NANTUCKET VACATION RENTALS

Nantucket Vacation Rental Basics

• On Nantucket, renting homes for vacations is a time-honored tradition.  With a limited number of hotels, renting vacation homes began to gain popularity in the 1950s. 

• When planning to book a Nantucket vacation rental, you will have a few options
  • Renting directly from the owner via a personal connection
  • Renting through a public rental website such as VRBO.com or Weneedavacation.com. (These listings may be operated directly by the owner or by an agent of the owner)
  • Renting through a local real estate agency
• With the popularity of public rental websites, many renters will ask - why should I work with a local real estate agency?  The answer is simple - professional, personalized service to provide you guidance and support through the entire process as well as being your go-to resource on the island!  Our agents are year-round residents of the island and know Nantucket inside and out.  They also have many years of experience working with homeowners and rental tenants.  A deep understanding of the island and the homes we rent will ensure you are getting the best advice on which homes will meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
• The rental process can feel daunting for someone new to the practice.  There are legal rental contracts, payment requirements, special addendums, security deposits, and more.  Our agents are here to help you navigate these waters.  They will:
  • Create the lease contract for you and the homeowner to sign and answer any questions you may have about it
  • Provide you with an easy-to-follow schedule of payments and follow-up to ensure timely remittance
  • Be your resource for any pre-travel questions
  • Correspond with you pre-check-in with information about your arrival
  • They will be your go-to contact should you need any assistance during your stay
  • Communicate with you before check-out to provide you with everything you need to know
  • Be the contact between the homeowner and you to ensure the security deposit is managed after check-out

When to book

• Planning in advance is always a great strategy for planning a vacation, but we are often asked, “How far in advance should I book my vacation rental home?” 

• On Nantucket, rental homeowners usually begin to accept rental inquiries from repeat tenants during or just after their stay for the following year.  New tenant requests will generally begin to be discussed sometime between August and October for the following year.  If you have a particular home your heart is set on, we suggest confirming your dates and then having your agent reach out to the homeowner as soon as possible. 

Choices to make when getting started

• Dates - Choose your ideal dates for travel and communicate with your agent if those are firm or flexible.  Depending on your other requirements, flexible dates may help your agent find you just the right home without giving up any must-have amenities.

• Who is traveling with you - Communicate with your agent how many people are in your travel party, what the sleeping arrangements should be, and if any guests require special accommodations.  This can help them hone in on the right size and type of property.
• Budget - Providing your agent with a budget will give us a great starting point to develop a list of potential properties.
• What are your home Must-Have’s - This is important!  If you have to have a pool, central air conditioning, a pet-friendly rental, etc, make sure you tell your agent that.  This will assist them in curating the best list of options possible.
• Location - Although Nantucket is relatively small (9 miles x 14 miles) choosing the wrong location can have you driving a lot more than you want to.  Consider your Must-Do list - is it Golf? Surfing? Shopping? Walking to Town? Are you a member of a club you wish to visit frequently?  Do you want to drive to Great Point every day?  Is biking around Sconset your favorite pastime?  Does your travel party want to do completely different things?  Once you put that list together with your travel party, a certain area of the island will most likely come into focus.  Or, if everyone has their own itinerary, maybe a centralized location is best.  Whatever your Must-Do’s are, discuss them with your agent and they can recommend areas that may fit the bill.
• Pets - Nantucket is a very Pet-Friendly destination with a dog park, lots of pet-friendly beaches, and miles of trails to walk or run your furry friends.  Vacation Rentals may not be quite as pet-friendly as the rest of the island.  There are most definitely properties that allow pets, just be prepared for your options list to be a bit shorter and there may be pet fees or pet deposits in most cases.
• Island Transportation - Choosing the right transportation for your trip will be impacted most by the area you stay in and what activities you plan on taking part in.  If you are staying in Town and just want to shop, dine, and enjoy the downtown area, then maybe a car isn’t necessary.  If you are staying out in Quidnet and want to have days up at Great Point and evenings in Town for dinner then a car is probably going to be a benefit.  There are also always the options of local taxis, Uber, and Lyft for getting around.  Bikes are a great option too and avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot.  There is local public bus transportation, but once you secure where you are staying take a look at the routes and schedules.  Not all areas of the island are served by this system and some area’s service ends in the early evening.

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