Name: Surf or Sound Realty
Address: 40974 NC Highway 12, Avon, NC, 27915, US
Telephone: 800-237-1138
Price range: $$-$$$$

Question 1

How do I book a vacation rental?

Accepted Answer

Search for homes by your dates, pick the one you want and complete checkout. Our accounting department reviews every request, usually within 48 hours, and your first payment is due when we confirm your reservation. We then send you the details for your stay.

Question 2

Can I book same-day?

Accepted Answer

Same-day bookings depend on availability and property readiness. We recommend booking at least 24-48 hours in advance. Call us at 800-237-1138 for immediate availability.

Question 3

What is the minimum stay requirement?

Accepted Answer

Most homes rent by the week: 7 nights, starting on the home's turn day. A limited group of Flex Stay homes also take stays of 3 nights or more, except for arrivals from May 1 through Labor Day. Each home's calendar shows the stays it accepts.

Question 4

Can I request early check-in or late check-out?

Accepted Answer

Early check-in is a choice at checkout where the home and your dates allow, with the fee shown beside it. If you have it, you get into at least the lowest living area by 1:00 PM. Late check-out is generally not available because of cleaning windows: homes must be vacated by 10:00 AM, and your rental agreement sets a $200 per hour fee after that.

Question 5

Do you offer payment plans?

Accepted Answer

1-Payment: Full balance due when we confirm your reservation. Always available, and the only plan when check-in is 30 days away or less. 2-Payment: 60% due when we confirm your reservation, 40% due 30 days before check-in (check-in 31 or more days away). 3-Payment: 40% due when we confirm your reservation, 30% due 32 days after booking, 30% due 30 days before check-in (check-in 97 or more days away). 4-Payment: 30% due when we confirm your reservation, 30% due 32 days after booking, 20% due 60 days before check-in, 20% due 30 days before check-in (check-in 127 or more days away).

Question 6

Are there convenience fees?

Accepted Answer

Credit card: 3% convenience fee. Debit card: 2% convenience fee. Check: $35 processing fee per check.

Question 7

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit and debit cards. American Express is not accepted. A mailed check is also available when check-in is more than 30 days away. A 3% convenience fee applies to credit cards, 2% to debit cards, and $35 per check.

Question 8

What optional add-ons are available?

Accepted Answer

Dog fee, pool heat and early check-in are offered where the home and your dates allow, and each fee is shown with the choice at checkout. Linens: homes that do not provide them offer Premium, Deluxe or Custom packages at checkout. Deluxe is selected to start, and you can change it or choose No. Extra linens can be added on any stay. Travel insurance is also available at checkout.

Question 9

When is payment due?

Accepted Answer

Pay in full is always available, and it is the only plan when check-in is 30 days away or less. 2-Pay (60%/40%) is available from 31 days out, 3-Pay (40%/30%/30%) from 97 days, and 4-Pay (30%/30%/20%/20%) from 127 days. The first payment is due when we confirm your reservation. Our accounting department reviews every request, usually within 48 hours. On 2-Pay, 3-Pay and 4-Pay the last payment is due 30 days before check-in.

Question 10

Are there any additional fees?

Accepted Answer

All mandatory fees are displayed before you book: Home Service Fee (varies by reservation), Vacation Rental Protection Plan ($95 required), and taxes (12.75%). Optional: dog fee, pool heat, early check-in and linens, each shown with the choice at checkout.

Question 11

Do you offer travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We partner with leading travel insurance providers to offer comprehensive coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, and travel delays.

Question 12

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Confirmed reservations: If you wish to cancel your reservation after we have received your initial payment, your cancellation must be in writing. We will make every effort to re-rent the Premises, but if we are unable to do so, the full rental amount, including taxes and all applicable fees, is due and payable. If we re-rent the Premises at your same rental rate all monies paid (less a $200.00 cancellation fee, Travel Insurance and Vacation Rental Protection Plan fee, late fees, credit and debit card fees, check fees and all applicable taxes) will be returned only if and when full payment is received for the new reservation. Tenant agrees to make all normally scheduled payments by the payment due date until the Premises are re-rented, including those payments automatically scheduled per a selected payment plan. Tenant understands and agrees that they may not assign this agreement to another party or sublet the Premises in whole or part. In order to re-rent the Premises, it may be necessary to reduce the rental rate. Agent reserves the right to reduce the rental rate for the sublease at its own discretion. Any reductions in the rental rate will reduce your refund. Any funds returned will be credited to the debit or credit card(s) used to make payments in the amounts charged to each card, which may or may not belong to the leaseholder. If payment was made by check, then any funds returned will be sent to the individual(s) that submitted the check(s), which may or may not be the leaseholder. Email cancellations to accountingdept@surforsound.com. Pre-Reservations: This cancellation policy does not apply to Pre-Reservations. The advance reservation fee is non-refundable and is not credited to the lease amount. The advance reservation deposit is non-refundable, but it can be transferred one time to a new advance reservation for the same calendar year.

Question 13

What if there's a hurricane or weather emergency?

Accepted Answer

If a mandatory evacuation is ordered for Hatteras Island, our team will contact you with next steps. Evacuation terms are set out in your Vacation Rental Agreement, and travel insurance is the best way to protect your trip during hurricane season.

Question 14

Can I modify my reservation?

Accepted Answer

Date changes are possible subject to availability and may incur a modification fee. Contact us as soon as possible.

Question 15

Is there a fee to book an advance reservation?

Accepted Answer

There is a $35 + tax non-refundable advance reservation processing fee per week. A non-refundable convenience fee will be applied to all credit and debit card transactions. There is no convenience fee for payment by check. Each advance reservation requires an additional non-refundable advance deposit per week (based on the schedule on our Book for Next Year page) to hold your reservation until the lease is sent in the fall. The advance deposit will be credited to your first lease payment. Advance reservation deposits are charged per reserved week (not per reservation) and are non-refundable but can be transferred once to a new advance reservation for the same calendar year prior to your lease being sent in the fall. For example, if you have two weeks pre-reserved and later decide to change your reservation to one week, one of your advance deposits would be applied to your new reservation, but the other would be non-refundable.

Question 16

What is a reference rate?

Accepted Answer

A reference rate is the current year advertised rate for that week and does not include taxes, fees, or vacation options.

Question 17

Is the advance deposit refundable?

Accepted Answer

The advance deposit is non-refundable; however, we do offer the flexibility to transfer your reservation one-time to a new advance reservation in the same calendar year prior to your lease being signed.

Question 18

When will I be able to finalize my reservation?

Accepted Answer

In the fall, you will be notified that your lease is ready to be acknowledged. At that time, you will have the opportunity to select vacation options such as linens, travel insurance, early check in (if available), and pool heat (if available), to make your stay an exceptional one.

Question 19

If I want to switch homes later, may I transfer homes?

Accepted Answer

The advance deposit is for the home and week you are pre-reserving. You can transfer your advance deposit one time to a new reservation for a different week in the same home or to a different home or week in the same calendar year, prior to your lease being signed in the fall. The advance deposit is non-refundable. The advance reservation fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Question 20

When can I add vacation options?

Accepted Answer

To make your stay exceptional, we offer vacation options including early check-in, travel insurance, pool heat (if available), linens, and flexible payment plans that can be added when you acknowledge your lease in the fall.

Question 21

If I pre-reserve a two-week reservation and decide that I only want one week, may I apply the advance deposit for both weeks to just one week?

Accepted Answer

The advance deposits are charged per reserved week (not per reservation) and is non-refundable. If you have two weeks pre-reserved and later decide to change your reservation to one week, one of your advance deposits would be applied to your new reservation, but the other advance deposit would not be applied and non-refundable. However, we do offer the ability to transfer the deposit for the second week to a new advance reservation for the same calendar year.

Question 22

Is WiFi available for remote work?

Accepted Answer

All properties have WiFi. WiFi speeds vary by location. If you need reliable internet for work, call us at 800-237-1138 and we will help you choose a home.

Question 23

What if something breaks during my stay?

Accepted Answer

We provide 24/7 maintenance support for urgent issues. Non-urgent requests receive a 2-hour response during business hours. For property emergencies, call 800-237-1138. After hours, call (252) 429-4733.

Question 24

What's included in the rental?

Accepted Answer

All properties include kitchen essentials and WiFi, with professional cleaning between stays. Some homes provide linens and towels and some do not. Where a home does not, you can choose a linens package at checkout. Each property page lists what the home provides.

Question 25

Are properties cleaned between guests?

Accepted Answer

Every property undergoes professional cleaning between guests. All properties are inspected before each arrival.

Question 26

Are pets allowed?

Accepted Answer

Many of our homes are dog friendly (look for the gold paw). The dog fee is $200 per dog per week plus tax. Most dog friendly homes allow up to two dogs unless more are disclosed and approved when you reserve. Only dogs are permitted, no cats or other pets.

Question 27

Can I bring my dog to the beach?

Accepted Answer

Most Hatteras Island beaches allow leashed dogs year-round. Some seasonal restrictions apply during shorebird nesting season (spring/summer) in certain areas.

Question 28

How many pets can I bring?

Accepted Answer

Most dog-friendly homes allow up to 2 dogs unless more are disclosed and approved when you reserve. Only dogs are permitted, no cats or other pets.

Question 29

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Accepted Answer

Check-in is 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, once your home is ready and you have your door code. Check-out is 10:00 AM; early check-out is not an option. Early check-in is available for some homes, as an add-on when you book. Late check-out is generally not available because of cleaning windows.

Question 30

What do I need to do at checkout?

Accepted Answer

No need to strip beds or do laundry. Simply take out the trash, load the dishwasher, and lock up. Our housekeeping team handles the rest.

Question 31

How do I access the property?

Accepted Answer

Most properties use keyless entry. Your door code is sent by text on arrival day to the leaseholder once the home is ready. Full instructions are provided in your pre-arrival email.

Question 32

What should I do when I arrive?

Accepted Answer

Check your email for arrival instructions, including parking info and the WiFi password. Your door code is sent by text on arrival day to the leaseholder once the home is ready. A welcome guide inside the property has everything else you need.

Get the practical answers before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?