Vacation Rentals by Owner

Let's quit staging to fool our renters

Guest: Deborah H.
Date of Stay: 11/21/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

This house was like walking back into the 80's complete with cheap, dusty silk flowers, old shag carpet, blue and peach furniture and enogh dirt, grease, and dust to feed an army. The windows didnt look like they have ever been cleaned and most of the screens and cranks were broke. The overhead floresencent lights were filled with flies. My husband and I and my daughter had to clean hair, bugs and everything else out of drawers and cabinets. All of the silverware, dishes, glasses, tupperware etc. had to be washed before we could use any of it. My husband and I rented this property to spend Thanksgiving with our children and their friends. This house was on the par of a Motel 6. The beds were so uncomfortable I had to find blankets to cushion it. My kids couldn't stay because they were so uncomfortable . Dale did try and come down with an excuse she needed to water plants. The last review brought that up also. I could go on and on, but I think my point is made. The pictures of this house were so staged. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It was almost impossible to find. I noticed a review after we rented the house and it was pretty negative, Dale the owner said it was because they were upset because they didn't get a deposit back. They should have never had to pay a deposit; which brings me to our deposit. I hope they don't try to keep ours as I have pictures to verify everything I have said here.

Owner response:I honestly don’t know what Deborah is talking about when she refers to “staging to fool renters”.The 12 pictures on the web site are exact pictures of our house exactly as our house looks.Only a fool would feel fooled.There is no shag carpet.I have white plush velvet(smooth)carpet that was recently cleaned.I found 2 large spots of dog pee on the carpet after they left.Only 2 windows are broken(by previous renters).Her saying most of the windows/screens are broken is ridiculous.Sorry our house was not new enough for Deborah.If she was so concerned about the house’s age & so particular why didn’t one of her local children inspect it before she rented?We are sorry our interior was not stylish enough & our color scheme was so offensive.I guess she doesn’t like Southwestern décor.Sorry that our house was not clean enough.3 women spend 6 hours each cleaning our 4,400SF home.If 18 hours cleaning is not enough for her, I don’t know what to say.Washing clean dishes/glasses was her choice.As far as the windows,they have been cleaned.The house is 3 stories on the side of a mountain.To clean the windows any time is a production & in the winter is a fools errand.Saying the lights were filled with flies is so absurd.Sorry our beds were not good enough for Deborah.We now have a new King headboard and pillow top mattress in the Master bedroom.The other beds are normal beds. It is incorrect that I came to our house to water the plants.I came on their fifth day to tell them the garbage collection was the next day since they didn’t answer their cell phone all week.Deborah was sleeping in the middle of the day so I spoke to her husband.He informed me that he had, without asking us, painted areas of our house with a non-matching paint.Didn’t say why he would do such a thing.It looks terrible now.He did an awful job & with the wrong color.They moved my baskets and decorator items on the top of the kitchen cabinets & rearranged or hid everything they could move in the house.It took me a long time to find stuff & put things back in their original locations.They used the better dishes from the china cabinet which we didn’t mind.We did mind that they broke 2 dinner plates, a cup & a salad plate.They also removed an antique leaded glass panel (3’X2’) hanging above our front door in front of a large glass transom window.It was put in the garage where it could have easily been broken.No explanation.People that particular should consider staying home or be willing to pay more/night.

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Not accurate!

Guest: Jumpy (Mass)
Date of Stay: 09/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

I would only recommend this property if you enjoy lumpy beds with 3" mattress and no box spring! If you like to draw faces in the dusty furniture and have a penchant for vintage 1970  kitchens,  then this place is for you! The owner calls often, if you don't answer she  comes by to 'water the plants' spending time all over the house, including your bedroom/bath!  There are notes everywhere, don't move this, don't use that, If you do not comply she will deduct a portion of the security deposit! I have no idea what she does with the cleaning fee, it doesn't appear to be used for that purpose! The lovely wooded table and chairs on the deck were not there, on another deck there was metal furniture With no cushions! UGH!  This was a very unpleasant experience! Would NOT recommend!!  I have since learned if there are no older reviews, BEWARE,

