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.