East Tawas Lakefront Getaway w/ Kayaks + Deck

Reviews

• Would not rebook this home

  1/5

  Upon arrival outside was was unkept. Pine needles all over deck. Leaves in driveway. Yard could use a clean up. Inside was ok. Beds are very uncomfortable. Televisions in rooms did not work. Floors were dirty. Bathroom was very narrow but lots of counter space. We had to go purchase a broom since the only was an outdoor broom. We made the best of it…the kayaks were a plus and our family caught fish. Close to town and the state park. We would be back to Tawas but not this home.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• it is what it is

  1/5

  When we first got there the key pad wouldn't work, thank god it finally did but it was unreliable, thus resulting in leaving the sliding back door open. The dumpster was already full of the previous guests trash, we didn't have another place so we had to place it in the shed which also had garbage in it from previous guests. Once inside the house it was less than desirable with no trash bags, no hot pads, and no dish or laundry soap though we were expected to clean all dishes and laundry before we left. There was no first aide kit, though it was needed. There was no way to shut off the air conditioning and the days we stayed were quite cold. There were also issues with the televisions in the two bedrooms, the remotes wouldn't connect, the only working television was the one in the living room. When we arrive the back porch was completely filthy, loads of pin needles everywhere. We had to clean it ourselves. The grill looked very unclean with very minimal tools, and there were no cushions for the outside furniture. We were promised two kayaks but they were both broke and dirty, a clear hazard being on them and getting them into the water. There was also only one life jacket available. We had asked for help and they just told us, "it is what it is." All in all this place was less then exemplary and we would recommend staying in a better house.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Heather, thank you so much for taking the time to review your stay. We appreciate your feedback and wanted to address a few points:
  - We did not encounter issues with the keypad before or after your stay. We will ensure it functions properly for future guests.
  - We do not have a dumpster; we only have a garbage barrel that is routinely emptied. Storing garbage in the shed is not standard practice, which did create extra work for our cleaning team.
  - Our homes are regularly stocked with trash bags, dish soap, and laundry detergent. We weren't aware of any shortages during your stay; we would have resolved the issue if we had known it. 
  - As indicated in the welcome book, a first aid kit is available. 
  - The remote can adjust the air conditioning, with instructions provided. We didn't receive any communication about difficulties; we're here to help anytime.
  - All TVs and remotes are functioning correctly, and we didn't get any reports of technical issues during your stay.
  - The deck is cleaned regularly, but pine needles can accumulate quickly due to the natural environment. 
  - The grill is cleaned regularly, and necessary tools are provided. All outdoor furniture has cushions; we will verify and replace any missing items.
  - Our kayaks are inspected regularly and were found to be in working condition before your stay. We didn't receive any communication about kayaks or life jacket issues.
  We strive to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all our guests. We take your feedback seriously and will use it to improve our services. We encourage guests to communicate any issues during their stay so we can address them promptly.

• Not ready for rental

  2/5

  Property was a mess. Grass over a foot tall, old leaves everywhere, old plant pots all over deck (no flowers). No outside pickup at all. Cannot fish out back, the kayaks were on the property next door. Not a good 1st impression. Went inside & it got worse. No bedding on the bigger bed. It was thrown on the bed in the other room and there was a bag of dirty towels by the front door. So it was obvious the place was not cleaned between guests. I was VERY upset. Rent places up in Tawas all the time & have never seen this. I called the # and it was a 3rd party cleaning company, not the owner. He said he would send someone to clean it. He did cash app me some money towards dinner. When we got back the beds were made. But there was a cabinet full of old dirty linens. The place needs a good deep clean & some major work outside. I spent a lot of money for not being able to use kayaks or be able to fish. I feel ripped off. I would never stay here again, nor recommend this house. There are plenty of other great choices to pick from with accurate descriptions

