Previous Theft Problem - Different Living Culture in a Populated City
Pros
-Very friendly and responsive owner -Despite living with 9 other Airbnb guests, they were quiet and respectful. The neighborhood does get loud at night but that’s expected of the neighborhood. -At the time I lived here, I realized the world of difference in food delivery options between Manhattan and Brooklyn. There’s just many more options to choose from for food deliveries because it’s Manhattan. -Water pressure good, shower good, there was a mini bug problem with my room but they were coming from the plants
Cons
-I airbnbed here for a private room at a relatively cheap price. I realized how uncomfortable it was to live with 9 other people who are basically all strangers, sharing 1.5 bathrooms (1 full, 1 half). Some were students at the nearby City College, some were tourists from another country, and some were long-time tenants. I was in the cheapest room that didn’t lock, and that would usually be concerning for most people but since I didn’t have any belongings, it wasn’t concerning. I had less than a handbag worth of stuff. -My room specifically was victim to thievery multiple times. Let me explain what the real issue is. Living in this building and apartment was a SHOCKER for me. The front door to the building is usually locked, not always, but the unit I lived in was NEVER locked. The owner said he’s lived there for over twenty years and never had issues, so the door is 24/7 wide open even if no one’s home. Within the unit, there was 1 person who was previously homeless then offered free living in the apartment. There was also a long-time tenant who got kicked out that was friends with this previously homeless person. They obviously know the ins and outs of this apartment unit (there were at least 4 bedrooms always hosting around 10 people). They knew that my room was never locked – the previously homeless person engaged in a conversation with me once where he said that a girl in that room experienced thievery. Right after this conversation, literally one day after, a random guy walks into my room in broad daylight. The entire apartment was empty at this point but me. He didn’t expect that I’d be there, so he immediately left. I was shell-shocked and not sure what to do. I left the place to call the owner, again I had nothing worthy of stealing, not even $100. I only had my passport, birth certificate, and social security card with me, which could be worth identity theft I suppose. After a short conversation with the owner, I could already tell this was an orchestrated thievery and previous Airbnb guests of my room was victim of such orchestrated thievery. The previously homeless person and the long-time tenant are obviously friends. When I told the previously homeless person someone barged into my room, he started telling me “it must be that guy – my bike is worth thousands and the guy didn’t steal it.” I eventually reported it to the police with the owner’s wife. I don’t know if this situation was resolved, and I don’t blame the owner. But for anyone reading this review: really do your research. Airbnb reviews mean NOTHING. I lived in over 20 units in 2017 in places right off Airbnb – the reviews never match up, photos don’t match up. You seriously don’t know what you’re getting yourself into until you’ve paid and are there. If you have issues, you might get a refund but trust me, the owner won’t take responsibility. This is exactly why this app (openigloo) is so important – if you want genuine information about any property, you have got to hear it from people who’ve lived there and consider what reasons they were there.
Advice to the owners
I understand that the neighborhood and building is great enough to keep apartment door open 24/7, but consider that you’re Airbnbing to people of any background. It can attract orchestrated theft.
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