Talk of The Villages Florida - From a renter's point of view....

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Wow - talk about shooting the messenger. This is certainly the appropriate place for a post titled "from a renter's point of view". It should serve to alert folks that are renting out their homes how they can make them more comfortable and have renters return or recommend their homes to others.

Just 'cause you don't care doesn't mean others aren't interested. And why are you even reading posts you aren't interested in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomoho (Post 636195)

I read it because I would like to know what renters want. As soon as I saw left handed ice cream scoop, it made me question the whole post. If someone is so upset by not having a left handed ice cream scoop that they post it on a message board, I probably don't want them renting my house. Granted, a few of the complaints may be valid, while others they should have known about before renting.

The left-handed ice cream scoop pretty much invalidates the whole thing.

I've spoken with rental property managers who do all renting over the phone, without photos by email or website. I would never rent a place without recent photographs. You can tell a lot by looking at the furniture and upholstery, and other furnishings that should have gone to Salvation Army 20 years ago.

And $3,000 is on the low side of rent in the winter season here, too. That's $100 per night, and where can you get a hotel room for that price that includes sales and hotel tax etc.....and the hotel would have nothing but two beds and a bathroom.....for about $150 per night even at Hampton.

I have a right to left handed ice cream scoop... I call it Baskin Robbins LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by katsudden (Post 636104)

If you wish to hold on to "returning" renters.... we pay $3,000/mo. We paid an extra $100 this year to add to our comfort in our rental. Shouldn't have had to be necessary. We also took care of getting the satellite and remotes that didn't work. We scrubbed down the lanai and wrought iron furniture. Spot cleaned the carpet and washed the small area rugs. We are not "white glove" people. Far from it. But we don't want to complain to our landlord about so much that should have been taken care of. We want to be good and responsible renters, but for $3000 a month...we expect a little more....

1. Comfort is key! Please update uncomfortable furniture, mattresses, etc.
The cute matching upholstered furniture of years back have cushions that are completely flat now and we are sitting on the wooden seat frames now.
We'd love to put our feet up on ottomans (found 2 at resale store) or have recliners!

Patio umbrellas are great to keep the sun out of our eyes and cushions on the wrought iron chairs would be nice. (I had to purchase some at a resale store this year.)

The low adirondack chairs are all the thing now, but we are older and can't get in or out of them because they are so low!

2. Cleanliness! We pay for the cleaning people in our lease. But the carpets are spotted and the north-facing lanai is covered in dirt and moss.

The plastic outdoor chairs are stained with dirt and the wrought iron furniture's paint is peeling.

The throw rugs are filthy and stained. The vacuum doesn't work well.

The shower doesn't get hot water.

Perhaps your cleaning people might tell you of these things or you could do a "walk through" to check on them.

3. Amenities...

Please check out the tv remotes and satellite to be sure they work.
Wireless would be nice.
A printer would be nice.
The tires on the golf cart are so worn it is scary
The golf cart's batteries need to be replaced as we can't get up a small hill.
A couple of fold up chairs to take to the square would be nice so we don't have to bring them with us in the car.

4. Kitchen

Plenty of extra dishes if we have company would be nice. They don't have to be fancy expensive dishes.
A crock pot would be nice.
Some serving platters would be nice.
Ice cream scoops (left and right handed one), kitchen sheers, wine bottle opener, colander would be nice.

5. Ample lighting is helpful so we can read no matter where we are in the living room.

6. Safety!
Safety bars in the showers are a must for older people!
The carpeting is loosening and should be tightened!
Area rugs are sliding.
The lights flicker at night. The outlets blow fuses.

7. Pets...
A "pets welcome" home will probably get return renters. We know that is a sore subject amongst landlords, but our pets are our family. 99%of us are responsible pet owners and willing to pay for extra cleaning should it be necessary.

