I just arrived at a new sit today. I picked up keys from the front desk of an apartment building a few hours after the host left. Walked in the front door and didn’t recognize the place.
It’s clearly the same furniture and the same cat, and even plausibly the same apartment building, so the host has probably just moved units, but I’m quite disconcerted. It’s a studio apartment, but the kitchen in photos had an island with barstools; the real kitchen has no island and no dedicated eating space. OTOH, the bedroom is nicer than the photos. I probably would have still agreed to the housesit if I’d known (although I’m a little miffed about doing Thanksgiving cooking in a kitchen half the size I expected), and the cat seems very sweet. But I also feel like I should say… something?? Do I reach out to the host or save it for the review?
There were signs of mild disorganization before this, but no dealbreakers: the welcome guide said he didn’t have a TV, but there was one in photos (and there is one IRL). The plan for getting the keys to us also changed several times on the day of our arrival. But this person has multiple previous 5-star reviews (although looking back I see some reduced stars in the sub-categories) so I was surprised.
Related but less significant question: the apartment clearly hadn’t been swept before we arrived (cat hair, onion paper, etc scraps on the floor) but is relatively tidy overall, again with no dealbreakers. Is that something you would bring up to the homeowner before the review or just mention it there?
You could always save the photos on the listing and take photos of the actual apartment rooms so you have a record then just raise it with the owner but in a nice way @Emily17. Enjoy the company of the cat.
There could be a simple explanation @Emily17 and you won’t know until you mention it to him. There shouldn’t be any need for any argument if you just comment on it in your next message to him. It could be a simple comment like “I was surprised when I arrived at your apartment that the kitchen (and whatever else) are different to those in your listing. Have you moved apartments since posting them? It would have been nice to know but I’m comfortable here though a little disappointed the kitchen is smaller without the island or eating space. (Cat’s name) is a real cutie and I’m loving having her/him for company.”
I would take a photo or two maybe before sweeping up or my preferred – vacuuming. Things can get chaotic before leaving so I wouldn’t say anything about that. I look at vacuuming as something you just have to do often with pets. In your shoes I’d straight out ask about the discrepency with the photos and mention to the homeowner that it was disorienting and not what you expecting. I might mention some specifics in the review like small kitchen, no dining area, not as shown.
Yeah buggah! We’ve had that experience with real estate photos instead of images of actual, but it sounds like this is not the place you signed up for at all. I would “innocently” ask them where the kitchen is with the island that was in the photos and see how they respond. But there’s honesty no point as it thanks giving and you want to focus on your holiday instead. Technically though, if you wish to leave you have the ability to with proof (photo of actual vs. photo of advertised). Ask THS what to do.
From what I understand is that you did not have a handover from the HO and entered an apartment that did not resemble the listing that was advertised.
You mention that the kitchen and bedroom differ from the photos in the HO’s listing. You also mention that the Welcome Guide does not include a TV, but there was one in the photos. So, is there a TV in the apartment?
There is a misrepresentation on the HO’s part. There was false advertising of the HO’s listing that affected and impacted your decision in agreeing to do the sit. Yes, you should definitely mention it in your review. And you can also mention it to the HO of your disappointment as @temba mentioned. And I suggest you dock the HO in cleanliness for having an unkempt apartment.
You should take photos of the apartment as proof in comparison to the photos on the HO’s listing-- should the HO raise a complaint from your review.
Moving forward with your sits, you may want to have a video call whereby the HOs can give you a visual walk through of the home.
In this way, hopefully, this will help negate any surprises as to what you walk into.
Why not ask the owner “have you moved apartment since the sit was listed?”
You say that you probably would have accepted the sit anyway so maybe a friendly suggestion to the host that you might want to update the photos before listing anymore dates .
I wouldn’t bring it up till after the sit, unless there’s something you want them to do about it now. Why: If the conversation turns awkward, you’ll have made it unnecessarily hard for yourself.
I had a pair of hosts who’d switched to an apartment on a higher floor in the same building. The photos were accurate, but the welcome guide gave the old apartment number and some of the info was off, like where the garbage chutes were in relation to the apartment. Luckily, we caught the error quickly, because I asked for and read the WG promptly.
Personally, I once was renting an apartment across the country for work purposes and I later ended up switching to another unit in the same complex, because I wanted a townhouse with a garage instead. Had to wait till someone vacated such a unit, so I temporarily rented a regular apartment meanwhile.
We did have a call with the host before accepting the sit, but I can’t recall now if it was a voice or video call, and if it was video it did not include a tour. Good suggestion.
meaning in real life.