LITCHFIELD REAL ESTATE VACATION RENTAL POLICY TERMS
RESTRICTIONS:
- All properties are non-smoking.
- Maximum occupancy is the number the home sleeps as noted on your confirmation.
- Absolutely no house parties, events, receptions or kegs. Litchfield Real Estate reserves the right to immediately evict without refund for overcrowding and/or noise violations.
- No campers or RVs are allowed on any rental property.
- Persons under the age of 25 may not enter into a rental agreement. Non-family group members are required to be 25 years and older.
- Pets are prohibited. See rules for dog friendly homes below.
- Grilling is prohibited on or under decks and porches.
- Fireworks are NOT allowed on any rental property.
- Public beach access ways are plentiful. Do not trespass on private property to access the beach.
CHECK-IN: Check-in is NO EARLIER THAN 4:00 P.M. Guests must check-in at the Litchfield Real Estate office located at 12980 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island SC 29585. Check-in will not be allowed until your home has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.
CHECK-OUT: Check-out is BEFORE 10:00 A.M. No exceptions. No occupancy of the property after check-out is permitted, including driveways and outdoor showers. An additional rental day may be charged if the property is not vacated by 10:00 a.m. Refunds are not given for early departures. The Guest will be charged $50 per unreturned key and a re-keying fee may also be imposed.
GUEST CHECK-OUT DUTIES: Departure duties are outlined on your arrival packet and must be completed before returning your keys to the office. A reasonable clean-up fee, not exceeding $500, may be imposed if check-out duties are not adequately performed.
1. Clean all kitchenware and put away in appropriate cupboards and drawers.
2. Empty all food from refrigerator/cabinets (bring nonperishables to office for charity)
3. Bag ALL trash and place in outdoor containers the NIGHT BEFORE DEPARTURE.
4. Leave all beds unmade (do not strip); pile all towels in tub or shower stall.
5. Lock all windows and doors.
6. Dog Friendly rentals: Clean up dog hair and dog yard waste.
7. Return all keys to the Litchfield Real Estate office.
LINENS: All beds are made and fresh towels are provided for every stay in all of our rental homes. Our linen package includes all beds made, 2 bath towels and 1 wash cloth per number of people the home sleeps, 1 bath mat and 2 hand towels per bathroom, and 2 kitchen towels. Should you require additional linens during your stay, rentals are available at our office for an extra fee. Beach towels are not provided. The linen package is an additional cost for monthly stays.
HOUSEKEEPING: The departure clean is included with all weekly and nightly stays. Should you have a cleaning concern in your rental home upon arrival, please contact our office immediately. Cleaning issues can be quickly remedied. Guests are asked to leave their rental home neat and orderly upon departure.
PAYMENT TERMS: A signed Rental Agreement as well as half of the total cost due plus the cost of Travel Insurance, if selected, are due within 3 days of booking to confirm a reservation. Confirmation is delivered after the first payment is processed. Final balance is due in full 45 days prior to arrival date. A signed Rental Agreement and full payment is due immediately when a reservation is booked within 45 days of arrival. Payments may be made by e-check, certified funds, traveler’s checks, cash or credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. A 3% fee is collected on credit card payments. Guest authorizes Litchfield Real Estate to charge the final 45-day balance due to the credit card on account.
MONTHLY STAYS: Electric, departure clean and linen package are extra guest costs on month to month stays in short-term rental properties.
LBTS RESORT FEE: A mandatory Resort Fee of $15 per reserved night ($210 cap) required by the Litchfield by the Sea HOA is subject to taxes and must be collected in full on each reservation.
TAXES: Rent and related rental costs are subject to sales taxes determined by the State of South Carolina and County of Georgetown. Taxes are subject to change without notice and will be paid in full by the Guest.
ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE WAIVER: All reservations are subject to a nonrefundable Accidental Damage Waiver fee (certain exceptions, such as Seasonal Monthly Stays, require a refundable Security Deposit payment). The Accidental Damage Waiver fee is $200 for all homes with a private pool as well as for Sophie’s Point. For all other vacation rental homes, the Damage Waiver fee is $85. This fee is automatically billed to your account upon booking.
The Accidental Damage Waiver covers reported accidental damage up to $800. Accidental damage exceeding this limit is the responsibility of the Guest. The Accidental Damage Waiver is not insurance, does not relieve you of responsibilities as a Guest, and does not cover damage caused by a pet.
The Accidental Damage Waiver only covers accidental damage disclosed to Litchfield Real Estate during your occupancy. Unreported damages found upon inspection will void your Waiver and the full cost for repair or replacement becomes the responsibility of the Guest and will be billed to the Guest.
