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Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental FAQs

Common Questions About Renting a Vacation Home on Martha’s Vineyard

Reservations, Rates and Booking Information

  • The fastest way to book a stay is to fill out the Booking Form on our website.
  • Guests are encouraged to #bookdirect with us. The use of third parties such as Realtors, Travel Agents, Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway results in added fees.
  • The typical stay is one week. Long weekends in the off season are around 3/4 of the weekly rate. Wedding parties in spring and fall will often take the property from Wednesday until Tuesday the following week.
  • The security deposit is taken by placing a hold on a credit card similar to a stay in a hotel room. We also have damage insurance to each rental.
  • Special events and wedding parties are subject to a higher deposit. – more info.
  • The estimated cleaning fee includes all towels and linens. All the beds are made on arrival.
  • Animals are permitted on a case-by-case basis. Here are some good reasons to leave your pet at home. Click Here.
  • All reservations made within 90 days of a lease start date may be subject to a tenant application and reference checks.
  • Check-in is at 4 pm and check-out is at 10 am on a Sunday. Special times can be accommodated only with advance notice.
  • All rates, terms, and availability are subject to change without notice. Your terms are confirmed only after a lease and payment have been received.

What are the minimum nights

Our cancellation policy is outlined in the lease and is strict because our house is typically booked well in advance. It is very hard to book the house at the last minute.
We strongly encourage our guests to purchase travel insurance to protect not just the rent but your other travel purchases. We offer access to this travel insurance program on checkout for DIret Bookings.

You can choose from “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) or standard insurance that only covers you if there is a medical emergency.

Other options for you

Travel Insurance

Cancellation

If you need to cancel write us an email saying so. Once your booking is canceled we will work hard to fill any of your reservation’s dates and try to make our guests whole as best we can. If you booked with an OTA like Airbnb you need to contact them to cancel. They will not refund your booking fees. We cannot rent your reserved time until you are canceled.

Consult your lease for your specific cancelation terms. More information on cancelations and insurance is available on our blog.

Q: Are better rates available on other websites?

A: No – you are dealing directly with the owner's representative and can negotiate terms that are the most favorable. There will also be no additional 3rd party fees or credit card charges.  We use Airbnb, VRBO, Home Away, and other “OTA/middlemen” sites to bring business to us but their algorithms are very difficult to get to quote accurately. We establish a default rate but this low rate applies only to off-season rentals. For example 3 days in April or November. In the summer there is only the weekly rate available. If you want to stay for three or four days you may want to extend your stay as those extra three or four days are practically free. More information here.

Q: How Much Parking is there?

A: Each property has its parking details under Accommodations or Details. You do not need cars on the island, so you should leave as many as possible on the mainland. We have people who do not bring a car at all. The MVTA runs buses on a regular schedule. The local taxi companies mostly use vans (11 to 14 passengers) so you can move all at once, say to a restaurant. The local police are strict on DUI so don’t take the chance. There is also Uber and Lyft on the island, and many are using this popular service.

If you need to bring extra cars, you can park at the Deep Woods Lot for up to 24 hours. There are also two overnight town parking lots, one at the foot of Main Street and one nearby between Mayhew Lane and Kelly Street.

The Captain Morse House rents two parking spaces on North Summer Street. Contact them at info@captainmorsehouse.com for rates and availability.

There is no overnight street parking in most locations, and a limit of a few hours for daytime parking.

Q: Can I bring a pet or animal?

A: Not unless you have received specific permission in writing. Animal information is here.

Q: Should I bring my own food

A: There are excellent markets on the island and even some wonderful farms and specialty grocery and meat stores. You may save some money but even the liquor stores are pretty reasonable.

Q: Is the water safe to drink?​

A: Yes. The Town of Edgartown is supplied with water of the highest quality from five groundwater supplies ranging in depth from 60 to 120 feet. They all withdraw from the Martha’s Vineyard Sole Source Aquifer. See their latest water reports here: https://www.edgartown-ma.us/departments/water

Q: What is the weather like?

