I think several of the reviews that describe this as staying at grandma's house -- if your grandma lived on the ocean -- give you a good feel for the place. We happen to love the vintage feel, but it is not for all. It is magnificent for its location on the ocean with waves crashing, lovely neighborhood, great to walk dogs. The house is roomy and charming, but you must enjoy older homes vs something that is new. My family loved the charm, the space, lots of bathrooms, and the ability to bring our 3 dogs. I will trade that ocean frontage and charm any day vs someplace that's newer/cleaner. That said, I would suggest to the owner(s) that short-term, the furniture in the living room be replaced with a comfortable couch and chairs, as some of what is there is unusable and all of it is less than comfortable. We lived on the sun porch for the most part anyway though, but would have liked a more comfy spot for occasional TV watching. The house definitely needs TLC, and really much more than that before it runs into trouble (my boyfriend is a carpenter/contractor). That all takes a substantial investment though. I am just happy that the owner(s) offered the home to us to stay in and hope that we may be able to stay there again. We had a fantastic time there and would love to return someday.

Beautiful view and sounds of the ocean on a quiet street. I Read the reviews prior to paying. I was very concerned about committing because there were many bad reviews, but everyone said the view and location of the house was excellent. Whenever there was a negative review, the response was exactly the same. I decided to call Vacasa ahead of time to get assurances that the complaints people had were addressed. I was assured that the house was in good order and that no problems were present. This was not the case! When we first arrived, the house seemed cleaned however there were old tissues under the furniture pillows. The old broken blinds were dusty. We mostly hung out on the porch looking out at the water. After hanging out for a day 2 of our guests started having asthma attacks. Upon looking at the cushions we discovered black mold. We called Vacasa and they said they would take care of replacing the pillows and “make it right for us,” but they didn’t do anything. Instead, I spent hours on the phone with them wasting my precious vacation time. There is old linoleum slanted and torn floors, wallpaper falling apart, and old and dirty furniture, Lastly, while there is wifi it is only limited to one room. If you want to have video or streaming the wifi isn’t strong enough. Some of our guests were planning to work remotely, however, because the wifi didn’t work they had to leave early. Very disappointing! I wish I could leave photos to show how dumpy this place is.

We loved the house, watching the water and climbing on the rocks. Lots to do in Rockport/Gloucester area. House was nice and quiet, peaceful, and picturesque! Thank you!

To begin, this ocean-front home has lovely views and Vacasa provided a great user experience throughout the various stages of booking and accessing the home. Here ends the positive portion of this review. This lovely, old home shows well from the outside, but has been seriously neglected on the inside. As you might imagine, an ocean front property in Rockport, MA commands exorbitant nightly rental rates; paying this much, one might expect top-level furniture and fixtures. ALL the furniture and fixtures are old - think 70s - and have deteriorated to the point of decrepitude. The furniture is literally fraying and falling apart, and some furniture in the ocean-facing sunroom is broken to the point of being dangerous. Fixtures, including sinks, toilets and showers are ancient and in desperate need of upgrade. Bathroom floors are a cheap linoleum. The floor in the bathroom I used was also on a slant; when I got out of the shower, my foot slid out from under me and I fell hard. Kitchen appliances are old and stained. The washer and dryer are newer and worked well. We own two houses that we rent out, and I would be embarrassed to rent out our houses if they were in a similar condition. Similarly, Vacasa should hold owners to a higher standard. This house needs in the order of $100 000 in furniture and fixture upgrades to be a decent rental. Avoid unless you have no other options!

The location is spectacular! Home is a classic older home and it’s starting to show its age a bit, but not a reason to miss out on the view.

This house is large but still cozy and inviting. There is definitely a family feel, as though you’re staying at your grandparents’ house. The house has a lot of personality and is just beautiful. The view from the first bedroom cannot be matched. Now, I’ve read some reviews that the home isn’t clean or that it needs updating. The house is old. When you enter for the first time it’s a little musty. Opening a few windows takes care of that right away. The furniture is old, but comfortable. The curtains have yellowed from Sun. The house has sat on the water for at least 100 years so some wood is warped, floors slant, doors stick. The wallpaper is peeling in spots here and there. Could it use an update? Probably. But it would lose its charm if that happened, and that would be a travesty. It is the quintessential New England home in a town out of a Hallmark movie. The home exudes sweetness. You can hear the echoes of many happy family times spent there, meals eaten, and memories made. It is like visiting an old friend.

