Pet-Friendly Van Alstyne Gem w/ Deck, Grill & Yard

Reviews

• Disappointed, Not as Described

  2/5

  I was excited about the outdoor space that was promoted in the ad. This is mostly why I chose this property. But it was a complete disappointment. The actual condition of the decks and yard made the space unusable and was NOT what the pictures showed. Winter dirt and disarray, standing filthy water, mold, dirty pillows, weeds and poison ivy everywhere. A large poison ivy vine was even growing in a flower pot! Clutter, broken lights and glass and junk also littered the outdoor space.

  I had made our reservation in February and it would seem that there was plenty of time for the house and grounds to be prepared for residents.

  Inside was nice but the Ductless Air System was not working. I spoke to the manager immediately about my disappointment over the outside space and the trouble with the AC unit stalling. He advised using a higher temperature, which we tried, but nothing worked. The house temperatures were in the 80's for 5 of the 6 nights we were there. On the last day, finally the electrician arrived and fixed whatever was causing the shut off. No acceptable compensation was offered from either Evolve or the manager. We were hot and uncomfortable, overall it was a disappointing location.

  We also had been given misinformation about how to get into the house upon arrival. It took me two hours to find the key. I was quite frustrated. Not the best start for a 7 day stay.

  The house was acceptable, with a comfortable master foam bed mattress; but my grandson complained that his bed squeaked every time he moved. The bath room was nice size with two sink areas, and the kitchen had a new gas stove. Be sure to bring your own salt and pepper and any seasonings you need for cooking. Just the basics are there. A laundry area in the bathroom also had a new dryer/washer system.

  Since it was April, we stuck it out in the heat, but I would not have been able to stay if we had been there in the middle of a usual Texas summer. Even one of the indoor heaters was on and it took us a couple days to realize it and get it turned off. So a heater left on, the Aire unit not working, and the warm spring days made the house uncomfortably warm. The manager responded by texts but was unable to come by because he was out of state.

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Norine, we take guest feedback seriously and passed your comments on to the homeowner who would like to share the following:
  - Thank you for sharing your feedback about your recent stay at our property. We strive to create a memorable experience for all our guests, and we regret that we missed the mark on this occasion.
  - Upon reviewing your concerns, we would like to address each point to provide clarity. Firstly, it is important to note, that the difficulty in accessing the home was due to you going to the incorrect location. Upon you notifying us of your concerns we promptly responded and redirected you to the correct location.
  - Regarding the outdoor space, we want to clarify that the grass, decks, and yards were indeed cut and cleaned the day before your arrival, as depicted in the listing photos. We assure you the areas around the decks do not have poison ivy or poison oak and one would have to go in the heavily treed areas to find it. We advise caution when exploring the natural surroundings. Any standing water is limited to the bird baths, and we regularly monitor and address any mold concerns due to heavy rains.
  - We acknowledge your feedback regarding the Ductless Air System and the indoor heater. Our team promptly arranged for repairs upon being notified.
  - We appreciate your understanding regarding the fluctuating weather conditions and the pilot light left on for the fireplace heater. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities, and we are committed to addressing any concerns promptly.
  - We want to assure you that the property is as depicted in the listing photos, and we strive to provide a tranquil retreat for our guests to enjoy nature's beauty.
  We do all we can to make the best possible stay, and we look forward to this property hosting many satisfied guests.

• A mixed bag

  3/5

  My family stayed at this house to attend a wedding nearby. The location was serene.

  The property itself is poorly maintained, with trash and tools strewn about the yard. The horses in adjacent pasture showed physical signs of neglect (one had a festering wound behind the ear, from a bridle that was ill fitted, put on wrong, and clearly left on the animal for far too long).

  The house itself was nice enough, and clean enough, but by no means spotless. The beds were comfortable and the kitchen stocked with adequate cookware. The water is very soft, and the Brita filtration system for drinking water looked about 30 years old, and tasted as if filters had never been replaced.

  The host was accessible (by phone), very friendly, responsive to our questions and needs.

  Overall, we had a fine stay, as we spent most of our days away from this property, visiting family. I would not recommend this location to people who hope to hang out on the property and enjoy the outdoors.

  This is a nice house for a family to stay in, if you’ve got activities elsewhere during the day.

  Very comfortable beds. I would consider staying here again if needed, but hope that the property is cleaned up (rats outside!) and the horses cared for properly.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Homeowner's Response: "Hi Joleen, thank you for sharing your review with us. We appreciate all feedback as we continuously strive to improve our guests' experiences.
  Our country ranch estate offers a retreat for those who appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors and the opportunity to utilize our many deck areas for entertaining and relaxation.
  The sixteen acres of natural landscape are home to many creatures, including field mice, spiders, wasps, and snakes. However, it's also a sanctuary for many wildlife, such as deer, raccoons, rabbits, and armadillos. All for our guests to enjoy!"

• Stay at the Blue Cottage Majestic on Acres Ranch

  5/5

  It was an amazing experience!! The family enjoyed it so much.

  The house was comfortable, it provided all the necessary amenities and then some. Very satisfied with our stay here.

• Great stay, Very nice Host

  5/5

  We enjoyed ourselves at Majestic Acres. This was a good way for us to unwind from working all week in the city. There was wifi here which is a must for the kids Ipads. Our kids woke up early to enjoy the horses and cows. We hiked around the large property. It was very clean with nice furniture and a large bathroom. There was a large covered porch with a great view of the nice covered and uncovered decking. We used the BBQ grills to cook while enjoying the beautiful weekend. There was plenty of room for parking for my parents and brother to visit and enjoy the BBQ with us. The decking is quite large and could accommodate a nice outdoor party for a future stay. We will return again and hopefully bring more friends to enjoy this place with us. I recommend this property to anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors with the comfort and safety of a nice home.

  Manager's Response:

  "From the owner": "Thank you, Keimoni, for the kind comments. We look forward to your future visits to Majestic Acres Ranch."

• It was awsome

  5/5

  Got there it was clean. And comfortable would highly recommend