Vacation Rental Information - Village Realty OBX

Your Outer Banks Vacation Home

We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards in every home. Standard features in all our homes are central ac/heat, washer/dryer, refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, and other features of a fully equipped kitchen, including cookware, dishes, etc. Also included are televisions, pillows, blankets, all bed linens, and towels, excluding beach towels. Please remember that the homes are individually owned so additional contents and furnishings reflect the desires of the homeowner. Village Realty will make every effort to supply or repair any advertised items. Unless otherwise specified, all grills should be used with caution, away from the house and decks. Village Realty welcomes all vacationing families and responsible groups but our contractual agreements with our homeowners do NOT allow high school or college groups.

All Linens & Towels are Provided in All of Our Homes. Beds are Already Made when You Arrive!

Main beds are made in all our homes prior to your arrival. Decorative bedding will be folded and at the foot of the bed. Bunk and trundle beds will not be made, but clean linens will be wrapped and placed in these rooms for usage if needed. Pillows are included. Bath towels and face cloths (one for each person the home accommodates). A start-up kit of paper towels, kitchen and bath products are also included. The home will be cleaned prior to your arrival and again upon departure. Please remove all personal belongings; lock all doors and windows and turn your keys in to the office by 10 AM on check-out day. Village Realty will clean the house on departure day.

Rental Payments

Visa, MasterCard, Discover, personal checks, certified checks, eChecks, and money orders are accepted for the initial 50% payment. Checks must be received in our office within 7 days of booking. A $35 charge may be added for returned checks. The balance of your charges is due in our office no later than 45 days prior to arrival. Reservations with unpaid balances within 45 days of arrival may be subject to cancellation without refund. Reservations made within 45 days of arrival require payment in full at the time of booking. No PERSONAL checks or eChecks will be accepted within 45 days of arrival.

The tax rate for North Carolina is 6.75%. County taxes are 6% for both Dare and Currituck counties (12.75% combined taxes.) Taxes are subject to change without notice. All funds will be placed in an interest-bearing account at TOWNEBANK, 2 Juniper Trail, Southern Shores, NC 27949, on which the interest shall accrue to the benefit of Village Realty. All funds must be in US Dollars.

Security Deposits

A Security Deposit may be required at Agent’s discretion. Tenant is responsible for damage caused by willful negligence and/or damage by pet(s). If a security deposit is required, the amount varies by property. The house should be left broom clean and damage-free. If required, the security deposit must be paid in your final payment and by check (no credit cards, please). If the home is left damage-free, the security deposit will be returned 45 days from check-out. You will be notified by mail of any itemized damage charges and the total will be deducted from your security deposit.

Travel Protection Insurance

Travel Insurance is available to cover hurricane evacuations, family emergencies such as illness or death in the family. We strongly urge you to purchase this insurance when considering your Outer Banks vacation. NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE FOR HURRICANE EVACUATIONS WITHOUT TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE. Please visit our Travel Protection Insurance page for further information.

Cancellation Policy

If you must cancel your reservation after making payments, we will do our best to re-rent your vacation home for the time period you have reserved. If re-rented, monies will be refunded less a $50 cancellation fee. However, if the rental rate is negotiated to a lower rate or rented for a lesser time period, the original Tenant will only be refunded the lower rental amount. Village Realty will make every effort to re-rent the property at the full amount. If the unit is not re-rented, all monies paid will be forfeited. All cancellation requests must be in writing by the leaseholder (email or fax is fine) and signed by the leaseholder of the reservation. Balances due for leases two weeks or longer must be paid in full prior to check-in even if a portion of the period was not able to be re-rented. Trip insurance is not refundable.

Hurricane Information – Re-Entry Procedures after a hurricane has passed

Both counties use the following four Re-Entry Stages:

Priority One: Essential personnel identified by special permit

Priority Two: Permanent residents. Non-resident employees of critical businesses.

Priority Three: Non-resident property owners. Non-resident employees of non-critical businesses.

Priority Four: General public, including visitors.

For Dare County (Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, and Cape Hatteras): Dare County Control Group: 252-475-5655, darecountyem.com

For Currituck County (all of Corolla, from Pine Island to Villages at Ocean Hill and 4WD area): Currituck Emergency Management 252-232-2115; Storm Hotline: 252-232-6010; website

Check-In / Check-Out Information

Check-in time is 4:00 PM on your arrival date and check-out is 10:00 AM on your departure date. Please plan your travel accordingly. We make every effort to have all our homes ready by 4:00 PM but we cannot guarantee this due to unforeseen circumstances. Please do not buy groceries prior to checking in to your home and please do not go to the home before you are given the keys or code. Our maintenance staff may have to complete some repairs or routine maintenance, the pool and/or hot tub will need to be serviced (if an amenity at the home) and the home must be cleaned and inspected prior to your arrival. All this must take place in a very short time and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we get your vacation home ready for your arrival.

