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All Forum Posts by: Lee L.

Lee L. has started 9 posts and replied 54 times.

You know, being legally blind doesn't always mean that the person can't see at all. You can be legally blind and still have some sight.

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @John D.:

@Lee L. you come across as tremendously defensive.  That does not bode well for those that operate short-term rentals.  It's a customer-centric business, and an unwillingness to gracefully accept opinions we disagree with does not correlate with future success.  You can think someone is wrong, but still accept that may have a point.  Disagreement resulting in a knee-jerk public (or even private) response will not benefit you in this industry.

 Well you are entitled to your opinion John, we shall see about my future customer service success as all my bookings start in December, but anyone who has been unpleasant to me seems to believe they have some crystal ball and that this message board is being conflated with real life. In any event, no offense to you, but I will pass on further opinions, yours included, I have gotten a lot of great feedback, and a bit of nonsense and trolling as well, and I have looked but can't seem to find a way to either delete this thread or shut it down to further comments.

I actually got two more bookings since this thread went up and I am going to implement some of the productive suggestions I received. If I may, since you are all about apparently accepting when someone has a point, let me ask you, out of all the people who wrote in this thread, I had unpleasant interactions with 3, and wrote the others in a neutral way or with thanks to them for their help, and the 3 I had issues with were objectively not being helpful, and as far as I am concerned were actually going out of their way to create controversy, something commonly seen on message boards. I am genuinely confused how I can have mostly pleasant interactions except with people who are intentionally flaming me and somehow that makes me defensive. 

I personally tend to think that some people go looking to make trouble, and then they try to get out of the trouble they made by excusing their bad behavior as some sort of "trial by fire" of my customer service skills that I failed. But hey, I am entitled to my opinion too aren't I?

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @Mike V.:
lol the only advice I offered was to outsource the customer interaction / listing portion of your STR. I have a lot of STRs, and manage several more for others. But what do I know. 🙄

There’s a reason most people fail. Then those who succeed swoop and and buy your house you love because you ran it emotionally and not like a business... people here have ‘tried’ to help but you’re one of the least receptive people I’ve seen on this forum.

Tell ya what. Keep doing everything you’ve been and see how far it gets ya. Best of luck.

(This is where you call me a troll too I suppose... oh well... I’ve been called worse).

Least receptive to you, and I am happy to not get any more of your "help". I gave plenty of people here thanks for their good advice, you are just being nasty because I don't think your advice is good. So I am not going to keep doing what I have been doing, I am going to make some adjustments based on the good advice I got. So basically everyone but you and that guy you are pals with.

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @Mary M.:

If the bunk beds are in the bunk room, maybe add some differentiation so the room looks like a place to sleep and not the LR. Or, maybe not show it at all and just crop the image to shows the bunk beds.  

Honestly add some cozyness ie throws, flowers, stuff on the walls so it looks more personable. 

As for images - a real estate photographer should be able to do the job for a couple hundred bucks at most. 

Lower your price and stay positive!

Thanks, I am going to go with the advice someone gave me to barter since cash is tight, I know a great photographer who probably would be interested in a stay of a few days in exchange for photos. We also do have art in storage that we can hang, so I will do that for sure.

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @Matt Groth:
@Lee L. You got some really great suggestions. Reviews are key. I would also add this. Our str has been a great investment, but not always smooth sailing. One thing I would like to add, and take it for what it's worth, is the title of your post....you need a more positive attitude. "Failing " is a pretty tough word, and I wonder your demeanor when you interact with guests. In the beginning, the bank account would run low, and I honestly believed an inquiry would show up.....and they did. We went in too low on cash reserves, but persevered, and stayed confident. Use all of the suggestions above, and do whatever it takes to make it work....good luck.

I will keep that in mind, I have a couple of reservations, but the stays are not until December, so the only contact I have had is just a quick hello email, and ofcourse as you and some others have mentioned things do often get off to a slow start, so I am actually less concerned than when I initially posted because of the feedback.

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @Mike V.:
@Lee L. If he’s getting under your skin, you really should consider evolve. STRs are more customer service than anything else... and you will get reviews like what he posted. While he could have been a little nicer with his words,,,, your guests won’t.

