Dissapointed Traveler

Guest: Ann (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/18/11 Review Submitted: 08/10/11

After reading the other reviews in VRBO from 2010, our family was so looking forward to vacationing in this seemingly perfect lake house. The house looked beautiful and sounded just perfect for our mini family reunion. When we got there, we were terribly disappointed. We could see that it was once a very nice house but not any more. The owner had let the place run down with very poor maintenance. There was trash at the door, a musty odor that permeated the house, and clutters everywhere. We spent our 1st afternoon after our arrival washing blankets and organizing the place. We left the windows opened so that the house would not be so musty before closing them back again at night. The maintenance problems included: no heat in 1st floor bedroom, terrible stench under kitchen sink, moldy coffee pot, malfunctioning oven, deadbolt not locking, multiple lights needing new bulbs, kitchen cabinet doors falling off, exposed wire under kitchen cabinets where wood panelings had fallen off, stained bath towels, just to name a few. Health/safety issues included: light switches and electrical outlets without wall plates, musty and stained pillows and blankets left in the bedrooms out in the open, glow sticks frozen in the ice tray, dusty mattresses stored under bunk beds uncovered, a cache of fireworks in an unsecured upstairs room, lake shore full of geese poop, and clutters--the owner’s things were everywhere under the eaves and in the bedrooms. The house did have a beautiful lake view. But given our experiences at comparable properties elsewhere (Vail, Estes Park, Seattle, Scottsdale, etc.), this rental property has got to be one of the more expensive but least maintained place we have ever been to. Our elderly mother, who never complained about anything, commented on how run down this potentially beautiful property was. Even our 4 year old thought the house smelled bad. We contacted the owner’s personal assistant and the owner 3 times regarding these issues, we never got any response from anyone. We even spoke to the owner’s accountant twice and she acknowledged that the owner had received our email. Unless one has a lot of money to waste, affinity for a musty dusty place, and an urge to clean up someone else’s mess, then we would recommend renting elsewhere. The maintenance issues, we suspect have been longstanding and did not happen overnight. The neighboring properties were much cleaner and better maintained.

Recommended for:

Fun place!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/11/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

We just spent 5 days at your home for our annual family reunion and we all had a wonderful time. The house sits on the best piece of property on the entire lake and gets sun all day while the porch stays shaded so it's always pleasant to sit outside and enjoy the view - which is FABULOUS by the way!!! Loved that it was pet friendly too. You have THE VERY BEST neighbors ever! They were so nice and even shared their boat with us by taking my niece wake boarding and giving us all a guided tour of the lake.....so nice of them! Extensive DVD library for those who wanted to relax in front of the tube at night. Sleeps a bunch of peps, there were like 10 beds. Cool fire pit and the hot tub on the deck was excellent. I would highly recommend this place. Kathy Larsen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

The best of Lake Suterland

Guest: The Whitmans (Eatonville, Wa)
Date of Stay: 08/11/10 Review Submitted: 08/15/10

We enjoyed a wonderful 5 day stay at your home. A great reunion for our family and with so many fond memories of when we owned property on the Lake. We decided renting your home was the best of both worlds! Next time we rent on the lake we will bring a watercraft. A huge shout-out to your neighbors who were so gracious and helpful to us. They gave us a tour around the lake for old time's sake and even took our daughter wake-boarding. Good People! The only negative we could think of was that there was not enough towels for 7 people (only 5 provided and no wash-clothes). We had to go into town to purchase some. You have a great spot on the lake- possibly one of the best! The sun came over the mountain at 6am and at 10am your large overhang on the deck started to shade from the sun. Walk 8 steps to the dock for the sun worshipers. We like that your home is pet friendly but would leave ours home the next time. To many things to do and not enough time to spend with the pets. What a great home to have had in your family since the 60's. We would recommend your property to friends. Sincerely- The Whitman, Horton and Larsen Family.

Owner response:sorry u missed the towels. we had 25 more of them in a bin next to the bathroom! :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

We absolutely LOVED this place

Guest: StacyinOK (Wilburton, OK)
Date of Stay: 05/17/10 Review Submitted: 06/14/10

We went on a road trip with my teenage daughter and our two Newfoundland dogs in mid May and spent two nights here. I found this place on VRBO and was so excited. We had been through the area before and said if we came back we would try to stay on Lake Sutherland. It is one of the most beautiful places I've been. The house was perfect. Very nice, but not so nice you were afraid to touch anything. It was so nice sitting on the upper deck in the mornings drinking coffee and just enjoying nature. We saw baby ducks and otters playing out on the dock, the neighbor said he had seen an Eagle sitting down by the water a few days before. The hot tub on the front deck was great, couldn't ask for a better view. My daughter enjoyed the DVD library and did a little fishing. The kitchen and outdoor grill were great. Everything we needed to cook our meals. I highly recommend this place to anyone and hope I get to return there soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Our New Favorite Vacation Home!

Guest: SwissMiss78 (USA)
Date of Stay: 05/20/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/10

My family and I stayed at this wonderful Lake House for the first time this weekend. The home has the feel of a cozy cabin and is so modern at the same time. The owner provided all kinds of thoughtful little extras, from life jackets and fishing poles to shampoo and lotions to any spice you could think of in the kitchen and a DVD library that is certain to entertain all ages. The kitchen was fully stocked with anything we needed to make our meals. The house was very clean and comfortable. We felt right at home! All of our questions were met with a quick, friendly and professional reply. It is the perfect atmosphere and has all the space you could possible want for a family vacation but is also cozy enough for a romantic getaway. I would recommend this rental to any and all of my friends and family in a heartbeat. We are already planning our next trip back to this amazing Hamptons Getaway on Lake Sutherland. Thank you so much for a wonderful vacation with memories that will last us a lifetime.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.