Examples of damages NOT considered accidental include a hot dish placed on a table or counter without appropriate protection placed underneath, grilling too close to vinyl siding, horseplay, using tanning oil spray inside, consuming food or beverages that can easily stain while on furniture or carpets, ink or fingernail polish on the walls, any damages caused by pets.
CANCELLATIONS: Litchfield Real Estate must be notified of cancellation in writing either by email to Info@LitchfieldRealEstate.com, or fax to (843) 237-1513 and is subject to the property being re-rented. Every effort will be made to re-rent the property. If the property re-rents for less money, the shortage in rent will be charged on your account and the balance of pre-paid money will be returned less a $300 re-booking fee and the reservation fee.
Payments cannot be transferred to other properties unless the original property is re-rented. Guest may not assign or sub-lease. No refunds are given for cancellation for any reason unless the same property is re-rented and paid in full for the same number of days as your original reservation.
Refunds made through Travel Insurance are the ONLY REMEDY for evacuations. Other cancellations covered by Travel Insurance will ONLY be paid by the insurance provider. NO REFUNDS ARE MADE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. NO REFUNDS ARE MADE FOR VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY HURRICANE EVACUATIONS.
If a property becomes unavailable due to sale, construction or double-booking, Litchfield Real Estate will make a good faith effort to relocate the Guest to similar accommodations. The Guest agrees to accept a refund or pay for any rate difference. If another property is not available, the Guest’s only remedy will be a refund for payments received.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance is your only protection for lost rent and travel-related expenses. Travel insurance is offered through our company by Red Sky/Sun Trip Preserver, which you can select at the time of booking.
We strongly recommend purchasing coverage, not only for peace of mind but as a convenient way to protect your family vacation. Travel insurance covers many unexpected situations that can arise requiring cancellation, interruption or delay of your travel plans and even provides coverage for emergency medical treatment, medical transportation, and baggage delay. Travel insurance also covers mandatory hurricane evacuation.
If you have any questions about travel insurance, before or after your purchase, visit Red Sky Travel Insurance/ Sun Trip Preserver online or call directly at 866-889-7409 for the most immediate and accurate information. Coverage and refunds are determined solely by Red Sky.
LOCK-OUTS: Should you inadvertently get locked out of your rental, please call our office for assistance. If a staff member must be called out after-hours, a $50 lock-out fee will be charged to the Guest’s account.
HOUSE PARTIES: We rent to family groups and responsible adults over 25 years of age only. Litchfield Real Estate reserves the right to refuse occupancy or discontinue the rental with no refund if a house party is detected. Absolutely no house parties, events, large receptions or kegs. Overcrowding and noise violations can result in immediate eviction without refund.
PET POLICY: No pets of any kind are allowed in or on any rental property. Should an unauthorized pet be brought to a rental home, Litchfield Real Estate reserves the right to terminate the rental without refund and charge a $500 penalty fee.
DOG FRIENDLY RENTAL POLICY: Several properties are designated as Dog Friendly (dogs only). Guests bringing their dog(s) to a Dog Friendly home must pay the required dog rental fee(s), remove dog hair, remove dog waste, and abide by the rules set by the homeowner and Litchfield Real Estate as well as state and county laws.
The Guest agrees to comply with all Dog Friendly Rental Home rules and regulations and hereby certifies to Litchfield Real Estate, Inc. and to the Owner of the rental property in which they are staying that they agree to be responsible for any and all actions, injuries and damages caused by their pet in any way relating to their use and occupancy of the rented property, including, but not limited to, damages to the property or property of third parties and injuries to any and all persons at any location, either on or off of this property arising from or relating in any way to the actions of the pet. Also, the Guest agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Owner of the property and Litchfield Real Estate, Inc., its officers, agents and contractors, from any and all claims and actions arising out of or in any way relating to their pet.
WE REALIZE THIS IS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, SO PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG IF IT IS NOT ADAPTABLE. PLEASE NOTE: NEITHER THE ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE WAIVER NOR A SECURITY DEPOSIT COVER DAMAGES CAUSED BY A PET.
FURNISHINGS AND EQUIPMENT: Furnishings and equipment in all Litchfield Real Estate vacation rentals are provided by the owner. All vacation rentals are equipped for normal daily living, including kitchenware for cooking and eating, pillows, and bed coverings. All rentals have central heating and air, cable TV, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker and washer/dryer. Litchfield Retreat condo rentals have access to shared laundry facilities on site.
