We are the Monaco's........Gerry & Gianni up top and Matt & Pat below...and can't forget our little kittens. Our permanent home is in a litle town in Massachusetts called Blackstone which borders the northernmost edge of Rhode Island. The beach has been in our blood for all of our lives.....many a vacation or day trip has been spent down on the Cape, where we'd be shellfishing, golfing, or just relaxing at one of our favorite spots.

Golf is also in our blood. Matt and Gianni were teammates on their high school golf team at Hopedale High where Gianni was named Captain and represented Hopedale at the Division 3 State Championships. Matt's a Turfgrass Management graduate of the Stockbridge School and UMass and is the assistant superintendent at St James Plantation in Southport, NC.

The newest club at St. James, an 18-hole championship-caliber course was created by world-renowned Nicklaus Design. The par 72, 7,100 yard layout features rolling terrain and native vegetation while emphasizing strategy and shotmaking. The course is laid out amid water features and Carolina bay nature preserves and promises to challenge players of all skill levels.

We started vacationing in the Carolinas over 10 years ago and immediately fell in love with the area! We've visited and vacationed up and down the entire coast from the Outer Banks to the barrier islands of Brunswick County, NC and from Myrtle Beach to Charleston, Beaufort, and Hilton Head. After countless trips....so many motels and condos and golf packages, we decided it was time to get our feet a little more firmly planted in the sand! That brought us to Longs and our beautiful condo in Sun Colony. While we can't stake our claim to the Carolinas for 52 weeks a year just yet......we have a home to call home when we do want to escape from the North! We're sure you'll love it as much as we do.....and we'd be delighted to share our home with you.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can assist you in your Carolinas vacation plans!

Gerry, Pat, Matt & Gianni Monaco

Why Rent A Vacation Home From A Private Owner?

With the abundance of lodging choices, it's easy to get overwhelmed.  Renting an individual's private residence can offer a great stay at an affordable rate.  Often owners use these properties as 'second homes'.  They then rent out unused dates to offset their mortgage, HOA fees, etc. These properties are located in almost any town across the globe - if it's a travel destination, it's likely to have homes available to rent by owner!

Renting a home from a private owner has many advantages.  First is your variety in choosing the type of lodging right for you.  The most common choices are single family homes or condos.  Townhomes are also becoming increasingly popular.

Single family homes are often large enough to accomodate a large group or family.  These typically have many rooms and private adjoining property and may even include amenities such as private pools, activity rooms with pool tables, private decks and more.  However, they often do not include access to other amenities typically found in 'resorts'.  They also tend to be more expensive and located further from the 'main attractions'.

Condos, likely the most popular option, range from efficiency units to several bedrooms.  Many also offer additional sleeping accomodations in the form of a pull-out couch (sleeper sofa). These units typically offer access to shared community amenities, similiar to resorts.  These might include indoor pools, outdoor pools, hot tubs, golf, tennis, waterway access or more.  These are typically lower in price and located close to popular attractions.

One of the biggest advantages to renting an entire home (condo, house or other) is the availabilty of a fully equipped kitchen.  This can help keep your vacation expenses low as you are able to cook as many meals as you wish at "home".  In addition, many of these rentals offer other low budget entertainment such as movies, games, onsite amenities, and even gaming systems (like Sony Playstation 2).  Lastly, it is often more economical and convenient for say two couples to rent a 2 bedroom condo and split the costs than to rent two seperate hotel rooms.

In either case, it is important to consider the source of the rental.  Renting a privately owned and operated unit can have many advantages.  For example, private owners often use their property as a second home and thus have a higher stake in its condition, amenities and upkeep.  In contrast, some properties are maintained by individuals or groups who have only an interest in the investment/profit potential.  While not all of these units are a poor choice, many do tend to be outdated or unkept.  Remember, if an owner never visits his or her property, they tend to have less regard to its condition.

