THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601040124
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Chris Kidder
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
If my mail is an accurate indication, vacation rentals are on readers' minds these days. I've had letters from as far away as New Orleans and as close as Chesapeake inquiring about ``good'' places to rent (no, I don't own rental property and, no, I'm not a rental agent).
The New Orleans reader, who was interested in renting the oceanfront modular house featured in this column last winter, asked several good questions in her long letter.
If you're thinking about renting a vacation cottage for the first time, you'll probably find her questions - and the answers - helpful.
Is there a deadline for putting down a deposit fee and how much will it be?
The sooner you make your reservation, the better, especially if you want a particular house for a particular week.
Traditionally, rental companies didn't accept reservations until the first of the year for the upcoming season. Some companies now take reservations beginning Dec. 1.
Several companies also allow repeat customers to ``pre-reserve'' cottages up to a year in advance, although reservation contracts are not executed until later.
A 50 percent deposit is required at the time the rental contract is drawn up. The remainder is due 30 days before your check-in date.
Most companies charge a cancellation fee and reserve the right to keep your deposit if the property isn't re-rented.
Is there a bedroom on the first floor?
This is an excellent question for family groups that include elderly or disabled members. Most beach houses are built on pilings with no ground floor rooms; some have wheelchair-accessible ramps and a few have elevators. Make sure you tell your rental agent about any special needs.
Is the cottage air-conditioned?
Until the mid-1980s, air-conditioning was considered a luxury in most Outer Banks rental beach houses. Today, it's almost standard. You'd be hard-pressed to find a new house built without it. Owners of most older houses have added air-conditioning, although you may find window units rather than central air in some.
There are a few hold-out owners of older, smaller properties who believe that vacationers want their windows open to enjoy the salt air and sound of the surf. If you're of like mind, you'll have yourself an excellent bargain: These properties rent for well below the going rates.
How many beds are in each bedroom?
Cottages may offer a variety of bed configurations, including bunk beds, trundle beds, and sofa beds. Queen-size, even king-size, beds in master suites is the rule these days; some bedrooms may have two double beds.
But the number of people a cottage can legally accommodate isn't necessarily the maximum number of people you can squeeze onto all the possible sleeping places. In most cases on the Outer Banks, the maximum occupancy limit of a cottage is determined by the septic tank capacity of the house.
A few owners choose to set lower occupancy limits to reduce wear-and-tear to their properties.
Renters who exceed occupancy limits can be evicted.
The New Orleans reader knew what house she wanted to rent, but for would-be renters who need to shop around, the best place to start is with the Dare County Tourist Bureau's annual vacation guide. It includes - among many other things - a complete listing of vacation rental companies from Corolla to Ocracoke.
Each company publishes a free rental brochure that, usually, includes a photo and detailed description of each cottage. Most will include information about the neighborhood and recreational facilities.
Even the least user-friendly of these brochures walk you through the rental process and explain policies, rents and fees.
(To get a copy of the 1996 Outer Banks Vacation Guide, call the Dare County Tourist Bureau, 919-473-2138 or 800-446-6262. It's at the printers and should be available by mid-month.) MEMO: Chris Kidder covers Outer Banks real estate for The Carolina Coast. Send
comments and questions to her at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C. 27959.
by CNB