1 Mi to Dtwn: 'The Rossi House' in Des Moines!

Reviews

• Needs some love.

  3/5

  There was four of us age 50 and older. One of us has history of a stroke and there was concern of safety of hand rails being loose inside and out. No toaster or hair dryer as listed. More plates and silverware would also be nice. Air conditioning went out but the manager was very good bringing in fans. Everything we asked for the manager tried to accommodate. With this being said it would be hard to recommend anyone to stay here.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• 1/5

  I wish I would have read the other review before committing to this house. The house was clean but the floors just seemed dirty in some areas. I thought it was odd no toilet paper holders in either bathroom. We had people over and within minutes I was emailed by Evolve stating I was violating the occupancy rule. I then replied we had people just over for Pride. The reply then I got was “only 4 guest are allowed in the home”. Shortly after that reply the Owner then called to tell me the same thing and also mentioned her cameras picked up people in the back yard looking at the hot tub. Again no where did I see the hot tub was not to be touched. After that called end Evolve then called me to ask about the occupancy AGAIN! This was within 15 mins of each other. I asked where this rule was and I never got an answer other than she kept repeating only 4 people can be in the house AT ALL TIMES. I asked her what I was suppose to do and she said figure it out and I said well it won’t be happening in within 10 minutes as we needed to make arrangements for cars. I also asked what if they don’t leave and was told the police would come. What was suppose to be a great weekend turned into being threatened the police would come for SIX people being in 1 house. It seems this house is being watching 24/7 by someone as the other review had the same problem. I understand why there are cameras but I also feel like every move is being watched. Please state your rules more clear.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Pleasant Stay

  4/5

  This was a solid location, solid home. You can tell it was purchased with a quick-and-dirty turnaround as far as prepping it for VRBO-type stays.The host was responsive; the house was mostly clean; the appliances worked.This gets only four stars primarily because of a lack of light bulbs. Yes, seriously. Instead of light bulbs in the lamps in one of the bedrooms, there were click-on battery lights stuck onto where the light bulbs should go. The ceiling fan only had a bulb in only one out of three sockets.This was probably because the house doesn't have many accessible electrical outlets... but a few power strips and/or extension cords would've solved that problem.Some of the electrical outlets didn't work--all of the light switches and electrical outlets were hastily painted over and that hasn't been corrected, so some of the outlets were hard or impossible to plug into.Overall, like I said, good place to stay, but these minor inconveniences keep it from being perfect.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  From the owner:
  "Hi Ben, we're glad to hear you enjoyed the home and found it to be a solid place to stay. We’d like to clarify a few points regarding the lighting in the bedroom. The lamps were intentionally outfitted with mood lighting features that can be controlled by a remote, offering a range of colors, including white. These weren’t designed for standard light bulbs, as we aimed to create a softer, more relaxed ambiance in that space. We also found that light bulbs from the ceiling fan had been removed and placed in the mood lighting lamps, which may have contributed to the confusion. We appreciate your suggestions and will consider them for future improvements. Thank you for your feedback."

• Disappointing

  1/5

  Upon arrival on Friday evening, my guests and I quickly realized that while the property initially appeared acceptable, a closer inspection revealed significant and unacceptable cleanliness issues. It became evident that the property had been staged with clean linens and amenities, but never properly cleaned following its recent purchase and superficial updates. This was not a minor issue, as one representative suggested—it was a fundamental failure to meet basic cleanliness and hygiene standards.I contacted the host immediately and was offered a quick cleaning visit, which would not have resolved the issue. This property required a deep clean by a professional team—something that should have been completed well before any guests arrived.What I found additionally troubling was the shift in focus to a birthday gathering we had mentioned. It was a quiet, small celebration involving a cake and charcuterie, not a party or event that violated the rental agreement. Suggesting otherwise, as indicated by comments from your representative and an email titled “Policy Violations Reported,” felt like an attempt to deflect from the legitimate concerns we raised about the condition of the property. I had tried to resolve this issue without leaving a bad review, but I have not heard from Vrbo or Evolve since my initial complaint was filed.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  From the owner:
  "Hi Brian and Amanda, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We were surprised by your comments regarding the cleanliness of the home, especially since you acknowledged that fresh linens and signs of recent cleaning were present. While we offered to send someone out immediately to address any concerns, you declined the visit. We understand that you felt a deep clean was needed, but from our perspective, the home was in a clean and usable condition. 
  
  As for the gathering, we mentioned house policies after you mentioned that you were hosting a party. Our intention was simply to ensure everything remained within the guidelines, not to deflect from your concerns. We were also on-site shortly after your departure and documented the condition of the property. We stand by the quality and cleanliness of the home and appreciate your feedback."