A Waterfront View to Remember!

My wife and I and two other couples rented this home for the 4th of July. We had a good weekend, that could have been better if the owner had handled a couple of things differently.

The Good:

Incredible location. On the bay, walking distance to the beach. The backyard has fantastic views. The house is in need of an update, but met our needs and is a value price-wise.

The Bad:

The gas grill did not have a propane tank, which the owner's brother said had been stolen. I communicated to him that I would purchase a replacement, which I did for $50, and request a refund from Maria, the owner. Maria later told me she could not refund me because they do not provide propane tanks. In my book, that makes the listing misleading:

"We provide linens, flatware, dishes, an outdoor grill, and a variety of cooking utensils for use during your stay."

Most people assume a gas grill will come with a propane tank when renting a property. I regularly rent from Homeaway and VRBO and have never encountered a gas grill without a tank. If the owner is unwilling to provide one, they should note it in the listing. I was unable to reach Maria about my plan before I bought a new tank (called her twice), but her brother, while not promising a refund, didn't discourage me either.

In short, it's bad business. A lot of people look forward to/expect to grill when they go to the beach, and a house that won't provide a fully operable grill (or refund the cost of making it operable) is at a competitive disadvantage over just $50. It felt cheap.

Second, they have a digital camera in the foyer that was operating all weekend (which they informed us of), because they've apparently had break-ins. I'm sympathetic to wanting to protect your home, but I, and everyone in my group, felt the camera was intrusive. When you rent a property to someone, there is an expectation of privacy from your guests. Would you want to stay in a hotel room with a camera in the room? In my view when you choose to rent a home, you're giving up access to the property, remote or otherwise, for the rental period unless there's an emergency. The camera could easily be mounted outside the front door.

I conveyed both points to Maria after our rental and she never responded.

The Meh:

The backyard needs upkeep - the lawn was unmowed and the deck and dock need to be sanded and stained before someone gets a splinter. There was also some wood debris that should be cleaned up.

We had the pleasure of staying at this home during the second to last week of August and we could not have asked for a better place to stay. The owner was wonderful in communicating with us about all of the questions we had about the house prior to arriving. It was just the right size for the six of us and we absolutely loved the view of the back bay from the sun room, to the deck in the back. It was a short walk to the beach, many places to eat, miniature golf courses, etc. The drive to the boardwalk was not difficult, although parking on a Saturday night was a challenge! We were all sad to leave, and would certainly recommend this place to anyone looking to enjoy some time at the beach! Even our cynical teenage sons talked about how much they enjoyed being at the home!

Absolutely by far the best time I have had with my family, especially with my 3 yo daughter. We spent the morning fishing right off the dock, afternoons at the beach, Which is a little bit of a walk, but the good thing is if you drive there is ample free parking... Also the nearby restaurants were amazing. I will definitely be booking this house again next summer.

The location, house and deck are very nice, albeit the décor is a bit dated. My problem is that the owner did not return the full security deposit due to the condition that the house was left in. I only spent two nights there and we were hardly in the house. Part of the contract was a substantial cleaning fee (for a 2 night stay). The owner claimed that the house was left in poor condition. That is ridiculous. We left dishes in the dishwasher and recyclables on the counter because we couldn't find a container. We also allegedly left the air conditioner on and a window open upstairs. For all of that they docked the security deposit notwithstanding the substantial cleaning fee? I am 47 yo and have rented properties my entire life and have never had an experience like this. Be forewarned!!!

I just rented this property for a golf weekend and it was perfect, the house was clean and perfect for our needs and what a view, it was breathtaking at any time of the day, truly wish I could have stayed longer. If your looking for a great spot near some great food and is affordable this is the house for you!!!!