Rental Policies
TRAVEL INSURANCE: TRIP PRESERVER™ TRAVEL PLAN, COVER YOUR INVESTMENT
With the Trip Preserver™ Travel Plan, you have coverage for your investment, and are protected against the unexpected. Trip Preserver™ also assists with emergency medical transportation, accidental death and dismemberment, illness, hurricane evacuation and other travel delays that can disrupt your vacation plans, and worldwide travel assistance. For a complete description of coverage and benefits, please call (866) 889-7409. Coverage is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company (a Missouri corporation, NAIC #11150) with the executive offices located in New York, NY. Coverage is subject to actual policy language and is administered by Red Sky Travel Insurance Company. Sloane Realty Vacations has no authority to determine coverage.
CHECK-IN INFORMATION/TIME - Check-in is currently slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. If you are vacationing on Ocean Isle Beach and need to check in at the office, the office is located at 16 Causeway Drive, the second office building located on the right once crossing over the bridge onto Ocean Isle Beach. If you are vacationing on Sunset Beach or Sunset Beach area golf course and need to stop at the office, the office is located at 420 Sunset Boulevard S, the first office building located on the right once crossing over the bridge on to Sunset Beach. Please plan your trip accordingly, as keys or keyless door codes cannot be released until home is cleaned and inspected. Occasionally, we may need additional time to perform cleaning or maintenance beyond 4:00 p.m. No check-in will be permitted until your rental account has been paid in full, including all taxes and other fees. If the rented property provides keyless entry, your door code will be emailed to you two days prior to your arrival. The code will not activate until after the cleaning and inspection is complete on check-in day.
EARLY BIRD CHECK-IN - A limited number of 2:00 p.m. check-ins are offered for those rental guests with special arrival needs and must be requested at least 30 days prior to arrival. The fee for the service is $75. We may not be able to offer the Early Check-in services in certain rental properties if the owner has the preceding/following week or if urgent repair work is needed. You will be notified if we will be unable to provide the services so that you may plan your trip accordingly. Since only a limited number are available each week, we recommend that you discuss this with your Reservationist at the time of booking.
AFTER HOURS CHECK-IN - Should you arrive after our office is closed and you have reserved a property that requires a key for access, your keys will be left in a lock box outside of our office. Please contact our office in advance for the combination code to the lock box and any other relative after hours instructions. Your keys along with directions will be left in a marked envelope. No late check-ins will be granted if there is a balance on your reservation.
DEPARTURE CLEANING SERVICE - Departure cleaning is provided upon check-out and is included in the rental rate quoted. This cleaning is basic cleaning and refunds will not be made if cleaning is unsatisfactory to the arriving guest. Sloane Realty Vacations will, however, send a housekeeping team ASAP to correct the cleaning discrepancy. Every property is inspected prior to check-in and after check-out and you may be billed if extraordinary cleaning is required. As one of our guests, you may request a mid-week cleaning with prior notice of 48 hours. A fee for mid-week cleaning will be charged prior to service.
SAME TIME NEXT YEAR - As a courtesy to our repeat guests, you are given the first opportunity to re-rent the same home or condo for the corresponding week next year. Confirmed guests can make a tentative reservation for the next year anytime during the year up through the first Wednesday of their stay. We open next year's reservations to the public on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. EST. Tentative reservations can be made online or through a reservationist. There is a 10% deposit required for each reservation to tentatively reserve for the next year. (A select few properties require a higher fee. Two-week stays and both sides of a duplex require a deposit for each week/side). The deposit does apply towards the rental cost but is not transferable. If you cancel the reservation for any reason, your deposit will only be refunded if Sloane Realty Vacations is able to re-rent the Property for the corresponding week on the same terms. The owner of the Property has agreed to submit an availability calendar to Sloane Realty Vacations by December 1 for the following rental year. In the event that the owner does not make your week available for rental, you will be immediately notified, and your deposit will be refunded in full. Otherwise, a Vacation Rental Agreement will be sent to you in late December for your signature. In that event, your signed Vacation Rental Agreement and an additional 40% deposit will be due by January 15.
METHOD OF PAYMENT - We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover, ACH payments, certified and personal checks. Payments made by credit card will incur a non-refundable service charge. For reservations made less than 45 days prior to arrival, only certified funds, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted and must be paid in full prior to arrival. No personal checks or ACH payments are accepted if arriving within 45 days. Remember that your final payment is due in full 30 days prior to arrival. A valid credit card number in the leaseholder's name is required to be held on file, regardless of your payment type, and is required at time of booking. A property will not be held out of inventory without a deposit securing the reservation to be placed on hold. Accepted forms of payment are in U.S. funds only.
TAXES - At the time of this document writing, North Carolina sales tax is 6.75% and the Town of Ocean Isle Beach and/or Sunset Beach Occupancy Tax is 6% for a total of 12.75% which is added to all rentals of 90 days or less. Guests are responsible for paying all applicable taxes in full prior to checking in. Taxes will be disbursed upon check-out.
CANCELLATIONS - In the event of a cancellation by Leaseholder, Leaseholder shall receive a refund of all payments made by Leaseholder, less a cancellation fee of $150, paid travel insurance (if applicable), credit card fees, plus all applicable taxes if the Premises is re-rented on the terms set forth herein. If the Premises are not re-rented on the terms set forth herein, Leaseholder will NOT be entitled to a refund of any rent payment made hereunder. If Agent deems it advisable to reduce the rental amount in order to re-rent the Premises, it may do so without notice to Leaseholder. In such event, any refund due to Leaseholder will be reduced. Whether or not the Premises are re-rented, Leaseholder, rather than Agent, shall be responsible for seeking reimbursement of any fees paid by Leaseholder to Agent for goods, services, or benefits procured by Agent from third parties for the benefit of Leaseholder that may have been paid out prior to Leaseholder’s cancellation.