There are to many responsible owners out there for you to have to deal with substandard accomodations. My opinion is to find a new place next time, but start your search now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phanatic Luvr (Post 636177)

I was thinking the same thing and I'm left handed. What the heck is left handed ice cream scoop?

Same as a left handed crescent wrench

"Seat savers" thrown in the bushes at the Square....no left-handed ice cream scoops....and no hot water in the shower.....

This TV place sure is a dump.

The first year, we rented a patio villa from TV with no golf cart in Bonnybrook. The second and third year, we rented a new ranch in Amelia that was immaculate and the property manager was extremely fussy (good for us) with her cleaning crew....but the electric golf cart and wireless were the only hiccups. That said, we had a fabulous time here. We were unable to get that same rental the next year and we rented a designer on the golf course in Palo Alto. The cleaning person HAD to come back,(but we did contact the owner immediately and voiced our concerns) you could hold up the sheets in the master BR and watch television through them but we had a great golf cart and loads of fun. The good times we had here overcame the bad.....and then we bought and don't regret it. By the way, we're still having fun.

Katsudden - did you voice your concerns to the landlord in a reasonable and timely fashion? I hope so. You would be blind siding him here on this site if you didn't. Also did you not walk through the rental before you leased it?

Ok from an owners point of view to OP...

I spent $10,000 on the furniture in my home, nope no ottomens and recliner, but on my web site you can check those if you have them
I have fold up chairs to go in my gas golf cart that goes 22mph
A crockpot, 2 colenders and 3 pair of shears
2 wine openers (one for the experienced, i am a sommelier, and a wine opener for the novice)
We have all been reading about blown fuses and our house is included, and we all know that it take awhile to get hot water here, (there is a thread)
With that covered why do you not want to contact the managment person or owner,,,

Did you let them know you were left handed and needed special items...like the ice cream scoop... Here hoping my renters are always happy, and yes they are returning next year.....

I think everyone is too focused on the left handed ice cream scoop and dismissing the legitimate concerns. If you rent through TV or whoever that is now you don't get an opportunity to do a walk through. You go to the sales office and are handed the keys. And even if you did do a walk through - you are here for a month - what are you going to do turn around and go home??? doubt you would find something else last minute during high season.
And yes I have rented homes bases on pictures only to find them to be below par. And I have showed homes as a REALTOR with fabulous pictures that when you walked in you can't believe you are in the same house. Unfortuantely pics don't tell the whole story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by karostay (Post 636119)

For mere $3000 a month your rented a total Resort .
Complete with pools , activity's,golf nightly entertainment ect ect
I really don't get whats to complain about that was a bargain
Or basically you got what you paid for

You are joking, right? Renting here at TV does not even remotely resemble staying at a Resort. You rent the house and everything else is extra. Expecting a clean, comfortable, modern, fully functioning rental for $3000/month is not being unreasonable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyCrocked (Post 636166)

A left handed ice cream scoop? Are you serious?

Thank you, I thought that I had missed something. :a040:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker (Post 636337)

I agree. I've seen rentals listed on the forum for around $2800 to $3000, so I think that is a pretty average rental rate (assuming it's not a huge designer with bird age and pool).

We have rented at least one place that was not what it purported to be online (not in TV) and can understand the OP's position on most points. For 3000 in TV, you should get comfortable furniture, good beds, and a better-equipped kitchen. This isn't some place where you're probably gonig to eat out every night.

Also, we have friends who have rented twice site unseen in TV and have found unclean houses. This year they managed to look ahead to next year and spent much time finding a place they could inspect here and now. The downside was it took a lot of time out of their one-month vacation. But that is the hazard of renting from a private owner.

On the other hand, rentals accepting dogs... We finally got tired of the quality of the rentals in FL that accept dogs (EXCEPT for our wonderful landlords and cottage we had for six winters in Key West), and that was the driving factor in buying our own house in TV. I got tired of "ratty."

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 636413)

Pet Friendly ....that may be the missing equation.