Owner response:The above review is “Not Accurate”. These reviewers put a positive comment in our guestbook. Now that we kept a small amount of the damage deposit to pay for damage insurance due to the damage they caused, they have changed their tune. This petty review is full of misinformation since they are disgruntled. After they left we found our foyer door into the garage severely damaged. 3 door experts agreed that the only way our door could have been damaged in this manner was if someone tried to kick it in with the dead bolt locked. A new door will cost $1,350. Who would do such a thing? Other items were damaged. They even turned the refrigerator/freezer off. Had we not discovered this fact the day they left, there could have been a moldy refrigerator/freezer. As an Architect, I can tell you there is nothing 70’s about our kitchen. The house was not even built until 1985.As for the 3” bed, it is called a futon. I guess they never saw a futon before. All our regular beds have box springs and are not lumpy. They did not use all the beds so it is a mystery why anyone would sleep on a bed they did not like when there were other choices. When they arrived the house was as clean as it could possibly be. Being on a dirt road in the mountains it only takes a few days for dust to appear. They complained about me watering the plants that they refused to water on the deck, dining room & master bath. Hard to fathom their paranoia except to conclude that they were afraid I might see what they were doing to my home, like the damaged door & other items. I have much better things to do then call renters & it would serve no purpose. How can they assume it was me calling the house if, as they said, they didn’t answer the phone. I don’t have caller ID. There are a few notes letting people know things like not to try to open the dining room window because it is broken(by renters) & that the house has a septic system, so please do not put a lot of food debris down the garbage disposal. We are sorry that these renters did not choose to enjoy our house & its surroundings like so many other guests have. Most of our guests are nice people who are thoughtful & considerate. It is unfortunate that these renters chose to be vindictive in their response to our keeping a small amount of their deposit. They have damaged our house & now they are attempting to damage our reputation & our business. We hope these people do all Vacation Rental Owners a big favor & stay with Marriott next time.

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Our family didn’t want to leave this house at all!

Guest: Amol
Date of Stay: 10/05/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We enjoyed our stay very much. The house is lovely and we had a lot of fun spotting elk, deer and turkeys in the yard. We’ve never seen a house as great as yours, not to mention the beautiful views! The kids loved the bunk beds and bookcase bathroom. Our family didn’t want to leave this house at all! Colorado was an excellent choice for a vacation thanks to you and your house. We had a great time and can’t thank you enough!

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Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us

Guest: Norman
Date of Stay: 08/27/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

Our first trip to Colorado was wonderful. Your lovely home provided our three generations of family, time to bond and experience your state’s beauty. Highlights included rafting the Colorado River, seeing Nora Jones perform at Red Rocks, horseback riding in Idaho Springs, biking Vail pass, fishing on Boulder Creek, and taking in city life in Boulder and Denver. As previous guests have mentioned, we all loved the frequent wildlife visits of turkey, mule deer and elk. The bookcase bathroom and hot tub were also show stoppers. We enjoyed many candlelight dinners out on the deck without any bugs! Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us.

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Great home that I would love to come back to again and again...

Guest: Norman (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

This was our first time using VRBO and we are very glad that we did. The location in Golden was perfect for many day trips in the area which included rafting, horseback riding, fly fishing, and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Home and amenities were just as described, and virtually every morning we woke up to see turkey, deer, or elk right out the living room window. We enjoyed many meals out on the deck with terrific views of the mountains, beautiful sunsets, and no mosquitos! Large kitchen, dining room, and enough bedrooms for our whole family to spread out after our fun filled days in Colorado. Thanks again Dale & Dave for sharing your home with us and helping to make our vacation awesome!!!

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Had a great time in your lovely house

Guest: Peter and Alison(UK)
Date of Stay: 08/13/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

Had a great time in your lovely house. Enjoyed the views and the hot tub. Had great trips out. Enjoyed Denver, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Thanks from the UK.

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Thanks so much for the use of your beautiful home

Guest: Mellissa, Matt and Eliott
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

Thank you so much for the use of your beautiful home. It was perfect for us! Close to our wedding, nature, and many wonderful events. We liked looking outside everyday and seeing turkeys and being so close to places and events. The boys, my husband and I had a wonderful time. Elliott had fun on the train. Sincere thanks.

