Amazing location; house is closer to the beach than pictures indicate. While too small for a party of 16, we enjoyed the deck — do wish the deck table sat more than 4. The outdoor shower was well used. The kitchen is almost too well equipped as there was no room for pantry items. I wish the property description highlighted the home’s 2 floors are accessed via an outdoor, uncovered, steep staircase — problematic when a monsoon hits while doing laundry and, depending on the age composition of your party, regarding separating kids from parents. The basement is dark with minimal natural light, so some may be jealous of the top floor’s ocean views/sounds/smells. My concerns are the house needs basic, routine maintenance, BEFORE guests check in, and a good deep cleaning. Only after we arrived did the owner advise of no working outlets in a master bedroom and a broken toilet, citing a hurricane from a month earlier. We booked the property post hurricane so I was surprised to find out after we arrived. Safety hazards included a missing railing on the deck (large enough for a child to walk though), loose deck railings, raised nails throughout the deck floorboards and in the outdoor shower bench, and a painful electric shock to an adult while trying to turn on a lamp that was left ‘switched on’ with no light bulb and plugged in. Numerous lights throughout the house, including the main motion detector light that lights the entry staircase, were out. Generally the house wasn’t very clean: significant dust and gunk — including on the kitchen countertops, microwave, knife block —- and sand in the window sills. Especially during COVID, was surprised by the lack of cleanliness. After defending the cleaners, the owner offered to send a cleaning crew, a handyman, and to buy needed supplies, after we developed an inspection list of needed items. Given COVID, we specifically paid extra for an oceanfront beach house so we could minimize contact with others. We let the handyman address the outdoor safety issues; we didn’t allow cleaners / handyman in the main living areas due to COVID concerns (plus I had already cleaned with my products as there were no disinfecting products in the house). It was irksome to go on vacation, be requested to develop a punch list for cleaners/handyman, and to coordinate their activities. A walk through + maintenance between guests is an easy way to ensure a relaxing experience in a clean, safe, oceanfront home.
