Reservation Rules and Policies

Reservation Rules and Policies

Rates

Rates shown in brochure are HIGH season rates.
Discounts are given for leases in Low and Off Season.
Off Season – November 1 – March 31
Low Season- April 1 – May 31, & September 1 –30
High Season – June 1 – August 31 & October 1 – 31
All Holidays are HIGH Season and are one week minimum

Reservations/Contact Information

Reservations may be made from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday – Friday by calling:

1-888-526-3717 (South Eastern US), or 1-828-526-3717
FAX 1-828-526-3718

Our mailing address is : P.O. Box 1235, Highlands, N.C. 28741
Our Street address is: 401 N. Fifth Street, Highlands, N.C. 28741

Our e-mail address is : info@chambersagency.net
Our website is: www.chambersagency.net

Payments:

Advanced Rent Payments of 50% of the total rental amount is required to confirm your reservation and is due within 10 days of making the reservation. Payment can be made by personal check, travelers checks, Visa or Mastercard. A $25.00 fee will be charged for any returned checks.

Reservation Fees – A non-refundable reservation fee of $15.00 + tax is charged on ALL reservations.

Security Deposits are required in addition to the rent. The amount is listed in the property description. Deposits are returned by mail with 45 days of your departure along with a statement showing any retention. If deposits are made by credit card, a credit will be placed on your account, and you will be sent a receipt by mail along with account statement.

Taxes – There is a 6.5% North Carolina Sales and Use Tax levied o the rental amount and the reservation fee, and a 3% Macon County Occupancy Tax charged on the rental amount. There is no rental tax charged for leases over 90 days.

Balance of Rent, tax, security deposit, and any other extra reservation charges are due 30 days before arrival, and must be paid o reservation will be cancelled. Reservations made within the 30 day period must be paid in full at time of reservation either by credit card, or sent next day air, priority, express, etc. to reach us at least 2 days of reservation date.

Cancellation Policy- There is an administrative fee of $50.00 for all cancellations. If trip insurance was NOT taken, tenant is responsible for rent ( but not including Security Deposit, taxes, and extra reservation charges) UNLESS- we are able to re-rent the property for the entire lease period.

Agency Disclosure: The Chambers Agency acts as an agent of the Owner of the rental property (Landlord)

Trip Interruption Insurance- You have the option of accepting or rejecting insurance. This insurance policy is designed to protect you from cancellations rising from circumstances such as unexpected illnesses and/or death, and some weather conditions. Insurance acceptance or rejection must be acknowledged, and if accepted, paid when returning your lease and/or making your first payment.

Lease Periods / Use of Rental Property- (1) Most homes can be reserved on a monthly basis, starting on the first day of the month and ending on the last day of the month, and on a weekly basis, starting on Saturday and ending on Saturday. Some owners prefer to rent only monthly, some only weeks, some have 2 week limits, and some rent monthly- but on a Saturday to Saturday rule. Please respect the individuality of each owner’s decision. (2) A “short Stay” is considered any reservation that is 1 to 4 nights. Short stay reservations may be made in advance for Off and Low Season only. High Season short stays can be reserved within 14 days of arrival – based on availability. (3)There are no “house parties” allowed. A house party is a group of unrelated people renting a home and/ or overcrowding a home. Property descriptions clearly state the number of occupants allowed. The only exception is a child sleeping in a crib. (4) Some of the homes listed in this brochure may be listed For Sale with our agency. We will need access to show these homes (by appointment only) Monday – Saturday 10:am – 4:pm

Advance Reservations- We do take reservations for the following year. Just let our reservation staff know. A good time to do this is when you are here Monday – Friday. Please do not wait until the day you leave, or on Saturday, as we are handling check ins and check outs. We want to be able to give you the attention you deserve. All year in advance reservations are subject to owner approval. It is our policy to try and show you the inside of homes (for month or more rentals, please) whenever possible. If occupied, we’ll give you directions to “drive by” and view the area. PLEASE DO APPROACH THE HOUSE! Respect the privacy of the occupants, as you would wish your privacy while renting. If a renter reports being “bothered” by prospective tenants, we may not rent to those prospective tenants.

