Sunset Beach Rental Information

Our Rental Guidelines Are As Follows:

Making a Reservation

Before you email or call us for a reservation, follow a few easy steps to help prepare yourself.

First, settle on the dates of your arrival and departure. Click here for a list of holiday and rate season dates. During the summer months, we only rent homes from Saturday through Saturday unless otherwise noted in the home description. In the other seasons, the start day and length of stay is more flexible, though we do require a minimum stay of at least two nights. Some homeowners specify longer minimum stays.

Next, take some time to look through our selection of homes to find several possibilities for your stay. Make sure the bed configuration in each home works for your family, and the general location of the home on the island is what you desire.

Once you've got your list of possibilities set, you're ready to make a reservation. You can reserve either online or by phone. To reserve a home online, just follow the instructions on the website to check unit availability, make the reservation, and provide the deposit payment. Balances are due 30 days prior to arrival.

If you want to make arrangements over the phone, call us at 888-339-2670. Our office is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

After you have made a reservation with us, you will be required to provide an online signature on the vacation rental agreement and a payment of approximately 50% upon receipt. Personal checks, EChecks, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards are accepted for all payments (amount due is in U.S. dollars). Final payment is due 30 days prior to arrival or the reservation is subject to cancellation-you will not be billed for this. There is a $30.00 service charge on all returned checks.

During the booking process, you'll have some decisions to make. They include:

1. Trip Insurance- Trip Cancellation Insurance allows for refunds on lost rents and travel expenses resulting from extreme weather conditions (such as hurricanes) or family illnesses and injuries that might cut short the planned vacation. Specific coverage conditions are listed in a pamphlet from Red Sky Insurance that is available online. This optional service is listed on all contracts emailed/mailed; you may elect to accept the policy by indicating your decision on the rental contract or select when booking online. Please see our Refunds and Cancellation section to understand our company policies in these areas. Please click here to learn more about Red Sky Travel Insurance.
2. A refundable security deposit of $500 or the optional payment of an Accidental Damage Program is required by Sunset Properties for all rental properties. Please click here to learn more about the Security Deposit and Accidental Damage Program.
3. Linen- unless you select a "Linen Ready" home to stay in, you will need to provide linen, bath towels, and kitchen towels for your vacation. See our Services Available section to decide if you want to rent linen through us. If you do need to rent linen or towels, this can be added on during the reservation process, or give us a call at the office. Order a full linen package in advance, and we will make all beds and set out all towels for your arrival!

Once you sign the rental agreement and make the initial rent payment, we'll email a receipt to you. Then your reservation is set until the final payment due 30 days prior to arrival. You will not be automatically billed for this. Until then, you can start planning for a great time!

Things to Know About Our Rental Cottages

Standard Equipment - Unless otherwise noted in an individual home's description, all of our rental cottages come equipped with central heat & air, outdoor shower, dishwasher, washer, dryer, microwave, bedspreads, mattress pads, pillows, drip coffee maker, typical cookware and dinnerware for simple cooking. All are privately owned and reflect the individual tastes of the owner. We can not make changes to furnishings or equipment, and the same are subject to change without notice or compensation. Please do not rearrange the furniture in a house during your stay.

TV WIFI Streaming - TV programming provided by traditional wired cable TV service has been discontinued by the only local cable provider.  Our homes are transitioning to internet streaming services for TV programming and each rental home will have its own unique service available.  Some homes may provide a full live programming service such as YouTube TV or Hulu+ Live, etc. while many homes will have the popular streaming apps available for you to log in with your personal account information for access.  Services will be listed as accurately as possible but may change without notice.

Non-Smoking Homes - All of our rental homes are designated non-smoking. That means there is no smoking allowed in the cottage. Please be considerate of both the owner's request and the renters that follow you into the home, and limit smoking to outside the house if you must.

Overcrowding - There may not be more people (adults and children) staying in the house than there are beds for. Overcrowding will be cause for eviction with no refund. All tenants are required to state the maximum number in their party on our rental contract.

Groups - The properties we represent are available to groups that include adults over 25 only. Fraternal, sorority, student, and retreat groups are asked not to apply for accommodations. Misrepresentation will result in tenant being asked to immediately vacate the home without refund. NO HOUSE PARTIES ARE ALLOWED IN ANY RENTAL COTTAGE. These are defined as occupancy by more than the allowable tenants in a unit, or unruly, loud, or other objectionable activity carried on in or around the home. If a house party develops, all tenants will be asked to leave without refund. NO EXCEPTIONS.

DOGS are only allowed in our "Dog-Friendly" homes and are not allowed inside or outside of any of the other rental homes, unless they are a documented service animal. If a pet is found on the premises, guests will be asked to leave immediately with no refund, and will be billed for all extra cleaning charges incurred. NO EXCEPTIONS. Click here for important information on bringing your dog to the beach.

Sunset Properties reserves the right to refuse or terminate occupancy of any home if in our judgment we feel it would prove detrimental to the premises. We also reserve the right to substitute suitable accommodations if circumstances require.

Other Helpful Information

Distance to the Beach - Sunset Beach has a terrific dune structure that has built up between its frontal dunes and the oceanfront homes. To reach the beach, you are asked to use one of the public access walkways (there are over 25 on the island). The walkways generally are one to three minutes in length from Main Street to the beach. For most homes off of the oceanfront, we list their "row" - that simply shows you the number of homes from the ocean that it is located. Ours is a small island; the furthest walk from a rental home to the frontal dunes is 10 minutes. You can reach the beach from most rental homes in less than five minutes.

Emergencies - If you have an emergency in your cottage after office hours, call the emergency number posted on the front door of our building. For Police or Fire emergencies, call 911. Note: for your protection, please check the fire detectors in your rental home upon arrival to ensure that they are in working order. Notify our office immediately if the detectors are not working properly.

Beach Safety- We hope that your stay will be all that you hope for, with little worries! But the ocean is powerful, and there are several things to be aware of when you spend time on the beach strand. Click here to learn more about rip currents, sun safety, and more.

Garbage Collection - From May through September, trash will be picked up at the curb on Saturday and Wednesday. From October through April, the collection day is Wednesday. All trash must be placed in the container, which we ask you roll to the street the night prior to pickup. After pickup, please roll the container back under the home.

Phones - some of our homes are equipped with telephones. All long distance charges should be reversed, charged to another number, or to your credit card. A $5.00 fee per call will be added to the actual charges for any calls billed to the rental home during your stay.

Personal Property - Sunset Properties is not responsible for accidents or injury to guests or for loss of money, valuables, or property of any kind during your stay. There is a minimum charge of $25.00 for retrieving and shipping any items back to renters from their rental cottage.

Lockouts - We will loan an additional key at our office during our normal business hours for your use to get into the house. If we are required to assist you after office hours, there will be a $25.00 fee.

Campers and Mobile Homes - These are not allowed to be hooked up or used at any rental property.

Rooftop Decks - These are not to be used as access to the cottage roof. For your own safety and to avoid damage to the roof, please see that no one in your party climbs on the roof of your home.

Other Costs Associated with all Reservations

Taxes are added to all reservations. They include the N.C. state sales tax (6.75%) and the local occupancy tax (6%). Tax rates are subject to change during the course of the year.

A Refundable Security Deposit of $500 or the optional payment of an Accidental Damage Program is required by Sunset Properties for all rental properties. Please click here to learn more about the Security Deposit and Accidental Damage Program.

Services Available for all Reservations

Trip Cancellation Insurance allows for refunds on lost rents and travel expenses resulting from extreme weather conditions (such as hurricanes) or family illnesses and injuries that might cut short the planned vacation. Specific coverage conditions are listed in a pamphlet from Red Sky Insurance that is available online. This optional service may be elected when you electronically sign the rental agreement, or when booking online.  the policy by indicating your decision on the rental contract. Please see our Refunds and Cancellation section to understand our company policies in these areas. Please click here to learn more about Trip Insurance. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO RE-RENT THE UNIT.

Maid Service is completed for you at departure for all paid rentals. Your duties at departure are: empty all trash into the home's outside container, wash all dirty dishes, and lock all doors and windows.

Linens are offered in bed sets (fitted & flat sheets per bed, along with two pillowcases for all sizes except single-which gets one pillowcase). Linen rental rates, not including tax (12.75%) are:

• King, Queen, & Double Sets: $14
• Single Set: $12
• Towel Set (one bath and one hand towel, and one wash cloth): $11
• Dish set (two dish towels and two dish cloths): $6
• Bath Mats: $4 per

We will deliver the linen to your cottage at check-in. At checkout, please leave all linen at the rental house-our housekeepers will return it to the office. Order a full linen package, and we'll make the beds for you and set out towels prior to your stay!

Arrivals & Departures

Check-in Time - is after 4:00 p.m.

Checkout Time - is before 10:00 am. Please lock the cottage and return all keys to our office. A late checkout is not available during the summer rental season. No exceptions.

Refunds & Cancellation Policy

We strongly recommend trip insurance be purchased for all reservations being made months in advance of an actual arrival date. In the event of a cancellation by a renter, NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO RE-RENT THE UNIT. In the event we are able to re-rent the cottage, the rent paid will be refunded less any difference in rental rate, travel insurance premium, and $150 cancellation fee, and all applicable taxes. Agent reserves the right to discount the rental rate for the re-rental at its own discretion. Any discounts in the rental rate shall reduce Guest's refund.

We do not provide refunds on appliance or air conditioning breakdowns. We and our owners try to keep these items in good working order, and we will have any failures fixed as quickly as possible after they are reported to us.

We do not provide refunds for inclement weather, including hurricanes or other causes of mandatory evacuations during your stay. For your financial protection, we offer Trip Cancellation Insurance in case either your personal situation or the weather interrupts your scheduled vacation. For more information on this insurance, see the description listed under "services available".

Late Bookings - Reservations made less than 30 days prior to the actual check-in date require full payment at time of booking.

Tentative Reservations for Next Year:

This year's vacationers are given the first opportunity to re-rent their cottage for the corresponding week next year while you are here. You must re-book for the following year by the close of business on Wednesday of your vacation week (first Wednesday for multiple week stays). We'll open reservations to the public by that Thursday.

To ensure proper service for our arriving guests, tentative reservations are not accepted on Saturdays. There is a $75.00 non-refundable fee for one week, $100 for two and $125 for three or more weeks for this service. This fee does not apply toward rental costs, and is not transferable if you later decide to switch to another home. A rental contract will be e-mailed to all approved reservations once cottage rates and availability are established with each homeowner in the Fall.

2026 TENTATIVE RESERVATIONS: Your Initial Payment will be due by November 15th, 2025.

All prices and/or descriptions are subject to change. Although every precaution is taken, errors in prices and/or descriptions do occur on our web site and in printing. We reserve the right to correct any such error.