Rentals by owner can be a great value.  Remember that these individuals must advertise their own property and book their own guests in order to offset their expenses.  As a result, they are more vested in filling open dates.  Another positive aspect is the fact that there are no commissions or other fees to be paid so often the rental rates are lower than comparable properties offered by resorts, timeshares, etc.  Lastly, private owners are more aware of local rates and price themselves accordingly in order to attract potential renters.

When choosing a lodging, there are always many factors to consider.  Choosing to rent a private home offered by the owner can be a great way to visit new places and obtain valueable information from an "inside source" (the owner).  Many owners find that they host the same guests year after year.  With a bit of research, you may find that these 'rentals by owner' offer you exactly what you are looking for without the 'corporate' side of hotels and the like.  Remember that you should feel free to ask as many questions as you need and the owner should be accomodating and understanding.  If you feel like you are being ignored or treated curtly, consider the implication of that on the actual rental.  There are also many good web sites that offer tips on things to consider when renting a private home. 

So whether you find your dream rental on ebay or elsewhere on the web, enjoy your vacation!

Why Rent Your Myrtle Beach Vacation Home From Us?

• This is our vacation home too...we have a vested interest in maintaining our home in the best possible condition! We want you to enjoy all the same comforts that we do.
• We offer you great value! It will be difficult to find a hotel or motel that will offer you all the comforts you'll have at the price you'll pay.
• We'll offer you more living space! Why stay in a motel room or a suite.....you'll have a 1,000 square foot home where you won't be bumping into eachother
• We'll provide you with more amenities. No one cares more about a home than its owner which means that we'll offer many personal & convenience items for your use.
• We'll provide you with personal attention from preparing for your vacation, to mapping your trip for you, to showing you the best beaches, the best restaurants and so much more!

Once you stay with us.....we're sure you'll want to come back again!

Helpful hints for renters from an expert.

Here's what Christine Karpinski, author and owner advocate for the Homeaway group, recognized as one of the most knowledgeable in her field has to say to folks considering renting directly from owners.

Useful info if you're looking to rent a vacation home directly from the owner. 

Contacting Owners:

Most Vacation Rental web sites consist of thousands of privately owned vacation properties available for rent directly from the homeowners and sometimes their agents. Arrangements for rent or lease are made directly with them. Each listing on the portal web sites lists a phone number and/or email address. All inquiries should be sent to the homeowner or agent. Not all homeowners have email addresses. Some have chosen not to list them. And some rely only on email to contact their potential renters.

When e-mailing, be sure to write something in the subject line, that will alert the owner that you are asking about their home, something like "Vacation Rental Property". And in turn, if you have a spam blocker on your e-mail account, you may want to note that in your e-mail, alerting the owner that they may have to auto-respond a confirmation. Or turn off that blocker while you’re looking for a property. Also include your phone number in your e-mail. Many owners will indeed pick up the phone when they receive your e-mail.

Give as much detailed information as you possibly can. Give the dates you are inquiring about, if you’re flexible, note that too. List how many people, adults and children. If you have a pet that you wish to bring along, be sure to include that information too. If you have any special needs or questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

If there’s a phone number listed for the property, call the owner, most welcome the questions that your may have. Remember, most often you will be renting someone’s second home that they bought to use themselves, the owners know the area very well and can be a very useful resource in helping you choose the right place for your next vacation.

If I call an owner, am I obligated to rent from them?

No, but please keep in mind that the owners generally only have one place to rent and they will be somewhat biased when answering your questions. Owners are not travel agents, they won’t know about other properties. . Before you call, be sure that their home is a place that you would like to stay. Sometimes conversations with the owner can assist you in narrowing down your choices. Please also be considerate, you’re most likely calling their home, don’t call during dinnertime or after 9pm. If you call and get an answering machine, be sure to leave your name, number (clearly and slowly), the dates you are inquiring about and an appropriate time for them to return your call. Most owners will indeed call you back.

How will I know where I’m calling?

Phone numbers that are not proceeded by country codes are in the United States, Canada or parts of the Caribbean, so be aware that you may be making a out of country call, you may want to check the area code on this web site http://www.bennetyee.org/ucsd-pages/area.html to see exactly "where" you are calling.