Smoking- We would like for all our homes to remain smoke free. Most homes have an outside area suitable for smoking, but please remember fire safety and litter rules and NEVER toss cigarette butts onto the grounds.

Please help keep Highlands Litter Free

Pets – Most homes do not allow pets. When making your reservation, please inquire about homes that may allow pets if you want to bring Fido along with you. There is a $100.00 NON-REFUNDABLE PET FEE PER PET charged for pets in homes that allow pets. Bring a pet to a home that allows pets, or does not allow pets without making prior arrangements will void your lease. Certain types of pets may never be allowed. You may be required to complete a pet application form.

Golf-All of the Country Clubs in Highlands are private and may not allow non-members to play, however there are several other golf courses nearby that are open to the public.

Highlands Cove 828-526-8044 Hwy.64E towards Cashiers about 8 miles

High Hampton 828-743-4251 Hwy.64E to Cashiers,then 107S about 13 miles

Sky Valley(Georgia) 800-437-2416 Hwy106 towards Dillard about 14 miles

Mill Creek 828-524-4653 Hwy64W to Franklin about 20 miles

Firewood- If you would like to have firewood to use while here, you must call and order at least two weeks prior to your arrival. Owner’s wood is not to be used. We are not in the firewood business, but we’re happy to try to arrange for deliveries, and deliver payment to the vendors. We are not responsible beyond that. For small amounts, you may wish to buy “by the bundle” from the grocery store.

Our History and Tradition

We are entering into our 61^st anniversary in 2002. It all began back in 1941, when Tudor Norton Hall and Margaret Gilbert Hall, Isabel’s parents, purchased the insurance and real estate business of S.T. Marett. They opened for business in their home on Fifth Street, here in Highlands. Tudor was a fifth generation native, and Margaret was the daughter of the town’s dentist, Dr. E.R. Gilbert.

Their house, now our office, sits on what was once The Hall House. Tudor’s parents began a summer resort back in 1896, just 21 years after the town was founded. The property took in all but the southwest corner of the block bounded by Fifth Street, Chestnut Street, Sixth Street, and Main Street. It included a small hotel, guest cabins, nine-hole golf course, dance pavillion, clay tennis court and icehouse. Tudor’s grandfather, David Norton, was already in the hospitality business as owner of The Central House.

Tudor grew up in The Hall House. He managed the garden, drove the family Model T to Walhalla and Dillard to pick up the summer guests from age 1. He later helped his brother and sisters I in the family owned telephone business.

Isabel and her husband, Tony chambers, started their own real estate business in 1976, and took over the real estate division of Tudor Hall Associates from her brother ten years later. Now, the business is passing on to the next generation with Tucker and Jeannie Chambers at the helm.

The family owned business began small and no matter how “big” we are or how many properties we rent, manage and sell – we still have that small town, family business attitude. We know this country, and are proud to show it off. As well as being the oldest continuous owned family real estate business, we have some other credentials as well: first REALTORâ in Highlands (1950), charter members of The Highlands- Cashiers Board of REALTORSâ (1956), first to use computers for real estate (1987), leader in Property Management and rentals since 1987, and first real estate office to have rentals on our web pages on the Internet (1997.

We hope to keep the tradition of service to our guests, which was started by David Norton and was continued by Tudor Tucker and Meta Norton Hall, Tudor Norton and Margaret Hall, Overton “Tony” Chambers and Isabel Hall Chambers and now Tucker and Jeannie Chambers.

Ceud Mile Failte “One Hundred Thousand Welcomes”

Rental Information

Check in time: Please do not arrive before 4:00 pm. Normal check in time is between 4:00 – 5:00 pm. Our hard working housekeepers need every minute of the 10:00-4:00 window to ensure the cleanliness of your home. Upon your arrival you will be given a “Welcome packet” including keys and directions to your rental unit. If you know you’ll be arriving after 5:00, please call our office to make arrangements.

