I was looking for a last minute rental around Half Moon Bay for new years day weekend and Norman's listing popped up as new, and it was in a location we know and love. I was a little leery of renting a place no one had rented yet, no reviews, and the home looked like it had very little furniture or window coverings, it just looked unfinished, but we thought we'd take a chance. I asked many questions and Norman was very responsive, took more pictures (there were only a few online at the time) so I could get an idea of what came with the home, and told me it was a new listing so they were still getting things settled. He was also very communicative all during our stay and checked in to make sure everything was going well. The house is cute, but for what we were paying, I honestly expected more. We felt like we were really paying for the location. It was pretty dirty when we arrived so I had to clean first thing which was a bummer, but it was right after a group had vacated after NYE. The "front door" is actually a side door into the lower floor (looks like a converted basement) where the other 2 bedrooms are, which was odd. The actual front door leads you through the master bedroom upstairs which probably used to be the living room. Since the side "front" door was stuck closed, and the side light was burnt out, we ended up using the real front door anyway. The top floor kitchen and sitting area is updated with new appliances and had a nice gas fireplace that we and the dogs huddled around all weekend, but the rest of the house I found to be a little rough, outdated, unfinished and chilly. We all wished there was more adequate comfy seating in the living room (a nice L-shaped couch) and that the TV was in a place where you could actually watch it rather than shoved back in a corner on a built in work desk. From the outside, the house does look charming and I really appreciated that the home was dog friendly and Norman was ok with me bringing not only my dog but my foster dog too (both tiny sweet chihuahuas). And we thoroughly enjoyed the fire pit in the backyard overlooking the water while sipping wine and listening to the water lap on the shore. We would definitely consider renting again based mostly on the location, it being dog-friendly, and on what a nice host Norman was, but we would be more inclined to do so (and recommend it to friends) with a few tweaks to make the home a little more cozy and finished which I think in time it will be once he works out the kinks. This home has lots of potential - not a bad start for a new listing and host!