Q. How much
security deposit do you require?
A: $500, which is
refundable if nothing bad happens to the house during
the rental.
Q. Is there a
cleaning fee?
A: Yes, it is $150.
We have the house professionally cleaned before you arrive (see check-in and check-out
times, below) and will have it cleaned again after you check-out in time for
the next tenants.
Q. Do you provide
ferry tickets?
A: No. The
Steamship Authority has tickets available for order starting early February.
See www.steamshipauthority.com for more information.
Q. How many TVs and
their locations?
A: we have one
32-inch TV in the living/family room. We are looking into getting another one
for the basement but have not made any decisions at this time.
Q. What is the time
of check in/check out?
A: 2pm and 10am,
respectively.
Q. Do you send the
lease first and then we would send it back with deposit?
A: We send you the lease, you send it back signed with a deposit of 50% to hold
the week(s) for you. The balance due plus cleaning fee plus deposit is due 30
days before the rental start date.
Q: Where is the
house located?
A: The house is
located at 17 Great Plains Rd. in West Tisbury.
Q: Do you rent
Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday?
A: Sunday to Sunday
Q: Is it OK if I
check in before 2pm on Sunday? Can I stay after 10am?
A: No. The house is
rented almost continuously from June 15th through Labor Day. The 10am to 2pm
"maintenance window" on Sunday is the only time when general cleaning
can be done and the crews needs the entire 4 hours. You should expect a
spotless house when you arrive, as will the next tenants after you.
Q: Why don't I
receive a signed copy of the lease when I send in my deposit check?
A: Because the
lease is not valid at this point, hence there is nothing to enforce. The
deposit is simply that, earnest money that holds the reservation. It's the
remainder of the balance that completes the transaction and validates the
lease. The sooner you send in the final deposit the sooner you will receive the
signed lease.
Q: Can I get a
receipt for my deposit?
A: The canceled
check is your receipt. If you send in the deposit electronically via PayPal
then there a receipt for payment is generated automatically.
Q: What happens to
my deposit if my situation changes and I can't follow through with the balance
of the deposit?
A: My goal is happy
rentors that will come back year after year and rave
to their friends about their stay and my house, reducing my marketing costs and
allowing me to invest more money back into the property, thus making for happy rentors ... (endless loop). My goal is not to profit from
your misfortune; however it is to recover the lost revenue as a result of your
decision to cancel the contract. The deposit is at risk since we forfeited the
right to rent to anyone else in exchange for accepting the deposit. Consult an
attorney if you have questions regarding the contract. If the cancellation is
earlier than 90 days of the rental start date we will make reasonable efforts
(including un-checking the "unavailable" box on the rental calendar
and emailing people who have expressed an interest in the week(s) previously)
to rent the week(s) in question to someone else.
Q: Can I cancel my
contract and re-rent for a shorter duration?
A: No. Lessees who
cancel their contract are ineligible to re-rent for any subset of the original
duration. Please keep that in mind when you make the reservation.
Q: What pet(s) can
I bring during my stay?
A: Dogs, dogs and
more dogs. Actually not more than one large or two small.
You are responsible for keeping them under control when outside as we do not
have a fenced yard. And, you are responsible for any damage that they cause
inside, so no non-housebroken dogs, please.
Q: what if something
happens during my stay, like a plumbing or an electrical problem. Who do I
call?
A: We are
investigating hiring a caretaker; in the meantime you can contact me in the
case of an emergency (We will provide contact info in the rentors kit we send out). Power does go out
occasionally on the Island, particularly during storms, but usually the
duration is brief.
Q: What is your
policy regarding "holding" reservations until the deposit is being
sent?
A: We will not hold
your reservation while the deposit check is being sent. Receipt of the deposit
is what holds the week(s) for the rentor, not a
verbal commitment, lease (signed or otherwise), or US Postal Service. Take as
much time as you need to make sure you want to rent, then don’t delay. We do
accept electronic payment via PayPal (I can email you the link). All you need
is a credit card. It takes about 5 minutes.
Q: Do you have passes for the various beaches or do we need to get passes at Tisbury Town Hall? Is there any way we can get onto the beach at Upper Makoniky?
A: The pass for Lambert's cove beach can be obtained from the town of West Tisbury. See http://www.westtisbury-ma.gov/park_&_rec.htm for more information. You will need to bring your lease copy as proof of residing in West Tisbury, so don't forget to pack it along with your trip.