Vacation Rental Policies and Procedures

Thank you for choosing Seaport Village Realty, Cape Cod’s Premier Full-Service Real Estate Office. This list of policies and procedures is to ensure that the renting process goes as smoothly as possible, so you can get on to enjoying your vacation! Please notify your agent if you have any questions. 

Once you check in to the rental property please inspect the premises. If there are any problems, please notify us before moving in or as soon as the problem becomes apparent. If an issue is not reported you may be held responsible and forfeit some or all of your damage deposit. Please help us make this the best possible vacation for you.

Payment Policies:
Reservations are taken on a provisional basis and may be made by telephone or via internet and confirmed upon our receipt of a 50% deposit. To secure booking, your leases and deposit must be returned within 10 days. Deposits may be made by personal or business check, or money order. We do not accept credit cards. Overseas transactions must be paid in US funds through a US bank. Tenant is responsible for any extra costs to receive wire transfers. Final rental payment is due by May 15th, security deposits are due 30 days prior to your arrival. Rentals reserved after May 15^th will be payable in full. Payment in full, made by certified check or money order, is required on all bookings made within 30 days of arrival.

Guest Cooperation:

A certain level of guest cooperation ensures that we can provide you with a clean and comfortable property. The property owners request that you do not go to the property before check in time, unless noted on your lease. Time is needed to clean the property between guests, make any repairs and show the property to prospective tenants. Even if you have gone by the property before check-in and do not see anyone there, the cleaners/landlord may not have arrived yet to service the property.

Security Deposit:
With most rental properties you are charged a refundable security deposit to be returned after your departure. Security deposits are cashed and deposited in a non-interest bearing escrow account as required by law. The property will be inspected prior to your arrival and following your departure. The security deposit will be returned in full within 30 days after we have verified that there were no terms of the lease broken, missing items, damages, excessive cleaning required after check-out, and additional cable or telephone charges incurred. Please Note: Seaport Village Realty is not responsible for any disputes between parties for damages, theft or liability.

Cancellations:
If you need to cancel your lease, notify our office immediately. All cancellations must follow in writing. Please note: even with written notice, under the terms of your lease you are responsible for all rents due. If we are able to re-rent the property at the same rate all rents will be refunded less a 15% (of all rent due) cancellation fee. We will do our best to re-rent the property under the same terms as your lease to a new tenant. However, we cannot guarantee re-rental.
Seaport Village Realty reserves the right to cancel your lease if 1) leases and initial payment are not received within 10 days of booking 2) if your final payment and/or security deposit are not received by May 15^th or when final payment is due.

Accommodations:
Descriptions: We make every effort to ensure accurate descriptions of the homes we represent. However, owners can and sometimes do make changes without notifying us. Seaport Village Realty cannot be held responsible for typographical errors, omissions, price changes, and changes made by owners including but not limited to, furnishings, equipment, bed arrangements, etc. If a tenant does not personally inspect the premises prior to signing their lease, they agree to accept the rental property as is, provided it meets the basic standards of habitability under MA law. The tenant will not be entitled to a refund and will have no recourse against the agent or Seaport Village Realty if the property does not meet their expectations.

Equipment and Appliances: Although we cannot guarantee the operation of all appliances, our staff makes every effort to ensure that the equipment and appliances are in working order. Agents, authorized employees or repairmen may enter the premises for purposes connected with repair, care or maintenance of the rental property. We will do our utmost to have any malfunction repaired in a timely manner; however, no refunds are given for equipment or appliance failure.

Subletting: Tenants will not be permitted to sublet any properties without express permission from the property owner.

Construction:
Cape Cod is a very desirable area with many homes under construction at any given time. We are very sorry but we cannot move people, or give refunds for construction noise or inconvenience.

Weather:

As much as we wish we could, Seaport Village Realty cannot guarantee good weather or travel conditions. There is no refund for lost time due to inclement weather/travel conditions. 

Occupancy:
Total occupancy in properties may not exceed the maximum number of occupants allowed as shown on page one (1) of the lease agreement. Children, including babies of all ages, are counted in this total. Violation of the occupancy limit is grounds for immediate eviction. Sorry-no exceptions and no refunds.

Telephones:
Most homes do not have telephones and most that do have long distance blocks. Please come prepared to use your cell phone or calling cards.

Linens and towels:
Not all of our home rentals include linens or towels. If you have rented a property with no linens, please bring from home, or ask your agent for a referral to a local supplier.

Pets/Allergies:
Most of our homes do not allow pets. The owner may still have had a cat or dog in residence. We can make no guarantee for an allergen-free home. Failure to abide by a home’s no pets policy by allowing pets on the premises, either your own or a guest’s, will result in a $400 penalty and immediate termination of your lease. Please see out Pet Policies for information about pet-friendly homes.

Smoking:
Smoking is not permitted in our rental properties. If there is evidence that smoking has occurred inside a non-smoking rental property you will be charged an additional $1,000.00 cleaning and ionization fee- THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE AND OUR POLICY IS STRICTLY ENFORCED.

Cleaning Policy:
Rental homes are professionally or owner cleaned before every tenant arrives. Guests are responsible for cleaning during their stay and leaving the property in the condition in which it was received. Additional charges will apply for excessive cleaning, returning furniture to its original location and/or laundering linens if not included in the rental agreement. If you arrive at your home and believe that the house has not been cleaned properly you must notify Seaport Village Realty within 24 hours.

Lost and Found:

If you leave an item behind please contact us as soon as possible. We will make every effort to locate your items. Your items will be available for pick up at our office or returned to you via U.S. Postal Service for the cost of shipping. Any items found that are not claimed within 30 days will be donated to charity. Please Note: Seaport Village Realty is not responsible for any items left in the rental.

Check-in/Check-out:   Please refer to your lease!
Check-in time is usually 3:00 PM. Keys may be picked up at our office at that time. If you will be arriving after 5:00 PM, please call the office to let us know and to make arrangements to pick up your keys.
Check-out time is 10:00 AM Sorry there are no exceptions. Keys must be dropped at our office. There will be a charge of an additional day’s rent for failure to check out by 10 a.m. There is a $25 charge for lost keys.

To avoid any additional charges please leave the property in the condition you received it

-All food and personal items removed from home, dishes washed and put away, grill cleaned after use, furniture returned to original locations, sheets removed from bed, towels cleaned

Agency Disclosure and Property Maintenance:
Seaport Village Realty represents the property owner(s). We make every effort to assist tenants. Seaport Village Realty is a vacation rental company and the management of the property is the sole responsibility of the owner.

RESERVATION PROCEDURE:
PAYMENT CAN BE MAILED TO

Seaport Village Realty
128 Main St
Hyannis, MA 02601

BEACH STICKERS: Rates and availability vary per town. Please visit the particular town’s website for more information. Tenants are responsible for any beach stickers provided for their vacation period. Failure to leave a beach sticker at the home or to return with the keys will result in a replacement cost of up to $300.00.

Additional services may be available at an additional cost (housekeeping services, home supplies, shopping, concierge service, etc) Please ask your agent or see the “Explore Cape Cod” section of our website for more information.

Seaport Village Realty wants every vacation to be a memorable experience for all our summer and short term renters. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any special requests.