This seaside beauty was super comfortable for our group. It is old and well loved, and we felt right at home. The views were stunning, and the location superb they were 7 of us with the birthday girl and we had plenty of clean sheets and towels and beds. A quick 15 minute drive to Gloucester was convenient. We especially loved the huge living room where we could all gather. Also, the large flat lawn that lead to the sea was charming and a great place to sit in the sun and chat. We all loved it there and agreed. It was like coming home to grandmas vacation place where everyone gathered year after year.

We agree with the other reviews. The location can’t be beat and the space has SO much potential! Easily fixed are the cleanliness of the windows, which is mentioned in many reviews. Updating the wallpaper, refreshing the woodwork paint and updating the furniture with comfortable sitting options would improve the experience tremendously.

The Location was absolutely fabulous with a beautiful view of the ocean from the sun porch and two bedrooms. However, this home is in desperate need of a good deep clean and makeover. The living room is large but certainly not inviting; the furniture was uncomforable, old and dirty. The bedrooms and bathrooms were spacious; however, again, need a deep clean - wallpaper was pealing and bathrooms as other rooms were moldy. The kitchen was fine but curtains were disgustingly dirty. This home has such potential - however, it needs a deep clean, paint and new furniture. The sun porch is the best room in the house and, as stated earlier, the location is fabulous.

The location of this house is unmatched. The view of the ocean, the rocks, and the expansive lawn. It was really hot but there was always a nice breeze to keep the hot air moving. I spent a lot of time reading on the spacious screened in porch. It was a wonderful week !

E love the location, views, and charm of the home.

I'm only knocking cleanliness because the windows were so dirty. Especially around the sunroom (view is all you could hope for if clean). We cleaned them best we could considering height & thorny bushes. We loved the place & found the striper fishing exciting even if spotty. Capt Joe's & Son in Gloucester is definitely the lobster pound source. Good people & $8/lb or $9lb if 2# & over. Saved $110 on 1 meal vs Cape Ann Lobstermen 2 doors farther down (But they had great other selections). Good Weber gas grill but needs a new brush :). Other knock were the lockbox instructions. Wrong side of house & place. But overall mgt was very communicative & responsive. House was old as advertised including kitchen stuff (but 2 fridges nice), the location superb with water access far better than any notes. Not rip rap but wonderful slab rock all the way. Careful fishing because the wet black areas are worse than oil. Simply a wonderful chance for my grandkids & family to experience New England atmosphere. Rockport donut shop awesome but skip Moore's Fish Shack restaurant especially the worst calamari ever & I've had it everywhere. Tourist trap. Three Lantern Marine for fishing gear& bait Gloucester. Guy was great.

Geat house in a great location. Charming off the charts !!

While we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, as we were spending time with family and friends for several celebrations.....we were completed disappointed in the cleanliness and presentation of the home. The location was perfect and the character of the home was quite enjoyable; however, these two things alone would not have us repeat a stay. Aside from the fact that updated pictures do need to be put on the website, the house was not adequately cleaned for our stay (as an example random medication was found in one medicine cabinet). There was broken furniture (we moved that chair away from use as we were concerned someone would get hurt). Also, there was an invasion of ants on the sun porch and in various parts throughout the house. We did put out more ant traps but there clearly is a more invasive problem which needs to be addressed. Lastly, while this home is full of history it certainly could use some refreshing, de-cluttering and a very deep cleaning. I hope this detail is helpful in making a decision to stay here.

While we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, as we were spending time with family and friends for several celebrations.....we were completed disappointed in the cleanliness and presentation of the home. The location was perfect and the character of the home was quite enjoyable; however, these two things alone would not have us repeat a stay. Aside from the fact that updated pictures do need to be put on the website, the house was not adequately cleaned for our stay (as an example random medication was found in one medicine cabinet). There was broken furniture (we moved that chair away from use as we were concerned someone would get hurt). Also, there was an invasion of ants on the sun porch and in various parts throughout the house. We did put out more ant traps but there clearly is a more invasive problem which needs to be addressed. Lastly, while this home is full of history it certainly could use some refreshing, de-cluttering and a very deep cleaning. I hope this detail is helpful in making a decision to stay here.

Spacious with stunning views.