Guests are required to leave all furnishings in the same arrangement as found upon arrival. Do not move large furniture. Should it be necessary to schedule a service call to move heavy or awkward furniture back in place, the cost will be billed to the Guest in addition to any repair costs for related damages.
EQUIPMENT FAILURE: Every reasonable effort is made to ensure all equipment for each property is in good working order. Please notify Litchfield Real Estate promptly of any difficulty you encounter during your stay. Upon notification, we will immediately make every reasonable effort to complete repairs.
PLEASE ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING TO HELP AVOID EQUIPMENT FAILURE:
- Use garbage disposals as intended – no grease or non-compostable items
- Avoid overstuffing toilets
- Rinse sand off outdoors, not down indoor drains
- Allow the refrigerator time to reach temperature after stocking with warm products. Adjusting to the lowest setting does NOT make it cool faster and is the leading cause of failure.
- Keep all doors and windows closed when the air conditioning is in operation.
IF IT IS FOUND THAT A GUEST HAS CAUSED A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO FAIL OR THAT A TECHNICIAN HAS BEEN ERRONEOUSLY CALLED OUT, THE GUEST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY EXPENSES INCURRED.
The Guest agrees that Litchfield Real Estate or its agents may enter the rental property for the purposes of assessing and making necessary repairs and maintenance and other related purposes. No refunds, credits, rate adjustments, or relocations will be issued for any equipment failure, including heating and cooling systems and appliances, nor for repair delays caused by unavailable parts or complexity.
WE CANNOT GUARANTEE APPLIANCES, HVAC SYSTEMS OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS FOR THEIR FAILURE OR FOR DELAYED REPAIRS.
LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS: The Guest will be billed for the cost of long-distance calls charged to the rental landline made during your stay as well as a $30 handling fee.
UTILITY SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS: Litchfield Real Estate is not responsible for any interruption of utility service for cable, internet, water, electric power, mobile phone or landline phone, nor for any related repair delays. While we will make every effort to report and discover the problem and see to having all repairs performed promptly, the cause and resulting repair is often out of our control. Utility service problems discovered outside of office hours and on holidays may not be addressed until the next business day. No refunds, credits, rate adjustments, or relocations will be issued for utility service interruptions or delayed repairs.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY: Our office is not notified of new construction or beach protection maintenance schedules. Should you find construction activity near your rental home, please realize such circumstances are beyond our control and no refunds, credits, rate adjustments or relocations will be made.
POOLS: Private pools are serviced on turnover days and again mid-week. Contact Litchfield Real Estate for more information about heating and cooling options and to place your order. If available, an additional fee is charged to the Guest. ORDERS SHOULD BE MADE AT LEAST 7 DAYS IN ADVANCE to allow ample time for scheduling a technician and for pool water to come to temperature.
Guests are prohibited from tampering with pool chemicals or equipment, including adjusting the temperature. If you feel the temperature is not set adequately or have concerns about other pool functions, call our office and we will send a professional technician. If it is found that a Guest has tampered with chemicals or equipment or that a technician has been erroneously called out, the Guest will be responsible for the expenses incurred.
During times of extremely low temperatures or high wind, pools may not heat to what a Guest may believe is an acceptable temperature. No refund will be given due to adverse weather conditions. NOTE: The outside temperature must be consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit in order for pool heaters to properly operate.
Litchfield Real Estate cannot be held responsible for the opening and closing of subdivision and community pools. Hours and rules are at the discretion of the community property manager and are subject to change. No refunds are given for pool closings. Toddlers must wear swim diapers. Please check individual pool rules.
Guests understand they use any pool AT YOUR OWN RISK. Pets are NOT permitted in pools at any time.
GRILLING: Some homeowners provide grills at their rental home. Check your rental description to see if one is provided. Grilling is not allowed on decks, porches or balconies, under any portion of a raised home, or near siding or vegetation. PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND LEAVE THE GRILL CLEAN FOR THE NEXT GUEST. Call us if you do not have grill cleaning tools at your rental.
LOCKED CLOSETS: Any tampering or break-ins will be reported to local law enforcement.
ELEVATORS: Guests who have access to an elevator in a private rental home understand they use the elevator AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither Litchfield Real Estate nor the homeowner can be held liable for your actions or for equipment failure. Any damage caused during a guest stay will be the guest’s expense without exception.
FIREWORKS: Fireworks are NOT permitted on any Litchfield Real Estate rental property.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND TRAILERS: Motorcycles, jet skis, campers, RVs and trailered boats are prohibited in the gated communities of Inlet Point, Litchfield by the Sea and Prince George. Campers and RVs are not allowed on any of our rental properties.
