When do I book my vacation rental?

The short answer is as early as possible! Lots of tenants who visited the island last summer, rebook as soon as they get home from their vacations. It’s a good idea to book as soon as you know your dates so that you can have as many options as possible when picking your rental. If planning in advance is not possible, once you have your vacation dates in mind give us a call and we will happily help you find something for your vacation!

 

How do I know what is available?

Availability changes so often with rentals being in such high demand we don’t display availability on our website. So, if there is a property on our website that has caught your eye, give the office a call and one of our rental agents will be happy to provide you with availability and other information.

 

Is there a minimum rental period?

During the peak season (July & August) rentals have a one week minimum. During the other months of the year, there is a little more flexibility with the length of stay, and most homeowners would accommodate a weekend rental.

 

I want to bring my dog. Do you have pet friendly rentals?

This is probably our most asked question when talking to prospective tenants. We do have some rentals that are pet friendly, but not all homeowners allow pets on the property. If you would like to bring your furry friends with you, please disclose that information to your rental agent as soon as possible so they can find you pet friendly options! As a heads up, the rentals that are pet friendly generally require a higher security deposit and/or more cleaning hours upon departure.

 

Do you have a cancellation policy? What about COVID?

If your plans change and you would like to cancel your Nantucket rental, if we can rebook the week(s) of your rental, you will get your money back. Lee Real Estate will work with both homeowners and tenants to help make something work, whether that is a rebook for another period, or a refund. In these COVID times, if there is a government mandated short-term rental ban, or travel ban, the lease will allow for full refund. The cancellation policy is spelled out in the lease, so if you have questions about it just ask your rental agent and they would be happy to explain it to you!

 

Short term rental tax?

In Massachusetts, all short-term rentals are subject to a rental tax. A short-term rental is defined as a rental lasting shorter than 31 days. The short-term rental tax rate currently in effect on Nantucket is 11.7% of the lease amount. If you rent for longer than 31 days, you would be exempt from the tax.

 

What is the payment structure? Can I pay by credit card?

Half of the payment is due upon the signing of the lease. You can pay by check made out to Lee Real Estate and mailed to the office or by wire transfer. We currently are not set up to accept credit cards. The second half of the payment, plus the security deposit are due roughly 45 days before your rental starts – usually around the middle of May to the beginning of June. The payment plan is outlined at the top of your lease with payment amounts and dates due outlined. You will also receive a reminder shortly before your payments are due from your rental agent.

 

What do I do once I get to the island to check in?

Your long-awaited arrival is finally here! You’re on the ferry and anxious to get your vacation started. Once you arrive on island you can head straight to your rental and it will be unlocked with keys on the counter.

 

What is the security deposit process?

A typical security deposit is 10% of the rental amount, however, this differs slightly with every circumstance and is negotiated during the lease writing process. The security deposit is due with your second payment and is held by Lee Real Estate. We will return your security deposit back to you within 60 days of your departure barring any damages, excess cleaning, etc. We will be in touch with the homeowner upon your check out to make sure that the property is left in good condition and we can release your security funds back to you.

 

If you have any other questions not answered above, please give your rental agent or the office a call and we would be happy to answer any and all questions you might have. If you haven’t booked your rental yet, give us a call so we can send you rental options ASAP!