If you expecting the Ritz Carlton don’t book this house you’ll be disappointed and offend the owners. But if that’s not you then here is what you need to know, read on: This was Bill and Mary place, third generation owners of a property Bill’s Great Great Grandfather built in 1881 or there about (his picture “small cameo” is hanging in the master bedroom so be respectful or he’ll pay you a visit, maybe). Yes, it has been updated but not like your watching an HGTV reality show. The floors and doors creek, the wall paper has cracks, the floors not level and most doors have glass door knobs. If you don’t know what that means and you still decided to read on you might consider stopping now. If you want to stand on granite slabs 50 ft from the ocean that has been here since before the pilgrims landed down the coast over 400 years ago then this is the place for you. It is a home where 4 generations were raised, family reunions and weddings were held. It’s a place that has been battered by the sea 365 days a year for over 140 years and if you not from New England you really don’t get it. If you understand what the dust bowl was then multiply that by 100 and it might be close. You stay here because it’s Cape Anne and Rockport and each morning as the sun comes up and the Lord paints a picture just for you. The home has been steeped in love by all the generations which have passed through here and it is unmistakable. Few can ever own a home like this but you can share in just a piece of it for a little while. Relax and watch the lobster boat captains work their traps sunrise to sunset. Then when you go get your lobster roll it will be harder to complain about the price. They just don’t jump in the boat. OK, the hard facts. It is old, there is plenty of hot water and if you come in the winter each room has a thermostat and baseboard heat – you will not be cold. The sun poach is where you will live and it is plenty warm with newer Anderson windows. The big main room has two fireplaces one wood burning and one propane. The kitchen is fine and has everything you will need. It does not have a Keurig or Nesspresso just a Mr. Coffee. If you don’t know what this is you should know how to google - figure it out. The dinning room is big with a big table that will hold a dozen or more if need be. Windows look out onto the ocean. Dishwasher is good. So are the Washer and Dryer. Microwave just fine. Oh no Garbage disposal. I don’t think that was to big of a deal…but then I wasn’t doing the dishes either. All bedrooms are upstairs(5). There are 3 bathrooms up there – one full, the other two with showers and one of those is a Jack and Jill. The beds are old, but again you’ve been sitting by the ocean all day and at night you wont care or notice. Two refrigerator so you can really stock up and grills and yard toys. If it is summer, I guess it may get hot but can’t imagine. If it does they have plenty of window AC units. Or just leave them open and listen to ocean. There are plenty of books everywhere, a second edition Webster’s dictionary for the scrabble battle royal. And books dating back to the early 1900s. It’s filled with antiques but then it’s an antique it’s self. From the sun porch, If you look long enough and hard enough at the horizon you might see a whaler but then someone will call your name and wake you up. If you’ve read down this far then the place is for you, book it and don’t look at the price…after all its only money. You wont remember how much you have or how much you ever spent. You will remember staying here. Book it – any time of the year should be just fine.

If you expecting the Ritz Carlton don’t book this house you’ll be disappointed and offend the owners. But if that’s not you then here is what you need to know, read on:

This was Bill and Mary place, third generation owners of a property Bill’s Great Great Grandfather built in 1881 or there about (his picture “small cameo” is hanging in the master bedroom so be respectful or he’ll pay you a visit, maybe). Yes, it has been updated but not like your watching an HGTV reality show. The floors and doors creek, the wall paper has cracks, the floors not level and most doors have glass door knobs. If you don’t know what that means and you still decided to read on you might consider stopping now. If you want to stand on granite slabs 50 ft from the ocean that has been here since before the pilgrims landed down the coast over 400 years ago then this is the place for you. It is a home where 4 generations were raised, family reunions and weddings were held. It’s a place that has been battered by the sea 365 days a year for over 140 years and if you not from New England you really don’t get it. If you understand what the dust bowl was then multiply that by 100 and it might be close.

You stay here because it’s Cape Anne and Rockport and each morning as the sun comes up and the Lord paints a picture just for you. The home has been steeped in love by all the generations which have passed through here and it is unmistakable. Few can ever own a home like this but you can share in just a piece of it for a little while. Relax and watch the lobster boat captains work their traps sunrise to sunset. Then when you go get your lobster roll it will be harder to complain about the price. They just don’t jump in the boat.

OK, the hard facts. It is old, there is plenty of hot water and if you come in the winter each room has a thermostat and baseboard heat – you will not be cold. The sun poach is where you will live and it is plenty warm with newer Anderson windows. The big main room has two fireplaces one wood burning and one propane. The kitchen is fine and has everything you will need. It does not have a Keurig or Nesspresso just a Mr. Coffee. If you don’t know what this is you should know how to google - figure it out.

