As a Renter, the most important thing for you to realize is that the homes and
apartments on Folly Beach do not operate like hotels. Other than furniture, appliances,
plates, glassware, silverware, pans, cooking utensils and cleaning equipment, many
amenities you may expect will not be there when you arrive. Our best advice is that you
ask LOTS of questions before you commit. And if they can’t answer your questions,
don’t rent from them.
In most homes and rental
apartments, linens are not supplied. This includes sheets, bath towels, hand towels, wash
cloths, kitchen towels and beach towels and in some cases blankets. You can either bring
your own or ask the Rental Company or owner to request linen service. The charge is
usually minimal. The linen service will both deliver and pick up.
Unless a visitor before you left
some of these items, you can expect to need cleaning products, paper towels, tissue,
toilet paper, soap, and possibly even hangers or an iron.
Ask the Renter to give you the
phone number for the house or apartment before you arrive. Very often, the number
is not printed on the phones.
Most rentals have long distance
blocked for outgoing calls. So you will want to bring along a long distance card or your
cell phone.
Tell the Renter to make sure the
windows are cleaned both inside and out for your arrival. The salt builds up on windows
very quickly on the beach and the Renters (trying to save money) do not always clean the
windows after each rental. It’s a shame to pay the price for a beautiful view and not
be able to appreciate it. Make sure you add this to the contract you sign and before you
pay.
If you are going to stay in a
condominium or apartment, make sure to ask if it is a gated community. If so, tell the
Renter they must give you the necessary cards or clickers for the gate at the time you
pick up your keys. Otherwise, you will not be able to pull your car into the
condominium’s parking area. Unloading your car from the street is not a fun
experience and I’ve seen many visitors who had to do that. Also make sure to ask them
how to open the gate to your building from your apartment. Usually this can be done by
having your visitors press certain buttons at the gate which will call your apartment
– and then when you answer the phone, you can press certain buttons to open the gate.
If you plan to bring a pet, do not
expect you can get away with it in a condominium that does not accept pets. Most condos
have custodians on the grounds who watch for people who are breaking the rules regarding
pets, pool use, parking, etc.
If something is wrong in the house
or apartment, don’t be shy about contacting the Renter. You have rights as a
renter to expect that all the large and small appliances, air conditioners, showers,
faucets, locks, etc. are in good working order. If the house or apartment is carpeted, you
should expect a vacuum cleaner be on the premises. They should also provide things like
toilet brushes, brooms and dustpans or dust mops where appropriate. If the Renter is a
real estate company, they may try to brush you off, but be very firm with them. Tell them
you will notify the owner about their poor service if they do not treat you fairly.
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Folly
Beach Open Forum – A Bulletin Board where anyone can:
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