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Michelle, 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:
  - Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We deeply empathize with the issues you encountered during your stay. It's our utmost priority to create a clean and welcoming environment for all guests, and we're truly sorry that we didn't meet your expectations.
  - We have a regular lawn care schedule to keep the grass at an acceptable length. It’s possible your stay coincided with a scheduled maintenance visit. We'll ensure our lawn care team adheres to a more precise schedule to prevent future issues.
  - The planters on the deck are part of the outdoor decor. While they may not have contained flowers, we haven't received comments about this in the past. We'll review this aspect to ensure the outdoor area meets our high standards.
  - The welcome book explains that the kayaks are shared between both houses on the property. We apologize if this was unclear and caused confusion. Fishing is accessible, and we'll make sure the instructions are more straightforward for future guests.
  - We regret to hear about the state of the property upon your arrival. There was a miscommunication, but once we were notified we dispatched our cleaning crew to address the matter immediately. We're taking steps to ensure this doesn't recur. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we worked to correct this and provided compensation for your inconvenience.
  - Our cleaning team performed a deep clean and made the beds after your outreach. We don't have a cabinet of old linens on the property. However, we'll re-inspect the house to ensure all areas meet our cleanliness standards.
  We value your feedback as we're committed to continuously improving our services. We sincerely apologize that your experience didn't reflect the high standards we set for our properties. Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention, and we hope you consider staying with us again so we can provide the exceptional experience we're known for.

• 2/5

  The property has potential, but was not prepared for guests to arrive. Noted issues include a leaf-strewn driveway, a hazardous bathroom doorknob, litter on the floor, dismantled smoke detector, layer of dust on the sofa, & handprints clearly visible on glass sliding door. The lawn was over 12 inches tall, it was difficult to access outdoor amenities.

  I called the number provided in the guest binder around 8pm. The man who answered was from a 3rd party cleaning service, not the owner of the property. I let him know that the king bedroom did not have linens, the AC unit was not working, & we needed batteries for the remote control. He said he would not be able to come to the property that night, but he would escalate the problem to his supervisor & reach out to the property owner. He followed up with me via text & was helpful with what he personally could do that evening.

  We took batteries out of a TV remote to solve the air conditioning issue, planned to sleep in the queen bedroom & make the most of the weekend.

  Once we were unpacked & took off our shoes, we noticed the bottoms of our socks were dirty from walking on the floor. All days we were there.

  The next day, the third party cleaning service left an open garbage bag of linens for the king-size bed out in the entry way, open in the rain.

  The guest instructions say to wash dishes, but no dish soap or sponge provided. The listing mentions board games, also missing.

  We left the house cleaner than when we arrived.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Olivia, we truly appreciate you sharing your thoughts about your recent stay. Your feedback is essential to us, and we've relayed your comments to the homeowner, who would like to address the following:
  -The property underwent a thorough cleaning following the departure of the previous guests. Our cleaning team ensured a comprehensive cleaning, covering both the driveway and the interior of the house, before the arrival of the guests. However, we acknowledge the possibility of oversight, and we are taking steps to address this with our cleaning team to prevent any recurrence in the future.
  -The lawn is regularly maintained and assessed by our cleaners before your stay. Despite this, upon receiving your feedback, we promptly arranged for the grass to be cut. Moving forward, we will implement more frequent checks to prevent any inconvenience.
  -Our cleaner responded promptly to your call, delivering the king-size bed linens and resolving the remote control battery issue without delay. We regret any inconvenience caused during this process. Additionally, the cleaner confirmed that the linens were left in a sealed bag and communicated this to the guests. If there was any miscommunication or if the bag was found open due to external factors, we are eager to address it.
  -It seems there was a misunderstanding regarding the provision of dish soap and a sponge. To ensure a consistent experience for all future guests, we will make sure these items are readily available.
  -We apologize for the oversight regarding the board games mentioned in the listing. To prevent any future discrepancies, we will promptly update the listing or provide the mentioned amenities as advertised.
  We sincerely appreciate the guest's feedback and have taken immediate action to address each concern. Our commitment to enhancing the guest experience remains steadfast, and we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of hospitality at our property.