Steele Associates Summer Rental Policies

BOOKING YOUR RENTAL:

Some may call us old fashioned, but we prefer the term “personal attention.” Although our rental properties are available for viewing online, we believe that person to person contact to match you with a rental property results in better satisfied customers. Please call or email a Steele Associates agent for additional information and to confirm availability of any rental properties of interest.

PLEASE NOTE: Online prices reflect minimum, in-season rates. Individual weeks may be higher for prime weeks; off season rates are generally discounted and will vary. Be sure to check with your rental agent and confirm the current price for your week(s) of choice.

Properties booked before April 1 of the year will require a 50% deposit on booking with remaining 50% due by May 1, regardless of the date of tenancy. Reservations made after April 1 will be expected to pay in full in a single payment according to the dates as set forth within the specific lease.

HOTEL/ROOM TAX:

The legislature of the Commonwealth of MA has enacted a rental tax on single family homes. As of January 1, 2020, for rentals in the Town of Dennis, the tax rate has been set at 14.45% (State: 5.7%; Town: 6%; Cape Cod & Islands Water Protection Fund: 2.75%). Rates are subject to change at any time. THIS TAX WILL BE DUE AND PAYABLE BY TENANTS ALONG WITH THEIR FINAL PAYMENT IN ADDITION TO OUR RENTAL RATES AS POSTED.

(Rates in other towns will vary. If the rental you’ve selected happens to be in a Cape Cod town other than Dennis, please verify the rate with your rental agent.)

ABOUT OUR PROPERTIES:

Normal cleaning fees are included in the price of our rentals; security deposits are in addition to the rental fee (see “Security Deposit,” below). Each property is cleaned prior to your arrival. It is the tenant’s responsibility to vacate the property on time and leave it in good overall and clean condition. For example, clean out the refrigerator and discard any food unused from your stay, empty trash and place in outside receptacles, ensure comforters and pillows are on the appropriate beds, etc. In short, the premises should be in “broom clean” condition. The cleaning crew will handle cleaning toilets, tubs, mopping floors and the like.

Rentals do not includes linens. You will need to bring sheets, pillowcases & towels. Bed sizes will be on your lease. Should you prefer, linen rental companies are listed on our web site.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR LEASE:

Please print, sign, and return the lease (and the lead paint form, if required) with payment as requested (sorry, we do not accept credit cards). Please retain a copy for your records, as you wish.

To secure your booking, a signed lease with payment schedule as set forth must be received in a timely manner. In order to properly serve our homeowners’ interests, we regret that we cannot continue to hold properties beyond the agreed terms. If you are unable to make either your initial deposit or final payment according to the terms of your lease, we ask that you please contact your rental agent as soon as possible to discuss alternatives. Steele Associates reserves the right to remove a hold on a property for which payment has not been received.

SECURITY DEPOSIT:

All our properties require a security deposit; there shall be no exceptions. We ask that you include your security deposit check with your final deposit to ease the check-in process (the security should be a separate personal check made out to Steele Associates). Security deposit amounts vary by property; your lease indicates the specific amount for your rental.

Home conditions are reviewed immediately after check-out. Should there be circumstances that leave your security deposit in question, you will be notified as quickly as possible. By law, there is a 30-day period to return your security deposit. Most deposits are returned much more quickly. The time frame exists in order to discuss and resolve any difficulties that may arise.

LEAD PAINT:

Depending on the age of the rental property, you may also find a state-mandated lead paint disclosure as part of your lease. This should be signed in duplicate—the same as the lease–and returned along with your initial deposit.

CANCELLATIONS:

All deposits are non-refundable. In the event a tenant must cancel a booking, Steele Associates will make every effort to rebook the property. Only if the property is successfully re-rented at the same rate as originally contracted for will a refund be granted, less a cancellation fee of $75.

CHECK-IN:

Please keep in mind we are open for Saturday check-ins from 2 PM until 4 PM only. If you are arriving after-hours, you will need to make prior arrangements for check-in. We apologize in advance that early check-ins cannot be accommodated, as cleaning crews & owners need access during a very limited turnover period. If you are checking in on a day other than Saturday, please call ahead to make specific arrangements.

CHECK-OUT:

Tenants shall vacant the property by 10 A.M. (with the exception of specially negotiated leases) and return keys to the Steele Associates office promptly thereafter. We ask for your cooperation in checking out in a timely manner. As mentioned above, cleaning crews have much to accomplish within a strict timeframe.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss real estate opportunities on the Cape, please feel free to call or email. We handle sales of residential or commercial property— let us help you find your dream home or an investment opportunity! As always, the staff at Steele Associates appreciates your business.