I have called the homeowner and have not heard back from them.

The most common reason is that the owner's themselves are on vacation! Dealing with homeowners will not always be as easy as contacting a rental firm. Most owners respond within 24-48 hours. Although we encourage our owners to respond whether they are booked or not, unfortunately there are some homeowners who just don't use due diligence or a modicum of decency in returning every call they receive. Though we do our best to correct this behavior, some owners do not feel obligated to return calls for dates they know are booked. With this in mind, we feel the best strategy is to skip over homeowners who are not prompt in responding to your inquiries, and deal with the rentals looked after by folks who are considerate enough to answer your questions quickly. You'll probably have a better vacation if you do.

So why shouldn’t I just contact a rental firm?

You certainly have that option. Keep in mind, renting directly from the owner can afford you many things that maybe wouldn’t be available through an agency. These owners also tend to use their properties a lot themselves, which mean more often the home will be furnished nicer, better equipped and impeccably maintained.

Since owners generally speak with every guest who enters their property, there is a certain amount of comfort that these owners have in their guest. Along with the trust, most likely their homes will be stocked with more amenities that you would not necessarily see in the common agent rental.

How do we know the properties really exist?

Truthfully there is no guarantee. The best way to avoid this is to do your homework. We suggest asking homeowners for references, or a list of past renters. Website will be happy to share all comments about a specific home with you, just give us a call or email. One good indication of the relative trustworthiness of any given owner/rental is how long they've advertised with us (listed on their property page on our web site).

Are the prices set or is there room for negotiations?

Most property owners are somewhat flexible on their pricing during certain times of the year. Some even advertise discounts. If you inquiring for a week that is not usually booked, say the last week of April, then I would bet most owners would negotiate on their prices. However, don’t expect the owners to give their places away just because it’s not booked. Many owners don’t rely on off-season revenue and would choose not to rent it than risk (damages) a renter that’s asking for a price less than your cheapest deep discount motel.

On the flip side, if you ask about a discount for July 4th (or any other peak season week) then most prices are usually firm.

How do we handle payments?

Since each vacation rental is individually owned and operated, the payment methods and schedules will vary. Commonly the owner would require a reservation deposit, then the balance to be paid in one or two payments. Most owners require full rent plus a deposit paid prior to the rental period. Payment methods will vary also, but most will take personal checks.

Before you send any money (even the deposit) we recommend that you ask the owner about their cancellation policies. It’s best to have these policies in writing.

Can I get any refunds due to weather?

Sorry, the owners cannot control the weather, there’s really nothing we can do about that one. If you choose not to come or to checkout early due to the weather, you must understand that you forfeit your rent. Clear as that!

What if something goes wrong while I’m there? How will it get fixed if the owner lives miles away?

Many owners are very conscientious about their maintenance and do a lot of preventive measure to ensure that things will not go wrong. But in the unlikely event that something does break while you’re there, simply call the owner. The owner should be able to get the problem resolved quickly and professionally.

Do I have to clean the property before I leave?

Cleaning policies vary from owner to owner. Sometime you will have to clean yourself out and wash the linens. Other times a cleaning staff will come in and clean after you leave. Be sure to ask the owners the check-out policies for the property. Even if cleaning is provided, it’s still expected that you leave the property "broom clean". In other words the cleaning staff generally does not do the dishes and clean up excessive messes. In either event, keep in mind that this is someone’s home.

Is daily cleaning service available?

Again, this varies from owner to owner. If you would like daily service, be sure to ask the owner if it can be arranged.

Give the owners feedback.

Owners love feed back. Whether you have a suggested item that you would have enjoyed, or if something wasn’t working properly, please let the owners know. Owners do not visit their properties every week and if you notice something, most owners would be happy to know about the problem.  And of course if your accommodations were perfect, the owners love to hear that also.

Renting by owner can be a win-win situation for both the owners and the renters. 

Happy renting from owners ! 

Christine Karpinski

Courtesy of Christne Karpinski