MAY I BRING MY PET? - Search for dog friendly homes on our website. Please note that the majority of our homes do not allow pets. A one-time, non refundable pet fee will be charged per dog for the vacation homes that do allow pets. Mobility, visually, or hearing impaired persons must show a tag issued by the N.C. Department of Human Resources, or upon showing that the dog is trained as an assistance dog, may have a pet in a "no pet" property. Rental guests may be required to pay for exterminating and/or extraordinary cleaning fees. The Towns of Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach have a leash law and a "pooper-scooper" law that is strictly enforced. Pet owners must clean up after their pets. If you have not reserved a pet friendly property, no pets are allowed on the premises (inside or out). If a pet is reported or there is evidence thereof a fine will be assessed to the leaseholder and pet must immediately be removed from the premises. All service and assistance animals must be declared at the time of booking and prior to the check-in date in all instances.
LIMITED OCCUPANCY - The vacation property should not be used or occupied by more than the maximum number of occupants including family, children and tenant's guests. Exceeding occupancy will result in eviction and rent forfeiture, as well as a possible fine. PARKING MAY BE LIMITED so plan your vehicles carefully. Guests' parking is prohibited on the road right of ways or overnight in public parking areas. Parking violations are enforced by the Towns of OIB and Sunset Beach.
BLUE RIBBON/LINEN READY PROPERTIES - Homes and condos designated as "Linen Ready" offer the extra amenity of linens and towels INCLUDED in the rental rate. It's our extra special way of saying "thank you" for being our guest! All beds are made upon your arrival with a towel and washcloth set supplied per person. These homes have lightened your packing!
GRILLING - Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach law prohibits grilling on the decks and balconies of rental properties. Grilling is permitted only on concrete surfaces away from wooded areas or structures. If the owner provides a grill, rental guest is responsible for the cleaning and supply of charcoal or gas.
MAINTENANCE - Sloane Realty Vacations makes every effort to ensure that all of the following amenities are in good working order, such as but not limited to: swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, elevators, televisions, DVDs, Blu-ray players, Internet service, HVAC, and appliances. No refunds or discounts will be made in the event they are inoperable during your stay. Every effort will be made to coordinate the repair/replacement of any inoperable items. To do so, Sloane Realty Vacations reserves the right to enter the premises, or send a third party vendor during reasonable hours. Guests use any of these amenities at their own risk. Please contact our office immediately to report any malfunctions.
SEASONAL USE OF SWIMMING POOLS AND FIREPLACES - Swimming pools and fireplaces are listed in the property description if they are available. Please note that fireplaces are not available for use during the months of May through September. The hours of operation and seasonal availability for swimming pools (especially in private subdivisions or condominium complexes) is at the sole discretion of the Homeowner's Association and/or complex manager. Swimming pools are generally available for use from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A select group of private homes do offer heated swimming pools. Heated swimming pools are not automatically heated and must be requested a minimum of 48 hours in advance of arrival. For heat to be turned on, there is a daily surcharge for pool heat (rate varies depending on the property). Typically, the pool must be heated for a full 24 hours to ensure reasonable temperatures. Charges will apply to this first day of heating regardless if the pool is ready for swimming. Please contact us at least 48 hours in advance to heat the pool. Heating is typically available from mid-October until mid-May; however, this is left up to the discretion of the individual homeowner. Please inquire at time of booking whether this service will be available.
FURNISHINGS - All vacation properties are set up for light housekeeping and cooking. All beds are provided with pillows, mattress pads and bedspreads. Guests should bring all paper products, cleaning supplies, condiments, staple items, bed and bath linens. Blue Ribbon or Linen Ready homes do not require any bed and bath linens, but please bring beach towels. Linen service is available for an additional fee in any of our properties and should be reserved in advance.
TOWN LAWS - Town laws prohibit campfires, overnight camping, and glass of any kind along the beach. Additionally, the town of Ocean Isle Beach prohibits camping vehicles (except when used for transportation only). No sleeping in vehicles or campers. Parking shall not exceed seven (7) days. Pedestrian access areas to the ocean are located about every 1,000 feet. These assigned areas sometimes offer public parking. However, no parking is allowed overnight. BEACH EQUIPMENT: The Town of Ocean Isle Beach prohibits the use of cabanas, canopies, tents, or awnings on the beach at anytime. To view the town of Ocean Isle Beach's current beach rules and regulations, click here. Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach require all personal items must be removed from the strand at the end of each day. Any personal items left unattended between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. will be removed and disposed of by the town. Failure to comply with this ordinance will result in a civic penalty of $50 for each offense.
MESSAGES, MAIL & FAX - Mail may be sent to our office at 16 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469. If you are staying on Sunset Beach, please use the address at 420 Sunset Boulevard South Sunset Beach, NC 28468. Please check with the office for pick-up. Sloane Realty shall not be held responsible for mail that is lost or not retrieved by guest.
LOST & FOUND - Although we cannot be held responsible for items left behind, we do make every effort to locate and return them to you. Contact our office and items found will be sent by USPS unless otherwise arranged. A $25 handling fee will added to the cost of the shipping/freight charges. Unclaimed items will be donated to local charities after thirty days.
INDIVIDUALLY OWNED HOMES AND CONDOS - Every home and condo we manage is privately owned and reflects each owner's personal taste. Rental rates are usually based on location, amenities, and quality of furnishings. We make every effort to represent each home as realistically as possible with regard to space, physical condition, and comparisons. If you have specific personal requirements, please discuss these with your reservationist. We will not be able to make substitution or refunds upon arrival. Interior photos may be viewed on line at www.sloanevacations.com.
Thank you for choosing Sloane Realty Vacations!