FAQS

As a property management company, we do require a copy of your drivers license and a signed lease agreement from us directly (regardless of any third party booking documentation you may have already completed).

When it comes to third party booking platforms, the fees associated with their bookings are out of our control. Southern Charm does not profit on any of these additional fees when booking via third party (AirBnB, VRBO, Etc.) You may see the fee differences when viewing our lease agreement vs the platform you booked from. Our lease agreement does not reflect the fees that the third party booking platform has charged your reservation. The best way to avoid any additional fees is to book directly on our website.

As licensed real estate agents (required for Property Management) we require a lease for each reservation. This is part of the standard NC Vacation Rental Policy. *Please see the "general third party booking fees" section for further clarification.

Tenant cancellation requests must be made in writing. Tenant cancellation notice made with at least sixty (60) day prior to the arrival date will be entitled to a full refund less a $50 Administration Fee; initial reservation payment will be refunded within thirty (30) days of written cancellation notice. Tenant cancellation notice or changes that result in a shortened stay, that are made at least 30 days prior to the arrival date will result in a forfeit of the initial reservation 25% deposit fee payment. If tenant cancels less than 30 days before arrival, 100% of the reservation fee will be forfeited. All additional applicable fees will be refunded (cleaning, pet, damage).

Our standard check-in time is 4:00pm and our standard check-out time is 10:00am. We have created this standard window to allow our house keeping and maintenance providers to adequately service homes during this gap.

IF our team can accommodate your requests; early check in time is 2:00pm. Late check out is 12:00 noon. Early and late requests must be confirmed by a staff member. You can do so by texting our main line: 704-859-0297
Due to seasonal occupancy, we DO NOT offer early check-in/late check-out during the months of May, June, July, August, September, and all Holidays.
* There is a $50 fee for early arrival. *There is a $50 fee for late departure. *Reminder to please review our standard check-in/check-out times above.

After you book a vacation home with Southern Charm Retreats, you will receive a booking confirmation via email/text. You will be asked to provide a copy of your license. We will then send you a lease agreement. Once that is signed, you will receive a welcome email with a copy for your records. About a week prior to your vacation, we will send an email with house specific information and access codes to enter the property. You do not need a physical key to enter. All property information will be provided via email and included in a welcome binder in the home.

• Dispose of all garbage and recycling into the bins outside prior to check out. Please refer to your email or welcome book in regards to the designated trash pickup day.
• Clean out refrigerator and cabinets of all food you brought in. Do not leave anything.
• Clean grill grates by burning/scraping off any remaining food.
• Check all doors and make sure they are locked before you leave.
• Strip beds and place sheets on top of each bed.
• Gather all towels and place them on the floor of the bathroom.
• Sweep up any sandy/dirty areas.
• Return all kayaks/paddle boards/chairs/life jackets/cushions/etc to where they were when you arrived .
• In the spring/summer/fall please set AC unit to Cool at 75. In the late fall/winter/early spring please set AC unit to Heat at 65.
• Put any dirty dishes in dishwasher and start load before you leave.
• Let us know if anything needs to be repaired or replaced.

Southern Charm Retreats is not responsible for any items left behind. We will attempt to locate anything you report. If found, we will return them at shipping cost. If the item is not claimed within 14 days from your departure date, we will donate it to a local charity.

Bed and Bath Linens
Pillows and Blankets
Keurig or Drip Coffee Maker
Toaster
Blender
Dishes, Utensils, and Cookware
Grilling Utensils
Microwave
Dish Washer
Iron & Ironing Board
TV
Internet
Central Heat & Air Conditioning
Washer & Dryer
Outdoor Furniture
*We provide a starter pack of the basic essentials to begin your vacation. These include limited amounts of laundry deterrent, dish tabs, dish soap, hand soap, toilet paper, paper towels, and trash bags.

We have a selection of vacation homes that accommodate pets. Although we love all pets, only dogs are permitted in our pet friendly homes. There is no weight limit or breed restrictions. All pet reservations require a fee per dog. These fees vary based on the selected home.

During your visit, routine maintenance may occur - primarily outdoor lawn and exterior upkeep. If we need to get into the house to replace/repair anything, we'll contact you proactively and knock on the door first before entering.
Landscaping is maintained once a week.
**Please note that March-May is pollen season in North Carolina.  Decks, walkways, outdoor patio areas are swept and wiped down to relieve the pollen prior to each arrival. This does not guarantee that pollen will not be present by the time of your arrival. 

**Because you are on a lake- bugs and spider/spider webs are inevitable. Along with Pollen, we take time to whisk away any dock webs prior to your stay.

Pools and Spas are maintained once a week. Includes emptying, refilling, and chemicals additions. 

In regards to early and late arrivals- if a new check in/out time has not been discussed or approved with our staff, we will have to charge a $50 fee if you stay past your allotted 4pm check in time and10am check out time. This is in respect to our housekeeping staff.