For homes with keys, please check-in at the appropriate rental office. For homes in Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head, please go to our Nags Head office, located at 5301 South Croatan Hwy (US 158). For Corolla and Duck homes, check-in and out at our Corolla office, which is located at 510 Old Stoney Road at the south entrance to The Currituck Club.

If you will be arriving after office hours (and your balance is paid in full), you will find your keys and directions to the house in the After Hours Check-In Box located right outside the front door of the correct check-in office. If you will be late please call if you have the opportunity, and let us know. If you have not paid in full, it is very important that you call us at least one day prior to check-in to make arrangements with us.

Private Pools and Hot Tubs

Private Pools usually open beginning in early May and close in mid-October, depending on the weather. Some vacation homes offer a heated pool during certain weeks. Pools are not heated unless otherwise indicated in the description for the home. Heated pools are heated in May and again from early September until mid-October; exact dates may vary by year. If the home features a heated pool, this will be included in the description for the home. Heated pools will usually heat the pool to approx. 78-80 degrees. If the wind has been blowing for several days and/or if it has been unseasonably cool, the pool water may feel cooler than this. We cannot adjust the temperature of the pool; thermostats are set by the vendor for optimum performance. The heaters are turned off and heated pools are not available during the other seasons. All pools and hot tubs are chemically treated and serviced on your arrival day. Please take special care with the hot tub covers as they are only styrofoam with a vinyl cover and can break easily. The leaseholder is responsible for the supervision and appropriate use of the pools and hot tubs. They can be dangerous for children, pregnant women, and other people with sensitive skin or requiring medical attention. Each pool and/or hot tub is only for the occupants of that house.

Community Pools

Community Pool dates are governed by the Property Owners Association for each community on the Outer Banks. The dates these are open and closed do not necessarily correspond with the dates for the private pools at homes managed by Village Realty. Please refer to each home’s community description for more information.

Fireplaces

Many homes have a fireplace, either gas or wood-burning. However, in some homes, the fireplace may not be available for guest use. Fireplaces are available/open during the off-season weeks only. If the home has a gas/propane fireplace we will make every effort to ensure that it is operational during your stay in the off-season; however, we cannot guarantee fireplace operations. If the propane runs out during your week please call our office so that we may call the appropriate vendor. The owner has contracted with a gas company regarding the servicing of the fireplace and response times may vary due to distance, the number of service calls, etc. If the home has a wood-burning fireplace, you are usually able to purchase wood-burning logs at the local grocery store. If you are unsure of the operation of a fireplace or whether the flue is opened, please call our office before attempting to start a fire.

Pets

Pets are not allowed unless specifically listed in the home’s description. Those homes that do allow pets are limited to two domestic housebroken dogs or cats unless otherwise noted. A NON-REFUNDABLE pet fee is required in addition to the refundable security deposit. We are not able to make exceptions with NON-PET homes. Please respect this rule as your security deposit will be held if a pet is housed in a non-pet home. Many guests are highly allergic to pets and choose specific homes because they do not allow pets; many of the homeowners also have severe allergies to pets of any kind. If you are not sure whether the home you have chosen allows pets, please call our office. We are also happy to recommend local boarding facilities for your pet. Click here to read more on bringing your pet to the Outer Banks.

Construction on the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is a growing area with new construction, most of which is completed prior to the summer months. If you are renting close to construction, please be tolerant. No refunds or moves can be made.

Lost and Found

If you forget something, call Village Realty as soon as possible. We will make every effort to find the lost items and return them to you. However, we cannot be responsible for items left behind. If unclaimed within 30 days, items are donated to a local charity.

Office Services

We are happy to receive mail, packages, or faxes during office hours. Please let us know if you are expecting a delivery. It is also helpful if the sender includes the house number (the property ID, e.g. CC111) along with the name of the leaseholder and the recipient so we will know who to call. We cannot deliver mail, packages, or faxes so please stop by the office during your stay if you are expecting something. There are computers and wireless internet access available at both our check-in locations. These are available for guest use at no charge during office hours, and the wireless works on the front porch of the Nags Head office any time.

Partial Week Stays

Village Realty welcomes guests for partial week stays of at least 2 or 3 nights, depending on the season. We can only reserve these for you within two weeks of your arrival date, although that window also changes according to the season. Not all homes allow partial stays, so please search the website or call our office to reserve. Payment must be made by credit card or certified funds for partial stays. Note that if your arrival date is less than 45 days out, immediate payment by credit card or certified funds is due.

Internet Access

All of our Outer Banks vacation homes offer high-speed wireless Internet access. We make every effort to ensure internet access is working properly. However localized or area-wide outages can sometimes occur, and these are beyond our control. We are happy to offer internet access at our check-in offices during these times or to suggest other short-term options. We ask you to please use the internet service responsibly, as you would in your own home, and ensure all members of your party do so as well.

We thank you and hope you enjoy your visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina!