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Check-In Information

Colorful wayfinding signs pointing to Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras Village, and Ocracoke

The Surf or Sound Realty team is thrilled to welcome you to Hatteras Island! We are here for you every step of the way to ensure you have your dream vacation. To help your Outer Banks getaway start off as smoothly as possible, we compiled our check-in information in one convenient place. Keep reading to learn more about accessing your Hatteras Island vacation rental.

Check-In Information at Our Hatteras Island Vacation Rentals

We know that you are eager to check-in to your vacation rental home. Check-in time is based on the readiness of your vacation rental home. Please understand you might not be able to check-in until 6:00 pm. To help ensure the check-in time is on schedule, please refrain from going to the home or parking in the driveway until you receive a text or email that your home is ready for your stay. Arriving or parking at the home may delay or stop cleaning services from being completed.

Keyless Entry

If the vacation home you have rented offers Keyless Entry, then no keys will be necessary for you to enter the rental, and you can bypass the office check-in and check-out altogether. You can identify if your rental home offers Keyless Entry by going to the home’s listing on our website; the listing will show "Keyless Door Lock" under the amenities section.

The leaseholder will receive a door code via text and/or email on the day of your arrival once your home has been prepared for your stay. Once your Hatteras Island vacation home is ready for check-in, you can go directly to the home and use the unique entry code. Simply enter the code (including all characters and numbers) into the combination lock on the main entry door, turn the deadbolt, then the doorknob, and you're in! Your welcome bag will be waiting for you inside the home.

Keyed Entry

If the home you rented has physical keys, please proceed to the office, where the leaseholder can pick up your keys to the home once they receive the text or email that the home is ready for your arrival. If you are arriving after our office has closed, your check-in packet will be left in the after-hours key drop box if your balance is paid in full and we have a signed lease. 

If your Hatteras Island vacation home is not Keyless Entry and is located in Rodanthe, Waves, or Salvo, you will check in and pick up your keys at our Salvo office, located at the corner of Rampart Street and NC-12, on the oceanside. Call 252.987.1444 with any questions. 

If your Hatteras Island vacation home is not Keyless Entry and is located in Avon, Buxton, Frisco, or Hatteras, you will check in and pick up your keys at our Avon office, located in the heart of Avon on the soundside of NC-12, across from the Avon Pier. This office can be reached by calling 252.995.5801.

Early Check-In

If you want to check-in to your rental early, we have you covered. Early Check-In guarantees access to your home by 1:00 p.m. on your check-in day. If you have purchased an Early Check-In and your home offers Keyless Entry, you can go directly to the home at 1:00 p.m. to gain access. If your home does not provide Keyless Entry, please come to your check-in office at 1:00 p.m. to pick up the keys.

  • If your Hatteras Island vacation home is not Keyless Entry and is located in Rodanthe, Waves, or Salvo, you will check in and pick up your keys at our Salvo office, located at the corner of Rampart Street and NC-12, on the oceanside. Call 252.987.1444 with any questions. 
  • If your Hatteras Island vacation home is not Keyless Entry and is located in Avon, Buxton, Frisco, or Hatteras, you will check in and pick up your keys at our Avon office, located in the heart of Avon on the soundside of NC-12, across from the Avon Pier. This office can be reached by calling 252.995.5801.

Purchasing this option will give you access to a minimum of the lowest living area level of the home, including a full bathroom and a refrigerator. If there is no refrigerator or full bathroom on the lowest living level, you will have access to the next nearest bathroom and the kitchen refrigerator. If your home has a private pool, you will also have access to the pool area! 

The non-refundable Early Check-In is $200-$600 plus tax. Early Check-In may be added during the reservation process. If you have not added early check-in as a vacation option during the booking process, you may still add if available; simply log into your guest account and add early check-in to your current reservation. 

If the cleaning of the remainder of the home has not been completed by your arrival, please do not go into any areas in the home until that has been completed. Housekeepers and linen providers (if your home provides linens) will need access to the home to complete the preparation for your stay. Linens will be delivered by 5:30 p.m. If belongings are left on beds to be made, the linens will be delivered, but those beds will not be made.

Please be aware that cleaning and/or service to the pool and hot tub might not be completed before 1:00 p.m. Our service providers will need access to the area to complete the preparation procedures.

After Hours Check-In

If you arrive on Hatteras Island after our offices are closed, don't worry, you can still check-in to your vacation home rental. If you rented a keyless entry rental home, go directly to the home and use the code you received via text and email. For rentals that require a physical key, you can pick up the keys and directions to your home in a key drop box next to the front door of our offices.

Hatteras Island Linen Rentals

If you are renting a home that does not provide linens for the dates of your vacation, don't worry about packing your own. Surf or Sound Linen Rentals offers linen rentals. Simply rent the bed linens and bath towels you will need for your stay from Surf or Sound Linens and have them delivered to your home for your check-in. Surf or Sound Linens makes getting linen rentals for your vacation fast and easy.

Things to Do If You Arrive Before Your Home Is Ready

If you arrive before your home is ready, there are plenty of things to do on Hatteras Island to pass the time.

One option is to spend a few hours at the beach at the Coquina Beach access on your way, which features bathrooms, shower facilities, a covered picnic area, a lifeguarded beach, and plenty of parking. The entrance is located on the oceanside of NC Highway 12, approximately five minutes after you enter the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, across from the entrance to the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Please note: If you want to drive your vehicle on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches, a beach driving permit is required by the National Park Service. Permits can be obtained at National Park Service ORV permit offices located at Coquina Beach, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Visitor Center in Buxton, and the Ocracoke Visitor Center. 

Other ideas for local attractions to visit before you check-in: 

If you’re hungry, many of our local restaurants offer great lunch specials, such as peel 'n eat shrimp and drink specials during the afternoon hour to tide you over.

Shilouette of sea oats lit from behind by an orange sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean near Hatteras Island