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Great to experience that Rocky Mountain High

Guest: Joe, Kathy, Alysse, Megan and Nick
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We shared the house with Melissa and Matt’s family. There was plenty of room for both families. The house was large but cozy at the same time. It was great to experience that “Rocky Mountain High” overlooking the mountains, but close enough to the city. We enjoyed horse back riding, rafting Clear Creek, the Georgetown loop train, Buffalo Bill’s Grave, the Aquarium, Bear Creek Lake and Evergreen. We enjoyed the many local eateries. Of course the herds of elk and flocks of wild turkeys roaming the hood was the highlight for the kids and adults too! The drive up Mt. Evans was a white knuckles thriller! Thanks for opening your home.

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Thanks for sharing your lovely piece of paradise

Guest: Dirkes, Jimmie Lee and Jill
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely piece of paradise. Loved the wild turkeys and deer outside. The kids loved the secret bookcase bathroom. Sincere Thanks.

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We had a wonderful time here with the family

Guest: Tom and Bev
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We had a wonderful time here with the family. It was a mini family vacation topped off with a beautiful wedding! Our daughter got married and we were able to be here for the special day. Thank you, thank you!

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It was so nice waking up to the mountains

Guest: Nancy
Date of Stay: 07/05/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We highly appreciate you giving us the chance to spend time in your absolutely stunning house. Coming from Texas, it is so different, for instance the view. It was so nice waking up to the mountains every morning. This house perfectly satisfied our expectations of fitting 3 families in one household. We enjoyed staying in this house for our softball tournament. Thanks a lot.

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Really enjoyed the proximity to everything

Guest: April and Brad
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

Beautiful views. We enjoyed the deck and the sunsets. Really enjoyed the proximity to everything: Denver and Golden, Red Rocks Canyon, hiking to the West and Lookout Mountain. Thanks.

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This is a great space for a family reunion

Guest: James and Nancy
Date of Stay: 06/07/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We met here in Golden, coming from all across the country for many celebrations: Mom’s 60th birthday, 3 year and 1 year wedding anniversaries and a 6 month birthday! The house and surrounding area offered the perfect setting for hiking, cooking delicious meals, playing cards, animal watching, and just relaxing. We especially loved the bookshelf bathroom, the very well-equipped kitchen and the bay window (through which we got to see an amazing sunset our last night here). Thanks for sharing this wonderful space with us! This is a great space for a family reunion.

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We enjoyed our stay in Golden

Guest: Tesa
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We enjoyed our stay in Golden. The opportunity to be together with family in your most comfortable and scenic home was a blessing. Thank you.

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Your home had everything we could possibly need

Guest: Elaine, Brett, Chance, Calaine, Wayne & Kayoke
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We enjoyed our stay here at your beautiful house. You were extremely flexible with all our requests and we are so grateful for that. Your home had everything we could possibly need. The views of the surprising weather and mountains were spectacular. This trip made our graduation celebration complete. Much Aloha.

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Wish we never had to leave

Guest: teeroses (Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 05/07/10 Review Submitted: 05/21/10

Dale and Dave are the best hosts ever. The home is fabulous and the view is breathtaking. We were blessed with great weather in that we got to experience a beautiful day in Golden as well as snow flurries and rain. We absolutely loved the place, it has many hidden treasures. All the comforts of home and then some. Wish we had more time to spend at the home itself, but we highly recommend the experience. Although in mountains at 7800ft above sea level, it is an easy quick drive to the city on/off the freeway to where ever your heart desires. Would we stay again, you bet in a heart beat. We left with so many memorable moments and with a new friendship as well. Thank you, Dale and Dave!

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

The house made the wedding even more special

Guest: Jane
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

Today is my son’s wedding. For most of my family this is their first trip to Colorado. The beauty of your house and the mountain views have made his wedding even more special. We really enjoyed our coffee in the morning and lots of conversation and laughs in the dining room again just looking at the view. We were told the weather was going to be challenging. But God was good and gave us 5 days of sunshine. A few of us took the walk to the meditation room and enjoyed the peace and quiet. We saw lots of beautiful birds and a huge elk. Living in the city that was really great. I hope to return back to Colorado. Maybe even try the slopes. Thank you again from all of us in Michigan.