The dinning room is big with a big table that will hold a dozen or more if need be. Windows look out onto the ocean. Dishwasher is good. So are the Washer and Dryer. Microwave just fine.

Oh no Garbage disposal. I don’t think that was to big of a deal…but then I wasn’t doing the dishes either.

All bedrooms are upstairs(5). There are 3 bathrooms up there – one full, the other two with showers and one of those is a Jack and Jill. The beds are old, but again you’ve been sitting by the ocean all day and at night you wont care or notice. Two refrigerator so you can really stock up and grills and yard toys.

If it is summer, I guess it may get hot but can’t imagine. If it does they have plenty of window AC units. Or just leave them open and listen to ocean. There are plenty of books everywhere, a second edition Webster’s dictionary for the scrabble battle royal. And books dating back to the early 1900s. It’s filled with antiques but then it’s an antique it’s self. From the sun porch, If you look long enough and hard enough at the horizon you might see a whaler but then someone will call your name and wake you up.

If you’ve read down this far then the place is for you, book it and don’t look at the price…after all its only money. You wont remember how much you have or how much you ever spent. You will remember staying here. Book it – any time of the year should be just fine.

Stayed at this property with a group of 10 girls for my 50th birthday - absolutely loved the house! If you are looking for luxury, this is not the place for you But if you are looking for a good, spacious home with character right on the water - this is it! 3 1/2 bathrooms and plenty of beds Kitchen was stocked with everything we needed - extra fridge helped out alot Could have used some more towels in bathrooms Back porch and sitting on the rocks out back is where we spent most of our time A few of us were a little spooked a few times, old house The home could use some updates, maybe a smart TV, some new furniture, a deep sweep and clean for the cobwebs.. but we absolutely loved it - would definitely stay again!

Stayed at this property with a group of 10 girls for my 50th birthday - absolutely loved the house! If you are looking for luxury, this is not the place for you But if you are looking for a good, spacious home with character right on the water - this is it! 3 1/2 bathrooms and plenty of beds Kitchen was stocked with everything we needed - extra fridge helped out alot Could have used some more towels in bathrooms Back porch and sitting on the rocks out back is where we spent most of our time A few of us were a little spooked a few times, old house The home could use some updates, maybe a smart TV, some new furniture, a deep sweep and clean for the cobwebs.. but we absolutely loved it - would definitely stay again!

Everything was fine.

We loved our stay. The house has a lot of charm and the view is beautiful. We would suggest that the dining room carpet be cleaned thoroughly. The carpet in the back bedroom upstairs also needs cleaning. We will be coming back!

We loved our stay. The house has a lot of charm and the view is beautiful. We would suggest that the dining room carpet be cleaned thoroughly. The carpet in the back bedroom upstairs also needs cleaning.
We will be coming back!

Great location for a friends reunion. Plenty of room and amazing ocean front outdoor space.

Great location for a friends reunion. Plenty of room and amazing ocean front outdoor space.

Everything was fine.

We had a splendid time at the house. We spent the entire week wishing that it was ours to keep forever. It was definitely perfect for us, but would not be for everyone. Here's the deal: If you are the kind of person who, when they go on vacation, wants to stay in a Crate and Barrel-esque house with all new furnishings, festooned with beachy platitudes printed on manufactured distressed wood, and a kitchen with all matching plates and silverware, this house might not be for you. But if you are the kind of person who likes to stay in a deeply-loved home, that has likely been in the same family for generations, this might be the place for you. This is an old house, which pretty much embodies Joni Mitchell's "Circle Game" song. It's clear that it's seen babies, toddlers, and teens grow into dads and retirees and grandmothers. It retains eclectic, knick-knacks like the rainbow rug-weaving that a 7th grader may have made in the 80's, and the mid-century casserole dish that has surely served up many baked dinners. Floors slant, here and there and chairs display the comfy seat marks of thousands of hours of reading. Yes, some wallpaper is peeling. But, wow! What wallpaper! Each room is painstakingly papered with vintage, wonderful, whimsical prints and patterns. In one bathroom, the old wallpaper (circa 1950?), featuring some sail boats, is preserved in a frame around which the "new" wallpaper (circa 1985?) is hung! We were a group of ten. There were *just* enough beds for all of us, and the sleeping configurations were cozy and had to be rather creative. The beds are all in need of replacement. They are tired beds, dipping and sloping this way and that. Nice, new, *larger* beds would make this place one million percent perfect. But there were plenty of pillows and linens and blankets and fans and dressers and bathrooms. So. many. bathrooms! By far the best feature of the house is the huge three season porch with endless views of the endless sea. We spent pretty much all of our time, and ate all our meals, on the porch or the rocks below. In conclusion, if, when you are on vacation, you want to feel like you are in a contemporary, sleek, soulless house, don't rent this one. But, if you enjoy historic homes, filled with character and realness---a house that could easily contain a wardrobe, filled with fur coats that, perhaps on a rainy day, a 7 year old might hide in and discover that it's actually a portal to Narnia--this might be the place for you.

