1st Choice Properties

Horrible experience with 1st Choice Properties. We paid upfront for our stay and they charged our credit card WAY MORE than they were supposed to. When we got to our rental unit we couldn’t get in because they gave us the wrong door code. We had to wait half a day before we could get in. To say they are unprofessional would be an understatement. Steer clear of this company unless you want to be ripped off and have a miserable experience.

If you have options I’d suggest going with ANYONE before I chose 1st Choice Properties. We’ve rented for 7 years and the first 6 were seamless with a local agent. He had to move on so we went with 1st Choice. Outside of the enormous fees ($699 VRBO, $250 set up and 15% commission) we felt like the season went ok…we didn’t rent nearly as many weeks as the past, but kept hearing the rental market was down. Fast forward to our first time at the property after rental season. Ceiling fans and TV’s had an inch of dust, showers had mold, toaster oven was left to ON (for a week) and our garage/house smelled like a dumpster since 1st Choice never sent anyone to empty the trash in the garage. To their credit they sent a cleaner to address the first concerns, but I’m hoping if you’ve made it this far you’re sitting down. They wanted to charge us, the homeowner, $60 to empty the trash that they admitted wasn’t done by their staff. That coupled with nearly burning our house down was the final straw. So if you’re looking for a company that could easily turn your rental into a Dumpster Fire look no further. Imagine how they treat renters. We had numerous requests for the owner to contact us and to date we’ve heard nothing. I’m sure they’ll try and jump on and defend themselves but please do your homework and read reviews. We’ll no longer be using 1st Choice.

Our recent stay at a 1st Choice Property in Selbyville was completely ruined by a malfunctioning air conditioning unit that went unfixed for three days (half our stay). Despite multiple calls to 1st Choice Property, the problem persisted. and when issues arise after hours, you have to leave a message on their voicemail and you won’t get a call back for hours.
Initially, we were given dirty portable AC units that compromised the home's security and only cooled areas of the home. When the main unit was supposedly fixed, it broke down again. To keep the place somewhat cool, we had to rely on unreliable window units, creating uncomfortable temperature variations throughout the house. One window unit in particular needed to run the entire stay due to the heat that came through the window from the ac unit outside. The filters in the window units were also filled with dust, dirt and lots of hair.
While the home itself is nicely remodeled and the backyard is great for family gatherings, the AC situation is unacceptable. Clearly, the owners need to invest in a new, efficient unit. The current one is old, rusty, and clearly needs major repairs.
As for the person in charge of 1st Choice Property, Trevor Clark, who has not gotten back to me in over a week after multiple email attempts, and two 1st Choice Property staff members who both hung up on me, the lack of care for guest satisfaction was shocking! There was no attempt to compensate us for the unbearable heat and inconvenience. We even asked to move and they said there were no units available even though their website showed 6 units available. It's obvious that 1st Choice Property prioritizes profit over guest experience.
We strongly advise future guests to avoid this property and especially this company.