East Tawas Lakefront Getaway w/ Kayaks + Deck

Reviews

• 3/5

  We booked from Aug 21-25, Location of this place is great. We were able to ride bikes to Downtown tawas which is a beautiful area. The house was not exactly what we were expecting. During my initial walk in there were dust bunnies rolling across the floor and a layer of dust on surfaces, not a huge deal to me, just figured it hadn’t been rented out for a bit. What really grossed me out and made me feel uncomfortable/dirty was while pulling out the pull out bed for my son we smelt something and realized there was a sticky trap with a dead mouse and chipmunk stuck to it. It was obvious it had been there for a while. I get it, it happens but if it hadn’t been rented out in a while and you know there are sticky traps set, why can’t this be checked before people are coming? Also, by day 3 we killed/let out ATLEAST 20 flies. We did not leave doors or windows open..so not sure what that’s all about. We contacted Evolve about the dead mouse, they offered to send the cleaning crew over but we had already taken care of it ourselves. The owner took several 4-5days to get back to evolve who then contacted us. Bring your own cups and bowls because there aren’t any. We had to also get more toilet paper because there wasn’t enough. If you plan to do any laundry, supply your own soap. One bed is extremely uncomfortable and the other is on the floor. This place could be great just needs to be managed better.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Fun at the lake with rustic cabin feel

  3/5

  The property is in a wonderful location with perfect access to Tawas Lake and a stunning sunset view. Access to kayaks and small trails was a bonus. The house is "rustic". Recommend bringing cups, bowls, plates, and heavier blankets as there were minimal options. Sink was draining into a bucket under the sink which was gross.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  From the owner: "Thank you for highlighting our wonderful location and the easy access to Tawas Lake, kayaking, and the nearby trails—they truly are a special part of the experience and well worth trying for any guest. We appreciate your note about the house being “rustic,” and while we aim to provide essential comforts, cups, bowls, plates, and heavier blankets aren’t listed as provided amenities. We understand that guests may prefer to bring their own for added comfort, and we always strive to be clear about what’s included.
  
  Regarding the sink draining into a bucket, this was not brought to our attention during or after your stay, and our cleaners found no such issue during their thorough cleaning. Had we known, we would have addressed it immediately. We take concerns like this seriously and encourage guests to contact us promptly so we can resolve anything affecting their stay."

• Not what we were expecting

  3/5

  Overall the place was clean and we had a nice time. However, the listing does not match what the home looks like and listed items like gas grill were not available. The kitchen looks nothing like the photos which showed large appliances.The kitchen is poorly stocked don’t assume it will have what you need.The combo was not set correctly and we had difficulties getting in. There is an excessive amount of outside surveillance cameras. We felt like we were being watched the entire time. The neighborhood felt safe and these cameras felt more directed at monitoring guests staying in the cabin than for our safety as the listing mentioned. I won’t stay here again because of this. I did not like this and found that I didn’t want to sit on the back porch.There was a major leak issue with kitchen plumbing that was a known issue by the owner. This was disappointing. We had to dump water from a bucket all week. An attempt was made to fix while we were there but communication on who was paying for the repair was not explained well to the plumber and after waiting over an hour for their arrival they left 5 minutes after arriving saying the situation was shady. We were not expecting a high end rental but it’s pretty disappointing to walk into a situation and not have it be as expected. Update you listing to reflect the current condition on of the home and what amenities and items are truly available.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  From the owner: "Thank you for your feedback. No gas grill is listed as an amenity, and kitchen appliances are standard home sizes. The listing doesn’t indicate a stocked kitchen, so we encourage guests to plan accordingly. Regarding cameras, they monitor entry points for safety only. We appreciate your sharing how they made you feel, and have adjusted the cameras based on prior feedback. We’ll review all cameras again to minimize guest privacy concerns.
  
  The leak wasn’t known before your stay, but once informed, we promptly arranged a plumber, including after-hours at considerable expense. When the plumber arrived, unexpected payment concerns and limited cooperation from your side led to the plumber leaving shortly after arrival. We’re committed to resolving issues promptly, but need guest cooperation. Our listing clearly states available amenities, and we encourage guests to contact us with any concerns during their stay. We regret your experience wasn’t ideal, but we strive for transparency and a high standard."

• Vrbo NIGHTMARE

  1/5

  It was completely horrible especially being our honeymoon,the toilet was never cleaned and still has feces all over the seat etc,no toilet paper,dust from construction inside was so bad we wrote our names on everything,so basically it was a complete NIGHTMARE AND THIS HOUSE SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF VRBO rental,we use all the time and this is totally unacceptable considering how much we paid as well,tried contacting host more than a dozen times with no response,said there was a has grill,nope we had to go buy toilet paper and charcoal and garbage bags

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  From the Owner: "We’re sorry your experience did not meet expectations. Please note that you arrived before the official check-in time, which is why access was unavailable initially. During your stay, our cleaner reached out and you confirmed everything was fine at that time. Our guest relations manager is the direct contact for any concerns, and there is no record of you contacting them despite your claim of multiple attempts.
  -The listing does not include a gas grill. Ample toilet paper and other essentials are provided and replenished after every stay. We take cleanliness very seriously and ensure the property is thoroughly cleaned before each guest arrives. Any dust or construction debris is addressed promptly, and we were not notified of issues during your stay.
  -We regret these concerns were only raised after your departure, making it impossible to resolve them in real time. We always encourage guests to communicate any problems immediately so we can address them and ensure a positive experience."

• Just my two cents

  3/5

  The property was great. We had a good time. A family of two adults and three children. I think the pictures in the listing should be updated. The pictures show a huge refrigerator but the actual one is the size of a refrigerator in a dorm. There is no dishwasher like the pictures show. One of the bed were broken and unable to be slept on so we used the pull out couch and ended up leaving a night early to go sleep in a real bed. We did let management know and they responded quickly and offered to send someone out but it really wasn’t a big deal. The sheets tho are washed but stained. For the price of a night it wouldn’t hurt to buy some new sheets from Walmart. Lastly, there was dust and hair all over. A quick deep sweep had it clean but for the cleaning fees that are charged I think this should be handled by someone other than a guest just walking into the house. Charge a fee and clean it to perfection or drop the fee and leave it subpar.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Candice, so glad to hear you had a great time with your family and that the property worked well for you! We’ve shared your comments with the homeowner, and they wanted to respond with the following:
  - The refrigerator size is accurately shown in the listing, though it’s not large, so we’re unsure what led to your expectation. Once informed about the bed, we promptly offered repair. We weren’t told about your early departure, but we were ready to assist.
  - Sheets are replaced regularly, and we would have provided fresh ones if stains were reported. The house was deep-cleaned before your stay, so dust and hair reports were surprising. We encourage immediate communication to address issues on-site.
  - We maintain professional cleaning standards to ensure the property is well-prepared before each stay, and deep cleaning is not the responsibility of guests.
  Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it helps us continue to improve and provide a 5-star experience for all our guests.