The Return of Real Reviews: Why Every Home Gets a Joe’s Review

By Joe B., Co-Founder of The Joes

Long before The Joes ever existed, I (Joe B.) was obsessed with the great curated collections of a bygone era like Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report and Mr & Mrs Smith. They weren’t traditional travel guides or crowd-sourced review sites; they were deeply personal, human-led portfolios built on trust, taste, and lived experience. Andrew Harper was a real person, an anonymous traveler who checked into hotels quietly, wrote from the heart, and told the truth. His Hideaway Report wasn’t about ratings; it was about storytelling and discernment. Likewise, Mr & Mrs Smith, founded by James and Tamara Lohan, redefined boutique travel through a stylish, editorial lens that made you feel as if you were getting insider tips from a worldly couple with impeccable taste.

When I co-founded Farmhouse Inn, those publications changed everything for us. Being named Mr & Mrs Smith’s Property of the Year and receiving the Andrew Harper Grand Award instantly elevated our credibility. Their stamp of approval meant something. Travelers trusted them. And that’s the kind of trust we want to bring back with The Joes.

Old-School Curatorship in a Digital World

The Joes is built on that same philosophy: founder-led curation. Every home we list is personally vetted by us, Joe Bartolomei and Joe Ragland, and if we don’t love it, it doesn’t make the cut. We don’t believe in pay-to-play listings or fake five-star reviews. What you’ll find on The Joes is what we’d genuinely recommend to our friends.

That said, no home is perfect and that’s part of the charm. We’ve yet to find one that doesn’t have a quirk, a creak, or a detail we’d change. We share those things honestly, too, because we want every guest to arrive with the right expectations and to understand exactly what they’re getting into. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of everything we do.

Two Joes. Two Perspectives. One Shared Standard.

Here’s what makes this fun: Joe R. and I couldn’t be more different - and that’s the point.

Joe Ragland is the digital nomad, a true explorer who lives for rhythm and function. He cares about great Wi-Fi, smart layouts, local hangouts, and how a place supports life on the move. He’s as comfortable discovering hole-in-the-wall cafés and dusty trails as he is settling into a flawlessly designed villa or a Michelin three-star dining experience. For Joe, it’s all about energy, is a home inspiring? Is it livable? Does it work as well as it looks?

I (Joe B.) come from the world of luxury hospitality. My lens is emotional: comfort, atmosphere, texture, lighting, scent. I think about how a home feels. Is it warm? Is it welcoming? Does it tell a story? I pay attention to the details that most people overlook, the way the morning light moves through the kitchen, the scent of wood smoke in the air, the sound of water in the distance. I’m drawn to homes that have a heartbeat, that balance refinement with authenticity, and that make you instantly exhale when you walk through the door.

When a home wins us both over. when it balances soul and substance, it earns the title Joe-tested, Joe-approved. Some guests will see the world like Joe R., others like Joe B., but every home meets the standard of both. So ask yourself: are you more of a Joe R. or a Joe B.? You’ll start to know as you explore.

Our Promise: Only Homes We’d Live In

Every property on The Joes has been personally inspected by us. We’ve walked the rooms, opened the drawers, checked the lighting, and sat in the chairs. If we wouldn’t live there for a month ourselves, it doesn’t make the list. We’re not trying to build the biggest inventory, just the best one. A portfolio of homes we’d happily call home, even temporarily. And before any home earns its place, it must pass our ultimate Vibe Check, that intangible feeling that tells us a space is genuinely special.

Inside Every Joe’s Review: How We Tell the Story of a Home

Each review follows a six-part structure that allows us to share every angle of a home, its personality, strengths, quirks, and soul. It’s a blend of honesty, insight, and style that helps you truly picture what living there feels like.

Opening Snapshot-

Our first impression: the emotional arrival, the feeling of walking through the door for the first time.

What We Love -

The highlights, design choices, and special touches that make the home shine.

Keep in Mind -

The honest truth about quirks, trade-offs, and realities, so you know exactly what to expect.

The Brag -

Our dual perspectives: Joe B.’s lens, Joe R.’s lens, and our shared verdict.

Getting Around -

A sense of place: what’s nearby, how it feels to move through the area, and what kind of lifestyle the location offers.

Joe-Tested, Joe-Approved -

Our concise, heartfelt summary, the parting thought that tells you why the home truly embodies The Joes ethos.

Why It Matters

Today’s travel landscape is saturated with filters and automation. But the truth is, nothing replaces the power of human judgment. We believe that authenticity, taste, and discernment still matter. We want to help people make better choices, not just where to stay, but how to live when they get there.

Over time, these reviews will form a living portfolio - a modern heir to the Andrew Harper and Mr & Mrs Smith legacy - a curated library of homes that reflect our philosophy: design with soul, comfort without pretense, and trust earned the old-fashioned way.

Welcome to The Joes. We write every review as if we’re recommending it to a friend, because, in our minds, you are.