Check out time: Please check out no later than 10:00 am. Prompt departure is necessary to prevent delay of guests checking in behind you. Upon check out, please lock all windows and doors, and bring keys to The Chambers Agency office. If our office is not open-put keys in the key drop in the Kiosk. You will be charged for not returning keys and/or staying past check out time.

Housekeeping: All homes are furnished for light housekeeping with dishes, cookware, glassware, flatware, and linens for the number of people stated in the occupancy limit. You may wish to bring extra cleaning supplies, blankets (in the Spring or Fall), garbage bags, flashlight, radio, batteries and any special kitchen items you’re used to. Cleaning is included in the rent. Upon departure, please either strip used beds, or leave unmade, wash all dishes or start dishwasher, remove and dispose of all trash.

Occupancy Limit: Occupancy at anytime for any reason is limited to the number of persons (including children) as described in the house description, the only exception being infants in cribs. No mobile homes, campers, or motorhomes can be used at rental homes for sleeping, cooking, or purpose other than transportaion.

Family groups only: We are instructed by our owners to rent to family groups only. Fraternal, sorority, student, or singles groups are asked not to apply for accommodations. House parties are prohibited. Misrepresentation, house parties, or exceeding the house limit will result in guests being asked to immediately vacate without refund.

Telephone: All homes have phones, and you are welcome to make local calls. All long distance calls are to put on a credit card. Any call placed otherwise is subject to a $10.00 fee per billing cycle plus the cost of the call. Some phones have been installed with “like home dialing” which automatically charges your credit card for the calls you make. The long distance rate for these calls vary, but are usually a little higher than what you may pay at home.

FAX: You are welcome to send or receive FAX messages from our office. There is a $1.00 charge for the first page, then $.50 for each additional page-coming or goine.

Fireplace/Grilling: Housekeeping is instructed NOT to clean fireplaces between guests due to the possibility of live ashes. Fires actually start better with ashes in the fireplace. If you feel the need to dispose of ashes, make sure the ashes are several days old, and they are cold. If you use an owner’s grill, make sure you clean it afterwards. Never use charcoal in a gas grill – if you don’t know the difference- please call us!

Items left behind: Neither Owner nor Agent are responsible for items left at the property by Guests. Please be sure to double check for all personal items before departure. A minimum $10.00 handling fee plus postage will be charged to return by mail any items left in property. Please call us as soon as you realize you’ve left something behind!

Maintenance/Refunds: All equipment in each unit should be in working order. Please report any inoperative equipment to our office promptly. We will make every effort to have repairs made as soon as possible. Owner & Agent shall have the right to inspect & make repairs during the rental period. Guests shall be charged for any unnecessary maintenance calls. No reduction of rent, rebate, or refund will be issued for any mechanical failure of air conditioning, major or minor appliance, public utility inter-ruptions, guest dissatisfaction, or for errors in this brochure, web site, rental agreement, including changes made by owner in bedding, furnishings, equipment, etc. No refunds for inclement weather.

Errors: Descriptions, rates, and property amenities listed here and/or the rental agreement are subject to change without notice. Omissions, additions, or errors are unintended, and we will try our best to ensure you have the correct info.

Unforseen Circumstances: If your property becomes unavailable, The chambers Agency reserves the right to move you to a comparable property. Every effort will be made to place you in a property with a comparable location, accommodates the same number of persons in your party, and is within the same price range; however, Agent cannot guarantee availability /comparability of other properties. Owner and Agent are not liable for an acts of God (nature) that would prohibit limit the use of property.

Self Catering: Every rental unit is privately owned and reflects the owner’s personal style and tastes. Our homes are considered to be self- catering – treat it as your own and replace items that you use.

Agency Disclosure: Unless otherwise notified by written agreement, The Chambers Agency acts as an agent for the Owner/Landlord in all transactions. Some of our rental home owners are licensed real estate agents/brokers.