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Have never seen anything so gorgeous

Guest: Vang
Date of Stay: 04/20/10 Review Submitted: 12/20/11

This house is beautiful. We came here with friends. We have lived here our whole life and never saw anything so gorgeous. We're so speechless! Enjoyed the views and the beautiful layout.

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We enjoyed our stay so close the Boettcher Mansion

Guest: Terri and Herbert
Date of Stay: 04/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

Thank you for the opportunity to visit your home. We enjoyed our stay here and the convenience provided by staying so close to the Boettcher Mansion. Our daughter was able to dress for her wedding and arrive at the Mansion without feeling anxious about traffic. The rest of our family enjoyed the stay and the feeling of privacy when they wanted but could gather together for family time. Thank you also for the hospitality you offered and the genuine feelings of joy you gave for us being here.

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A Memorable Stay

Guest: Terri (Atlanta, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 07/15/10

We were excited to come to Golden, CO because our daughter was getting married at the Boetcher Mansion just around the corner from this house. The hospitality shown to us by Dave & Dale made our trip even more memorable. We arrived on a Wednesday afternoon and were able to go right into the house and found ourselves in awe of the views and the house itself. Our other children and grandchildren arrived a few days later and they were in awe as well. We felt very comfortable and welcome in the home. As a matter of fact, we all felt that staying in this home made the day of the wedding so much less stressful because there was plenty of room for each person and privacy for all when needed. I definitely recommend staying here and enjoying the home and the surrounding area. We could not have asked for a better place to stay and would not change anything about our visit. Thanks for the memory!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Dazzlefest was a success!

Guest: Toni, Jeff, Gretchen & Nick
Date of Stay: 04/04/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We cannot express our gratitude to you both for sharing your home with us. We spent some days enjoying Copper Mtn., Loveland & Winter Park. Nothing beats fresh Colorado powder! We experienced 80 degree weather & frigid -0 degree in the hills. Early morning & late evenings consisted of acoustic guitar in the Japanese teahouse as well as panoramic views of the front range as we fueled up in the dining room. We had the pleasure of getting up close & personal with the elk & foxes that do not gracefully roam around Chicago. Before a late night soak in the hot tub, we were lucky enough to have clear views of the galaxy. But perhaps nothing was more relaxing then enjoying a cup of coffee on the deck looking at the majesty that rose before us. Dazzlefest 2010 was a success and we'd love to return next year. Gretchen would also like to be adopted or hired as a full time house sitter! We thank you again for the hospitality! PS - We have never experienced a bookcase bathroom and I would be lying if I said we didn't take 100 photos of it. It's the best!

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Dazzling Vacation

Guest: skibuni42 (GRAYSLAKE)
Date of Stay: 03/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

A group of friends and I ventured out to Colorado for a later-spring trip. We decided to stay in Golden so that we could be close to both the ski resorts as well as enjoy some of the treasures of Golden, Boulder and Denver. Our stay in this house was nothing short of spectacular. We enjoyed beautiful sunsets, gorgeous views that we couldn't stop appreciating, early morning yoga in the tea hut, and enough space to have doubled our group size. It far exceeded our expectations and we wish we could have stayed forever.

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

Our families enjoyed a wonderful time here.

Guest: Kim, Melynda and Amber
Date of Stay: 01/04/10 Review Submitted: 12/20/11

Our families enjoyed a wonderful time here, so much so, we didn't want to leave. We lived in Denver for 18 years and sure miss the beauty of God's country. We're from Indiana, and we do appreciate God's cornfields there, also. Thank you so much for opening your home up for us. It has been a beautiful week. Will forward photo of "blue moon" to you! May God bless and keep you!

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One of a kind home with wonderful views!

Guest: Mitzi
Date of Stay: 12/25/09 Review Submitted: 12/20/11

Our family enjoyed our time in Colorado at your one of a kind home with these wonderful views! We had a very white Christmas, something that we are not used to and were able to kick back and relax. The snow brought out the tire chains and we went through a whole stack of firewood. Colorado is beautiful and the area just west of Denver is very convenient for enjoying the mountains and the city. Thanks for sharing your home with us.

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