At Ward Realty, our rentals have all the "good stuff". 

A vacation rental at the beach is expected to provide certain amenities and features. At Ward Realty, we guide our homeowners to include specific things as they set up their beach homes as vacation rentals. Today's blog will highlight 10 things we think every Topsail Island rental should have to make our guests' experience the very best! 

Rent this home! Find "Salty Haven" on our website. 

1. Amazing photos

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? We believe that awesome photos are crucial for helping our guests imagine themselves enjoying one of our vacation rentals. That's why we work closely with Rachel Carter, a local photographer who specializes in real estate photography. Her photos are bright and clear, and as you scroll through a listing, you will really be able to picture yourself on vacation in one of these beautiful homes. Read our interview with Rachel here. 

2. Accurate descriptions

When you search for a vacation rental, you probably start by looking through the photos. But then, you get to the details. A description of the property is SO important, especially for the detail-minded among us. You need to know exactly how many beds there are, if the home has a washer/dryer, how many steps you will need to walk to the beach, and if you are allowed to bring your dog. Ward Realty prides itself on awesome, detailed descriptions. And... if you can't find the answer to your question, just contact us. We will find out! 

Rent this home! Find "Toes in the Water" on our website. 

3. Comfortable beds

No old, lumpy mattresses allowed! It's important for the beds in a vacation rental to be of high quality, comfortable, and covered with a thick mattress pad. After all, you need to get a great night's rest after enjoying a busy day on Topsail Island. 

4. High level of cleanliness

Ward Realty has always taken cleanliness very seriously. Bathrooms and kitchens are always disinfected to the highest degree.  Our cleaners use EPA-registered household products to disinfect high touch areas after every rental, to include all doorknobs, appliances, pillows, comforters, remotes, and more! Read more about our cleaning protocols here. 

5. Everything in good repair

When you arrive at your beach vacation rental, you expect everything to be in good working order. This includes the A/C, televisions, appliances, and of course, the coffee maker! If you discover a problem with your rental, please call us at 910-328-3221. We will do our best to rectify the situation as quickly as possible (during normal business hours). For true emergencies we do have on-call maintenance staff. 

6. Access to area information

Topsail Island has so much to offer, but you might find it all a bit overwhelming. We can help! The best place to start is by reading our blog. The Ward Realty blog is packed with information about where to eat, things to do, where to launch your kayak, and so much more. Many of our vacation rentals also provide area information in a folder or binder. Finally, you can always contact our office if you need advice or help finding your way around. 

7. A well-stocked kitchen

We encourage our homeowners to include all of the comforts of home, and that means a well-stocked kitchen. While the renter will need to provide all of the food, drinks, and paper products, our homes generally come complete with a full-size refrigerator, dishes, pots and pans, utensils, coffee maker, dishwasher, toaster, and more, to possibly include a blender, air fryer, wine fridge - you name it!*

More info in this blog: Bring, Buy, or Borrow? How to Pack for Your Next Beach Vacation

*Unless noted in property notes/amenities section

8. Clear rules and expectations

Between the property description and the rental agreement, it should be clear to every vacation home renter what is (and what is not) allowed. For example, some homes allow dogs, but there is a fee associated with this privilege. Some homes will allow you to bring your boat. Others allow use of the community pool. All of the rules of your particular rental home should be clear and well-communicated. 

Rent this home! Find "LegaSea" on our website. 

9. Fantastic, fun & classy decor

A great beach vacation rental will transport you the moment you walk in the door! One real-life example of this is LegaSea - it's a 2-bedroom oceanfront condo in Surf City. It has SO many cute, beach-y details you just won't find in any old vacation rental. Even if your vacation rental isn't as obviously beach-themed, there should still be some great design elements that make it feel like the perfect "home-away-from-home". 

10. Impressive extras

This is the fun part. Whether you are furnishing a vacation rental yourself or looking for one to rent, there are several "extras" that can make the home super memorable (and popular with renters). These might include: 

• Outdoor shower
• Game & puzzle closet
• Pool table or ping pong
• Outdoor bar
• Picnic tables
• Hammock
• Hot tub
• Fenced yard
• Fish cleaning station
• Boogie boards / pool noodles 
• Kayaks or paddleboards for renters
• Grill
• Reading nook
• Netflix / Hulu / Disney included

Have you thought about buying a beach home for yourself? Are you interested in making it into a vacation rental? We can help with that, too! Read our previous blog, From Renter to Owner: Buying the Perfect Vacation Home and see if it makes sense for you. In the meantime, we hope you find that Ward Realty's selection of Topsail Island rentals has everything you seek to make great memories with your family and friends.