Review of rental cottage

[CookingWithGas]

@Orwell

I am curious how many religious artifacts represent a glurge, a word I was previously not familiar with. How about a tally or enumeration of the inspirational/offensive items?

“Glurge” is a modern word; we used to say “schmaltz.” Like “Lawrence Welk was schmaltzy.”

I count nine artifacts (in a three-bedroom house) that explicitly refer to God, Jesus, or quote Bible verses. In addition there is a hymnal on the piano and a Bible left on the living room coffee table. To be clear, I am not offended. In the same way that I would not be offended if every room were painted shocking pink.

There are also several other little adages that I also find schmaltzy but that nobody in their right mind could find offensive.

[PunditLisa]

I once rented a place in D.C. that had an Obama sign in the yard, which I did mention in the review because it made my husband’s blood boil every time we pulled into the driveway. If you rent to strangers, you really should be mindful that not everyone thinks like you do.

[Orwell]

@CookingWithGas

“Glurge” is a modern word; we used to say “schmaltz.” Like “Lawrence Welk was schmaltzy.”

I count nine artifacts (in a three-bedroom house) that explicitly refer to God, Jesus, or quote Bible verses. In addition there is a hymnal on the piano and a Bible left on the living room coffee table. To be clear, I am not offended. In the same way that I would not be offended if every room were painted shocking pink.

There are also several other little adages that I also find schmaltzy but that nobody in their right mind could find offensive.

Thanks for that. Nine items is a bit much. Is this cottage mainly used by the owner, and just rented out to friends and acquaintances, or is it mostly used to generate income? I would say this part of the equation is fairly important.

I once rented a place in D.C. that had an Obama sign in the yard, which I did mention in the review because it made my husband’s blood boil every time we pulled into the driveway. If you rent to strangers, you really should be mindful that not everyone thinks like you do.

Yeah, that is a big no-no. Don’t assume your renters share your political views. Your husband should have found a McCain or Romney sign (depending which election cycle this was) and put it on the other side of the lawn.

[Chronos]

Quoth Ann Hedonia:

Also the coffeemaker is cheap and needs replacing. It overflowed several times during our stay. Good pillows.

To be fair, you should have been warned by the little bronze plaque on it engraved with “my cup runneth over”.

[GrumpyBunny]

@butler1850

Is this a commercial rental property, or someones cabin that they rent out when they aren’t using it?

Once you start renting your place to the public for money, it’s not just about your beliefs and what you’re comfortable with – your job is to make the paying guests comfortable. Put the religious/political/vegan messages, trophy-hunted animal heads, and naked paintings away when renters come, and pull them back out when family and friends are using the place.

I’d certainly mention it in the feedback to the rental agent, and in the review. I probably wouldn’t say “glurge” (thought I’d think it), but I’d say that the decor contained a massive amount of religious bric-a-brac and messages, and that people of other beliefs might not enjoy that aspect of the cabin.

[CookingWithGas]

@Orwell

Is this cottage mainly used by the owner, and just rented out to friends and acquaintances, or is it mostly used to generate income? I would say this part of the equation is fairly important.

The owner lives in Ohio and her mother, who is local, manages it for her. I don’t know if any of them ever stay there, but it is generally booked for rentals from spring through the summer into fall. To be fair, the community is very much a Christian conference/retreat area so most renters are probably aligned with these messages.

I myself am a devout atheist (although baptized as Lutheran and a Muslim on paper).

[Boyo_Jim]

Are you a Muslim when you’re not on paper? Is it something like shoving a newspaper under a puppy who seems like it’s about to pee?

[CookingWithGas]

Is that how you keep your thread count up?

[Orwell]

@CookingWithGas

The owner lives in Ohio and her mother, who is local, manages it for her. I don’t know if any of them ever stay there, but it is generally booked for rentals from spring through the summer into fall. To be fair, the community is very much a Christian conference/retreat area so most renters are probably aligned with these messages.

I myself am a devout atheist (although baptized as Lutheran and a Muslim on paper).

Thanks for the followup. Nine different religious items/artifacts would mildly bug me, especially if it is a cabin that is regularly rented (rather than used by the owners, who can decorate it to suit themselves). But if it is in a religious retreat, then that is a little different.

Lutheran to Muslim to devout athiest. I’m betting there’s a story there.

[purplehearingaid]

I guess if have religious friends that you know will be reading your review you might what to think how they’ll feel about what you post . My mom was once asked by a news reporter how she felt about the Pope coming to USA and being Jewish mom said something she wish she hadn’t said b/c she was quoted and photo taken and printed in the newspaper for all her Christian friends to see.