Spacious Lakefront Cottage w/ Fire Pit!

Reviews

• Nice but......

  4/5

  We had a few issues upon arrival. A coffee maker was not working, the main floor toilet was not working, the kitchen faucet was badly leaking, stained toweling, etc. While our contact worked through the problems with us in a timely fashion, inconveniences for sure for what we paid, not only in the daily rate but the amount of VRBO service fees and cleaning fees. The pictures of the home on the outside were staged in the winter and we wondered about that. While the lakefront property is beautiful, and the inside of the home is lovely, the outside property is nothing spectacular in the summer months...... no large seating area for the porch for such a large home, only a picnic table for the grounds, no explanatin about a boat dock connected to the property. All of this was communicated to the Evolve proerty manager. We have stayed at much nicer rentals for what we paid.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Smoker’s House, Failing Well & Water (showers, laundry, dish-washing aren’t possible

  1/5

  The house is one of the few rentals on Lake Leelanau that can house large groups, so I understand the appeal. But the negatives outweigh that attraction. I wouldn’t rent this again nor would I recommend it.

  The house has been home to a smoker for years, and the smell of stale, old smoke is so strong. Did not improve despite airing out the house all weekend, using air fresheners/etc.

  The house water is supplied by a well, like most houses in the area. The well is failing in some way and the water pressure ranges from poor to non-existent. Doing dishes was slow. There wasn’t enough water pressure to run the washing machine or the dishwasher. Washing by hand was slow.

  There wasn’t enough water pressure for showers (even one at a time). I grew up going to lake leenlanau for my entire life and this can be a reality of cabin life. But this is an expensive rental house and the issue ought to be addressed considering this rental’s price point.

  The house has a major fruit fly problem. Truly, it was so bad we didn’t eat or drink inside nor did we really hang out in the kitchen. Again, this is often a reality of lake life. But again this can be addressed by proper food storage, proper cleaning and drain treatments.

  The lake frontage & backyard are fine (Lk Leelanau is so nice) but it’s not the best backyard setup. The adjoining yards all angle inward toward the lake, and it lacks privacy. Feels like a shared backyard in many ways.

  Managed by a company not the owner.

  Positive:

  Negative:

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Jeffrey, we want our guests to rest easy when they stay with us, and we apologize you experienced some issues during your trip. We followed up with the homeowner after reading your feedback, and they wanted to share the following:
  - We strive to provide our guests with a great guest experience, so we were disappointed to hear your feedback and want to take a moment to address your concerns.
  - The smell of cigarette smoke has been brought to our attention previously. We have invested time and resources into refreshing the home and are actively seeking a permanent resolution for the issue, we're truly sorry this had a negative impact on your stay.
  - The water pressure problem can be a result of draining of the well which is a result of the usage. However, we do believe that the well may not be producing what is needed for the home and a new well is to be drilled this off-season to remedy the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
  - Unfortunately, fruit flies have been an issue and they come and go, but we want to assure you we do set traps and continue to seek out where they are originating from.
  - We take our listing accuracy, and use local, professional photographers to make sure that the listing photos correctly reflect the property, which clearly shows the backyard, but we're sorry if the setup wasn't to your satisfaction.
  We do all we can to make the best possible stay, and we look forward to this property hosting many satisfied guests.

• Water Issues

  3/5

  Check in was fine . The property is well stocked for a large group or family. Location steps from Lake Leelanu was picturesque. Very well appointed with lake toy's,games etc.

  Now the down side .

  There was a serious water pressure and water quantity issue . Our group was 6 adults and 6 children under 7 yrs old . Kitchen sink was particularly deficient. There was no water available on any of the three evenings for showers/ bathing of any kind . By that time the kitchen sink output was barely a trickle.

  Since showering etc was unavailable in the evening we were unable to use the fire pit which is one of the things the grandkids look forward to each year ( grandpa and parents as well! )

  It should be noted that we in no way overtaxed a normal water supply. This was the 4th year renting for a large group and we have never had a problem of this magnitude. It was also divulged in text communication with the property manager that this was a known issue which we were not made aware of . I cannot recommend this property until the water issue is resolved.

  Manager's Response:

  Hi William, we take it seriously when guests let us know that we missed the mark, and after sending your feedback to the homeowner, they’d like to share the following:
  - We sincerely apologize for the water issues you experienced during your stay. The erratic water availability is due to an aging well system in need of replacement. We plan to drill a new well in November this year to restore water pressure and resolve the issue.
  - In the meantime, we've been communicating the issue with our guests and sharing tips to help them monitor the water pressure gauge. By doing this, guests can control water usage and avoid depleting the water supply.
  - After evaluating the issues you faced during your stay, we determined an appropriate refund for your inconvenience, which was promptly processed after your stay.
  - We're working closely with Evolve to determine the best way forward in this situation, and we appreciate your understanding.
  Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Your feedback is important to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to address these concerns.

• Annual TC Vacation (14th edition)

  5/5

  Our family of 9 vacations in Traverse City every summer. This was our second year on Lake Leelanau (last year we stayed on the north end of the lake) and we enjoyed being closer to TC. The set-up of this property was perfect for us. Large, open kitchen/dinning room with plenty of seating, living room for the kids to hang out and play games, large bedrooms with comfortable beds, large back yard that was great for bags, frisbee, spike ball and had a nice fire pit. The lake water was clear, clean and comfortably refreshing. Typically, we end up buying some missing utensil, Plus’s: 3 kayaks, a plethora of board games, a wrap around porch with plenty of chairs, box fans and window AC units helped keep things cool, 2nd refrigerator in the spacious laundry room, large garage, and the kitchen had everything we needed for meal prep. Minus’s (no place is perfect): Back bedroom was hard to keep cool, inconsistent water pressure (a common challenge on our vacations)This property will be at the top of the list when we book our trip for summer of ‘24

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo