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Things to consider for your beach rental home

Top 5 Things to Consider for a beach House Rental

Renting a house with friends can be a fun and affordable way to spend a vacation at the beach. We’re particularly partial to the Outer Banks, NC. But after years of good and bad experiences, here are some tips to help ensure your Outer Banks rentals, or other location rental goes well.

1. Documentation, documentation, documentation. Make sure your rental agreement with the owners/managers is in writing and includes everything. Dates, prices and times. Everything you are responsible for, and everything they hare responsible for. Don’t forget to get contact information in case of emergency.

2. Pack ahead of time. Assuming you have good documentation you’ll know what you need to bring. Some homes provide linens as well as cooking implements, some do not. When in doubt, bring extras.

3. Get the money together as early as possible. Most homes require a deposit (up to 50% of the rental fee) to reserve your dates. If you are going with a large group, make sure to collect everyone’s money as early as possible to avoid confusion when deadlines approach.

4. Split the shopping and do most of it at home. One of the reasons renting a vacation home saves money is you can cook your own food. we recommend taking up a collection from all renters to buy shared items. It’s often best to do this before you get to the beach, as stores are more expensive there and may not have the best selection. Split up the purchases if you have a big group for a whole week. Obviously if you’re driving 6 hours you don’t want to buy ice cream and milk – use your best judgment.

5. Leave lots of time to pack and clean. Every rental has different rules about cleaning. But usually you will need to collect all trash and linens and perform a basic cleaning in kitchens and bathrooms. It’s usually best for everyone to pack the evening before you leave so there’s less rush and mess. Take everything you brought to the house out of the house. Do a final walk through before your last car leaves.