LOST AND FOUND: We make every effort to locate and return items left behind; however, we cannot be held responsible for items left behind or lost. Found items will be taken, along with your mailing and credit card info, to UPS or FedEx for delivery. Guest pays the cost of delivery plus $10 handling fee. We are not responsible for items broken or lost during shipping. Items not claimed within 30 days after check-out will be donated to a local charity.
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS: We make every effort to provide current and accurate information. However, Litchfield Real Estate is not responsible for errors, omissions, equipment failure, or changes in rates, taxes, furnishings or amenities. Descriptions and rates are subject to change or correction without notice. Please contact us to verify information. Due to occasional weather-caused phenomena, photos may not accurately represent boardwalks, steps, decks, docks and ramps adjacent to the beach or salt marsh creek.
DISCLOSURES: Litchfield Real Estate offers services and rental properties without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status. Litchfield Real Estate reserves the right to refund deposit, refuse rental or discontinue occupancy if, in our opinion, the tenant’s occupancy is detrimental to the property.
According to SC laws and regulations, all interest earned from the tenant’s trust funds (e.g., security deposit, advance year hold deposit, pre-paid rent, other) deposited in the brokerage’s trust account belongs to the tenant and by signing the Litchfield Real Estate Vacation Rental Policy Terms, the tenant waives ownership interest in and gives informed consent that the brokerage has ownership over all interest earned from the tenant’s trust funds (e.g., security deposit, advance year hold deposit, pre-paid rent, other) deposited in the brokerage’s trust account.
WAIVER AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY FOR USE OF PROPERTY: To WAIVE AND RELEASE, indemnify, hold harmless and forever discharge Litchfield Real Estate and Owner of the rental property and its members, agents, employees, officers, directors, affiliates, successors and assigns, of and from any and all claims demands, debts, contracts, expenses, causes of action, lawsuits, damages, and liabilities, of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, in law or equity, the Guest/Signee agrees: 1. That the use of the swimming pool, hot tub, dock, pier, decks, porches, balconies or elevator may be considered inherently dangerous and may cause serious grievous injuries, including bodily injury, damage to personal property and/or death. 2. The Guest, their children, heirs, assigns and next of kin, waive all claims for damages, injuries and death sustained to the Guest, their children and any minors for which the Guest is legally responsible or any member of his/her party. 3. To assume any risk, and take full responsibility and waive any claims of personal injury, death or damage to personal property associated with use of this property and its equipment in any manner, form or fashion. 4. To WAIVE AND RELEASE even after termination of the activities conducted on the premises whether by agreement, by operation of law, or otherwise.
LIMITATIONS OF REMEDIES, DAMAGES, AND INDEMNITY: In the event Litchfield Real Estate or Owner of the rental property is unable to deliver property to Guest under this agreement because of fire, eminent domain, Act of Nature, unavailable because of delay in construction or because of lack of water, sewer, power services, property is sold, removed from rental program, or any other reason beyond Litchfield Real Estate’s or Owner’s control, Guest hereby agrees that Litchfield Real Estate and Owner’s sole liability as a result of any of these conditions is the full refund of all considerations previously tendered by Guest pursuant to the terms of this agreement with the exception of fees listed as non-refundable, and Guest expressly acknowledges that in no event shall Litchfield Real Estate or Owner be held liable for any consequential or secondary damages, including but not limited to any expenses as a result of travel, cost of re-renting, etc. Guest also agrees in the case of a double booking, Guest will be entitled to full refund of all consideration previously tendered by Guest. Alternately, Litchfield Real Estate will make all attempts to relocate Guest. Guest agrees to be responsible for any repairs necessary due to their negligence. Guest understands that Litchfield Real Estate has the right to refuse service to anyone. In the event Litchfield Real Estate or Owner has to resort to legal process to enforce rights under this agreement, Guest shall be responsible for reasonable attorney fees and costs. Guest agrees this rental agreement is entered into in Georgetown County, SC and consents to personal jurisdiction and any proper court location therein. If Guest or any member of his/her party violates any of the conditions of this agreement, Litchfield Real Estate may terminate this agreement and enter premises. Upon notice of termination of this agreement, Guest shall vacate the premises immediately without refund.
BY SIGNING THIS VACATION RENTAL AGREEMENT, THE GUEST/SIGNEE AGREES HE/SHE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO THE TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT.
Litchfield Real Estate
PO Box 68 / 12980 Ocean Highway
Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585
FAX (843) 237-1513, PHONE (843) 237-4241
Info@LitchfieldRealEstate.com