Sound-Front Cottage - Short Walk to the Beach, Private Dock & Dog-Friendly

This pet-friendly property is in a great location with it's own little beach and pier on the sound. These points were awesome. Be advised: It's a well-used property that shows the wear and tear. If you need a newer, cleaner experience this is NOT the place for you.

We have rented many houses on Topsail for 43+ years. We are familiar with the family loved houses. We should have listened to the previous negative reviews. This one should not be rented unless: exterior is is redone (rotten wood makes a bad first impression!), rugs need to be replaced (rugs are nasty dirty), furniture needs to be replaced (not just covered), kitchen chairs are dirty and have zero support, master mattress is very saggy, downstairs flooring is OLD OLD OLD, mismatched dining chairs are so uncomfortable, ceilings are stained and there are cobwebs in skylights. The a/c, that is controlled by the owner, should NOT be set on an energy-saving mode during a heat wave that automatically sets the house temp to 80° - esp. after we contacted Vacasa. Air filters are nasty dirty and should be replaced regularly. The upstairs is considerably hotter than downstairs. The erosion at the end of the dock is dangerous and needs to be repaired. We have rented wonderful homes through Vacasa. This is not one of them.

Room to spread out with grandkids and not be right up under each other. Children also love the sandy beach area at the sound and the walk to beach is easy for them. Has a welcoming homey feel.

We loved the location. The private beach area on the sound was fabulous. The upstairs was beautifully decorated. We loved the deck upstairs and downstairs. The downstairs could use some attention with cleaning and updating beds.

The advertisements listed on vacasa we're probably from 10 years ago the property is gorgeous the house is in serious need of updates and repairs most of all the air conditioning was inadequate and partially functioning the amenities are not as advertised there is no cable, it was all streaming, furniture covered with cushion covers-all upholstery filthy and worn. Rugs filthy and worn out. There were several taped with duct tape. Local vacasa team ghosted me when I made reports about the air conditioning not working throughout the stay. The lower level kitchen smelled of rotting fish, extension cords throughout the lower level there were no ceiling fans except for one. The windows were so dirty you couldn't see out. Curtains were dirty and stiff the ceiling fans were covered in dust. The ceilings had peeling plaster and things falling from the skylights. Decks and porches in poor repair, covered in rotting leaves. When we arrived at the property the outside porch smelled of putrid rotting meat we discovered three fly traps completely filled with maggots and had to dispose of them. Spent a full day cleaning surfaces and wiping down counters. Ant traps all over the kitchen. Was traveling with my elderly mother and Aunt- the heat and humidity caused my aunt to leave early. The neighbors were delightful and friendly. The environment was gorgeous. The beach area on the intercoastal made this one of the most unique places I have ever stayed on Topsail Island. The house is a gem but the local team is doing the owner a grave injustice by not properly addressing the obvious issues.

We like this house because it's on the sound so our grandchildren can play in the water. Neighbors are not renters and very friendly. This was our 8th consecutive year vacationing here but probably our last due to price increases. We will miss coming here and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quiet relaxing location.

Loved watching the sunset on the dock everyday. Easy walk to the beach. Just wish the deck and deck furniture had been a little more swept and clean.

Room to spread out and hubby can escape the kids when needed. Children loved it and the walk to the beach is easy for everyone.

The location was great for kayaking and lots of space

This house had a ton of character and personal touches that really made it feel like you were staying with good friends. Great for kids to play on the sound side and fish off the dock, and a quick walk across the street to a quiet section of the beach. Having the two kitchens and some quiet places to tuck the kids away was fantastic, not to mention all the games and kids toys and safety features for children. Downside was the upstairs, which is the main floor, remained pretty hot during the day and night. Instructions said we should keep it no lower than 73, but it kept remotely getting reset to 75. The rental company was difficult to get in touch with. We were hoping to have another couple and their 3-year-old join us, but they said absolutely we could not exceed 11 people, even though the house has 6 bedrooms and a bed on the porch. We originally planned on bringing one dog, but she is old and we were considering leaving her home. Upon asking the rental company if we could possibly receive a refund for the pet fee, they said “it’s not our fault you selected pet on your search.” I also messaged to ask if the house had any beach toys/chairs, to which their response was “it’s not mentioned in the listing.” Turns out the house had a ton of those things. They also had misinformation about checkout. Text message said to leave the sheets on the bed, email said to strip the beds. The house and location was great! Rental company could be a little better.