Nice property, but hard to relax.

Guest: Ellen G (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 12/05/11

Looking for a change of pace from the Jersey Shore, and a place where our infants could play with grandma and grandpa. We got that and we were pleased. But we had some issues, so we will not be returning to this house. The location is hard to beat. Cedar is a nice town with all the basics and is roughly equal drives to Traverse City and the northern towns. The Leelanau Peninsula is beautiful. We visited Traverse City, Glen Lake, Good Harbor Bay, Fishtown, Leelanau Farmers Market, Sleeping Bear Dune, and Black Star Farms. We enjoyed playing in the clear shallow waters of this property. This house is nice and large. The photos represent what you will get. The owners include their personal touches throughout and they take personal pride in the house. The downstairs bedrooms are small, but large adjoining spaces compensate for that. There is white carpet throughout the house. The kitchen is nice but dated. The kitchen tools are not the best, so if you’re really into cooking you might want to bring your own knives, I wish we had. The owners met us on arrival and gave us a tour, explaining what you can and can’t do with the air conditioning, how to perform tasks like watering the plants, how to take out the row boat, where to go, places to eat, etc. They stayed above the garage across the street for three nights. Though they were not intrusive, we had difficulty relaxing. It felt like we were being watched. The sprinkler system is a problem. It was on everyday, spraying us and saturating the yard so we couldn’t use the lawn. The grill was a disaster. They promise a full propane tank, but the tank ran out after one use of the grill. It hadn’t been cleaned in years. We cleaned it out vigorously after buying a tank of propane. After cleaning, flames were shooting out the sides! The owners decided not to return a large portion of our deposit. They claim that the kitchen was a disaster and that we stained the carpet, so much that the cleaning fee you have to pay wouldn't cover it. We contacted the owners several times and tried to negotiate a settlement, but to to no avail. They told us we “trashed” the place and could not be reasoned with. The owners feel that this property is their personal home, not a rental property. Our dealings with them put a dark cloud on an otherwise good time. If the owners fix some of the issues with the house and let their tenants relax, this would be a five star place to stay.

Recommended for:

Wonderful vacation!

Guest: Kim Ramirez (Sterling,IL)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

Our family travels to a different state every year and always rents thru VRBO. We have always had wonderful experiences. This one was voted Number one!! We have never returned to a previous rental just because we like to see different states, however, we are seriously considering going back next year. The home was immaculate, which is very important to me. It was also beautiful, more than the pics even show. Mike gave us an "orientation" the first night which I found to be very helpful. Even though I pay money to rent the house, I always keep in mind, this is their home and I have no problems with any requests they may have. I would recommend this property to any and everyone. My kids (who are in their 30's) loved the lake!! Thank Mike and Angela, we could be returning!!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

We had a good time at Lake Leelanau, but a bad stay at this property.

Guest: emily (El Cerrito, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/25/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

Our family rented this house for our annual family reunion. The house was beautiful, very roomy, and most importantly, it had the lake as its backyard. It appeared to be the perfect retreat for us. When we arrived, the owners met us at the home and walked us through the do's and don'ts of the house. Do water the potted plants, do put away the cushions when not in use, do keep the blankets that cover the sofa on, don't bring shoes in the house, don't venture past the boundary towards the neighbor's dock, don't lift the rocks, don't use the dishes in the china cabinet, don't touch the blinds, don't overfill the jet tub ... other than that have a great time. But, do so while we, the owners, stay across the way in the detached garage converted unit. Despite all the rules and the feeling of being watched by the owners, we still managed to have a decent time. No doubt that the place was well kept, and very comfortable. However, it was difficult to feel completely relaxed with 4 young kids around knowing that we were surrounded with the owner's personal belongings of which we were not to touch. Lake Leelanau and the outlying areas had enough activities to keep our family entertained. We went cherry picking, kayaking, fishing, and swimming. We went to Moomers and took the tour. We strolled downtown and enjoyed visiting the shops, and the street fair. All things considered, the stay was okay. While I would recommend Lake Leelanua, I would steer any future renters from renting this particular home. Yes, the property is beautiful -- exactly like the pictures show--- but, it's dealing w/ extremely picky owners that might not be worth the hassle and aggravation.

Owner response:I don't know why after 3 yrs. you felt compelled to write a review but it was probably because we wouldn't rent to you again. When you rent property there's always rules and regulations concerning your stay. There's an assumption if you can afford to stay there you will take good care of the place. We did not stay at the detached unit as indicated but arrive there on friday to get ready for the next renters. You obviously are not used to taking care of a nice home or you wouldn't scale fish inside the kitchen which took 2 cleaning ladies an extra 2 hrs. of scrubbing the walls and ceiling of fish scales. In closing we have had many families rent from us and they're all very happy when they leave.

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