We had a splendid time at the house. We spent the entire week wishing that it was ours to keep forever. It was definitely perfect for us, but would not be for everyone. Here's the deal: If you are the kind of person who, when they go on vacation, wants to stay in a Crate and Barrel-esque house with all new furnishings, festooned with beachy platitudes printed on manufactured distressed wood, and a kitchen with all matching plates and silverware, this house might not be for you. But if you are the kind of person who likes to stay in a deeply-loved home, that has likely been in the same family for generations, this might be the place for you. This is an old house, which pretty much embodies Joni Mitchell's "Circle Game" song. It's clear that it's seen babies, toddlers, and teens grow into dads and retirees and grandmothers. It retains eclectic, knick-knacks like the rainbow rug-weaving that a 7th grader may have made in the 80's, and the mid-century casserole dish that has surely served up many baked dinners. Floors slant, here and there and chairs display the comfy seat marks of thousands of hours of reading. Yes, some wallpaper is peeling. But, wow! What wallpaper! Each room is painstakingly papered with vintage, wonderful, whimsical prints and patterns. In one bathroom, the old wallpaper (circa 1950?), featuring some sail boats, is preserved in a frame around which the "new" wallpaper (circa 1985?) is hung! We were a group of ten. There were *just* enough beds for all of us, and the sleeping configurations were cozy and had to be rather creative. The beds are all in need of replacement. They are tired beds, dipping and sloping this way and that. Nice, new, *larger* beds would make this place one million percent perfect. But there were plenty of pillows and linens and blankets and fans and dressers and bathrooms. So. many. bathrooms! By far the best feature of the house is the huge three season porch with endless views of the endless sea. We spent pretty much all of our time, and ate all our meals, on the porch or the rocks below. In conclusion, if, when you are on vacation, you want to feel like you are in a contemporary, sleek, soulless house, don't rent this one. But, if you enjoy historic homes, filled with character and realness---a house that could easily contain a wardrobe, filled with fur coats that, perhaps on a rainy day, a 7 year old might hide in and discover that it's actually a portal to Narnia--this might be the place for you.

We loved staying at this home. A group of friends and I stayed here for a long weekend, and were blown away. The house was huge, and comfortable, with plenty of seating throughout. The house has the charm of its era and was very clean. But the back yard and the walk down the cliffs take the cake. It was truly amazing to be able to walk down to the water via such a unique landscape. It is NOT a place for swimming, but the scenery and views are amazing. Would definitely recommend this house to any large group of friends or family.

The backyard and view from the sun room were like something out of a movie. However, that's where the movie like atmosphere stopped. The house is a beautiful old house in desperate need of renovation. There is peeling wall paper everywhere you turn, the ceilings are dotted with water stains, the furniture is old an uncomfortable and the sun room windows leaked, some leading a river of water (rainy weekend) right into the electrical outlet below it. My family and I had a wonderful time together and there was more than enough room for everyone. We just wish the house had better taken care of.

We loved staying at this home. A group of friends and I stayed here for a long weekend, and were blown away. The house was huge, and comfortable, with plenty of seating throughout. The house has the charm of its era and was very clean. But the back yard and the walk down the cliffs take the cake. It was truly amazing to be able to walk down to the water via such a unique landscape. It is NOT a place for swimming, but the scenery and views are amazing. Would definitely recommend this house to any large group of friends or family.

The backyard and view from the sun room were like something out of a movie. However, that's where the movie like atmosphere stopped. The house is a beautiful old house in desperate need of renovation. There is peeling wall paper everywhere you turn, the ceilings are dotted with water stains, the furniture is old an uncomfortable and the sun room windows leaked, some leading a river of water (rainy weekend) right into the electrical outlet below it. My family and I had a wonderful time together and there was more than enough room for everyone. We just wish the house had better taken care of.