and main door) was very stiff and almost impossible to close (and open) without brute force. Whilst the owner discourages use of the front door, this is a real shame. It's not so much the curious tourists ( a small "Private Residence" sign would fix this) but more the very dangerous state of the steps and bannister rail (completely loose) Each of these items in themselves was not a deal breaker but given the top $ price, the cumulative effect on our feelings is obvious. A "Welcome" booklet, explaining where all the controls were. and local points of interest would also be useful.
So to conclude, this property is in a great location (with very useful parking bays), but does need a little attention. I hope this review is seen as being objective and I really do hope the required fixes are resolved as this really could become a 5* plus property.
Peter H.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2019