This is the quintessential vintage lake cottage. It's like reliving the nostalgia of visiting your great grandparents' cottage in the summer, filled with tired and worn out furnishings, including that thick musty smell familiar to lake houses. If that's your jam and it's worth a premium to you, then this is it.
The place itself was basically clean - just don't look too closely behind the doors or under furniture. The shower had a lot of dark discoloration that looked like mildew, but that may have just been the adhesive used to repair it. The linens and towels were clean, and the beds were comfortable. The appliances, while basic, were in like-new condition and functional. Like I alluded to previously, however, overall the house has seen a lot years and not a lot of quality upgrades. One of the lamps in the living area was broken and one of the outlets (of two) in the bedroom did not work. The plumbing fixtures were either very old or very cheap, which is kind of the theme with most things about the house.
The location is very good in terms of proximity to the beach, privacy, and quietness. It's a bit of a walk to the beach, up and down a lot of stairs/terrain, but the path takes you across a quiet waterway and through a nice bit of dunes habitat. The stairs and bridge were well-weathered. In fact, a few of the bridge planks were rotted through so you had to watch your step. It was also a bit uneven in a few spots, giving you that fun house vibe. Overall the stairs and bridge seemed sturdy enough to trust, but not enough to explore their limits.
The beach itself is marvelous with a truly splendid view. The sand is perfect powder, clean, and there were very few people. At times we were the only souls at the beach as far as the eye could see. It's also maybe a half mile to the piers, which is a nice walk and interesting place to visit.
The host was very helpful and accommodating. We were greeted with a nice welcome gift, and the check-in process was a breeze. One of the keys did not work and we managed to lock ourselves out, but the host was conveniently able to unlock the door while we were at the beach.
Overall, if the rate was half and we were going for that rustic cottage vibe, then it would have been a great value. But for the rate comparable to what we'd expect for beachfront Florida rentals, we also expected the commensurate modern conveniences and luxury - which it did not. It did not meet our expectations, but maybe it'll meet yours.