A: Martha’s Vineyard is an island well off the coast of New England. The weather can change quickly from hot to cold. It is always a good idea to check the weather forecast before venturing out and to bring a wide variety of clothes to the island. Islanders where practical clothing and you will find few occasions to wear fancy clothes unless you are attending a special event or club. A guide to the seasonal weather pattern is here.

Q: How are Security Deposits handled?

We no longer use cash and now use a credit card hold. This means that funds are available to us in the rare case that there is damage that it is not covered by the damage insurance. This is similar to what happens when you stay at a hotel or rent a car.

Credit card security deposits are controlled by the bank that issued you your credit card. They only last for about a week so you may see them automatically renewed from time to time. The hold will be released once the cleaners have reported to the owner and the owner has reported to us. This has eliminated the need to hold cash as a security deposit.

You may see charges on your statement or be notified of credits, followed by additional charges. This is bank activity surrounding the security deposit. It should only be a hold on your available credit and not an actual charge on your statement.  Some banks display this hold as a charge, but it should not appear as such on your end-of-month statement.

The Security Deposit Hold is automatically released about 6 days after your departure date.

Q: How do I host an event at the house

A: Any event at the house that is less than 2 + the max number of guests allowed requires no notice or permission. Events over this amount can be held but you should let us know so you don’t inadvertently violate the terms of your lease which states the “Premises shall be used for living purposes only and shall not be used for large events, corporate functions, meetings, receptions, parties or any other similar events.

Q: How much is the Security Deposit?

We no longer take cash or check security deposits. We now use a credit card hold. This simply reserves a portion of your available credit card line of credit. We do not withdraw any money from your credit card. This is the same as when you check into a hotel. A few days after your stay the hold is automatically released.

We also provide security deposit insurance for your stay that insures your security deposit. This is part of the administrative fee that you pay. Special events and wedding parties are subject to a higher deposit. Detailed Information is available here:  Security Deposit Info

Q: How do I do my own clambake at the house

A: As far as clambakes go the individual cost of the bake and bake master can be quite high and the fancier you try to make it the cost goes up.
An inexpensive way to do a clambake is simply to order the lobsters steamed from Edgartown Seafood or Edgartown Meat Co.. They do this (or at least they did) at no charge so you pay just the cost per pound. You then use the large coolers (in my basement) to pick up the lobsters and deliver them to the backyard at the appointed time.
Add to the lobsters some steamed corn, large tossed salads, chowder, and bread and you have a “bake” for around $25 a head.
Some beer and large format wine (Our Market delivers and takes away unopened liquor) and you are done.

Q: What are the taxes on a short term rental?

A: The State of Massachusetts imposes a tax on all short-term rentals less than 32 days. We are required by law to collect this tax on behalf of the state.  The state currently takes 5.6% and then the town takes another 6% putting this tax inline with what hotels charge for taxes.

Q: What if the water is off

A: We have a Moen Flo water flave system in the Captain Morse House. This senses broken pipes, leaks, and abnormal usage. It has a green knob that turns the water on and off and is located on the water pipe near the inflow area. This is in the West basement to the right at the bottom of the stairs. If it has activated please let us know and we can reset it.

Q: What if the water is cold or the electricity is off

A: Please let us know; we can assist you in resetting it. For self-help, go to the basement or the corner of the house closest to the road. If you have another person with you, leave them in the house to listen and watch for leaks or open valves.
There should be a pipe coming in from the street. Examine the valves. If there is a gate valve where the handle is 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the water pipe, that should be turned to parallel. You can tell if this works by the surge of water in the pipes as the pressure builds and as toilets refill to their fill lines. After around 30 seconds, you should hear silence. If the water continues to run, turn off the water valve and go into the house to determine which sinks or showers are still running.
A: For a situation where the electricity is off, you will need to find the circuit panel and check the circuit breakers. Some breakers will be tripped but not show the telltale red stripe. You can discover these by gently trying to move the breaker. If it resists, then the breaker is on.