We found the location to be great but were disappointed in the condition of the home and its upkeep, particularly for the price point. The house has a great layout (particularly for two families) and great beach views from the two porches. The kitchen has ample space and basic tools for meal prep. The beds were very comfortable, and the TVs were nice and in good working order. But… The stair treads leading to the top floor are warped and pose a fall hazard. The outdoor stairs and boardwalk are splintering. The entire house could use a fresh coat of paint. There were signs of leaking doors on the upper level and the tub was not caulked well, causing a small leak into the ceiling below. Upon arrival, housekeeping had done the bare minimum and the outdoor trashcans were completely full. The pool didn't seem very clean and by mid-week it was green and cloudy. A service person arrived to clear up the water but they didn’t vacuum the pool and the next day there were hundreds of bugs on the bottom. We had to ask someone come out again and this time they vacuumed the pool. The grill had no propane and we were told it was up to us to provide it. This seems odd - particularly for the rental price. Overall, we enjoyed being on Oak Island but would not choose this home again, particularly at this price point.

I'm going to drop a few items that keep this from a full 5 star rating but then want to focus on the many positives. Cons: - Stairs are warped and are a true safety issue. - Some boards on the private walk to beach are getting soft and in danger of splitting. This is not as urgent as the inside stairs, but will need addressing soon. - While listed as a "private master suite", there truly is not one. Both upstairs king ocean front "masters" share a connected bathroom. There is no private bath on the property. - While this is listed in VRBO, this is actually rented through Better Beach Rentals. This made things like pricing and the purchase of trip insurance confusing. Communication with BBR is not very smooth. They do communicate TO you, but getting answers FROM them can take time and patience. Pros: - Clean! This includes inside, the pool, decks, and everything else. - Well equipped kitchen. There is more than enough for foodies like us to enjoy cooking a meal. - Lots of good shared space for a family to gather. While this house is on the smaller side, there are also places to escape if needed. - Quiet and private. Yes, there are houses in view including a neighboring house that is very close, but this provides a quiet escape with just enough privacy for us to play some tunes on the deck or beach without feeling like we were disturbing everyone. - Location. Beach/Ocean from with pool. Also, Oak Island is a quiet place which is what we really wanted and needed. It is a short drive or walk to most everything you need. Unlike bustling beach towns like Panama City, Destin, and even Carolina/Kure Beach, getting around, in and out was very simple with little congestion. In general, the place does need some upgrades and has some outdated furniture and décor (pictures are accurate), but it appears that the owner is making steps in the right direction by updating all of the bathrooms and the kitchen. Fixtures seem to be newer as well. Other than the steps that we feel should be addressed immediately, a few upgrades would help put this house up to par with the price that it is asking. The grill should be replaced (common issue at most beach places), some additional deck furniture (especially on the deck on the walk to the beach), and some prettier landscaping around the pool, and a general clean-up in the parking area would go a long way. Overall, this was a great place and we would recommend it.