In my hi,blue opinion you should be thanking him for the (tough) feedback and take at least some of what he said into consideration.

Your listing is competing with 100s of others and they won’t give your listing more than 2-3 initial seconds before deciding to look closer or move on to the next one down. Its lIke a game... either you play it or you FAIL.

His take had nothing to do with customer service, no I am not thanking him or you for that matter, and unless Evolve is going to swap out my countertops and bedspreads I don't see how the opinion of that ape has anything to do with evolve or customer service.  You his cousin or best friend or something?

I got some good advice from other people, you and that guy didn't offer anything of use or value. Furthermore, I happen to LIKE that house. Sure at some point I may go change some things, but it is a good house, and your opinion and his opinion are not shared by everyone, so seriously leave me alone. I came here looking for productive and positive feedback, neither you nor your buddy has done that. Not using evolve and not changing the beadspread.

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @James Galla:

Yeah, it's helpful and yeah I'm a potential customer. Puke yellow is relevant becauee asthetics matter. You chose the old 70s motel theme and are complaining about your failing business. Anyways, good luck.

The definition of trolling, for your edification: INFORMAL

make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them.

Go away troll.

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @James Galla:
Originally posted by @Lee L.:
Originally posted by @James Galla:

I don't do STRs, but those bed covers look nasty and like they are reused from a 1970s motel. Additionally, the bunks in the living room look nasty, too. Same goes for the ugly puke yellow countertop. You describe the place as a "private mountain getaway," but it certainly doesn't feel like that. Also, get new curtains. They look like used motel bed comforters.

Lower the rates for sure.

Bedspreads are brand new, literally just bought them. 

If you don't do str's did you just come here looking to make yourself feel important by being insulting and rude? 

Well, thanks for stopping by with your useless remarks.

Consider me as a potential customer. It's better to receive that feedback here than on your listings. After all, you are asking for us to review your property. You might not like what I say, but this is business. So, I hope you find them useful, because I would make those remarks if I stayed at your place.

See that's the thing, you definitely are NOT a potential customer. The counter is harvest gold, in immaculately perfect condition, absolutely clean and ready to use, and staying exactly where it is because we don't have a budget to change things for esthetic reasons right now. Anyone who is clearly as grossed out as you are just by the damned color of the counter I don't even want as a customer. You are somebody's customer, not mine. I have a couple of bookings so some people are willing to overlook the dated stuff.  You personally not liking something isn't the same as objective constructive criticism. Your opinion of the bed covers is just that, your opinion. But even if you thought you stupid opinion was worth something to me, when you say "the bedspread is nasty" that tells me you are not trying to be helpful, you are just having fun feeling like you are some big shot who gets to say whatever rude thing pops in his mind. "Puke yellow countertop" NOT HELPFUL. 

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @James Galla:

I don't do STRs, but those bed covers look nasty and like they are reused from a 1970s motel. Additionally, the bunks in the living room look nasty, too. Same goes for the ugly puke yellow countertop. You describe the place as a "private mountain getaway," but it certainly doesn't feel like that. Also, get new curtains. They look like used motel bed comforters.

Lower the rates for sure.

Bedspreads are brand new, literally just bought them. 

If you don't do str's did you just come here looking to make yourself feel important by being insulting and rude? 

Well, thanks for stopping by with your useless remarks.

Post: failing, failing miserably

Lee L.Posted
  • Posts 55
  • Votes 14
Originally posted by @Teri Feeney Styers:

@Lee L. if you are out of cash then BARTER! Trade a few nights to a photographer and anyone else you can in order to acquire the goods and services you need. Also, think about a longer STR to start if it will carry you - like a 13 week rotating nurse or others who need to be in your area for a month or two. Lastly, if it isn't nice enough for vacationers, is it nice enough for ski area workers? I know that workers in Colorado frequently can't afford to live in the ski areas where they work - they have to commute long distances. And because they are seasonal they are generally just renters. Maybe talk to the resort about worker needs...

That is a damned good idea. Thank you.