It’s tough to find a good rental these days. Thanks to the Internet, we have many resources to search for places to stay, but how do you know if they are reliable? Do they even exist? What if it’s a scammer? We’ve set out to get all of the tips on finding the best vacation rental for you in Ocean City because we all know it can be a difficult process- but it doesn’t have to be!
Local real estate broker and sales associate Nick Marotta has plenty of experience in the rental world. He’s been helping people vacation happily in Ocean City for nearly 28 years with Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach. In speaking with Nick, it’s safe to say the best way to rent in Ocean City is by using a real estate agent. Here are the 7 ways we have gathered from Nick on how to find the best vacation rental for you in Ocean City:
1. Do Your Research
If you’ve never stepped foot in Ocean City or you’re only mildly familiar, you MUST do your research! It’s important for a client to know what is available to them as far as the different areas and neighborhoods in the town, inventory, restaurants, shopping, and other activities. You’ll find that by researching the town yourself prior to talking with an agent will give you a good idea of what is going to work for you and your family.
2. Know Your Budget
Set a budget for how much you and your family want to spend on your rental. Many don’t know that Ocean City becomes more expensive during the midsummer weeks. “The last two weeks of July and the first two of August are the most expensive, busiest rental weeks of the year,” says Nick. “ Prices can range anywhere from $1,500-$20,000 for just the week” of course, that depends on the rental’s location. But that’s why a budget should be set for how much a renter is willing to spend for their living space. This will determine when in the summer they will be renting and where on the island their rental will be.
3. Consider Your Family’s Demographic and Interests
Along with setting a budget, the best way to tailor a rental to your family’s needs is to give your background information to your agent. How large your family is, the ages of each family member, and their interests all play a role in finding the right place for you to live comfortably for however long you’re staying. If you have a family of five with young children and relatives may also be joining in on the vacation, a two bedroom, 1 bathroom house on the beach in the South end may not be the best option for you, considering the quieter neighborhoods and the lack of space. “If a family has never been to Ocean City or has younger children, I try to always recommend the boardwalk to them because of all the attractions,” Nick mentions.
4. Develop a Relationship with Your Rental Agent
Your agent will inform you about the island and ask you many questions about the type of rental you’re looking for, but it’s incredibly helpful to develop a relationship with them as well. After all, they are the person that can and will help you in every way before, during and after your stay in Ocean City. At Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach, agents are encouraged to convenience their clients in any way possible. So it will help you immensely to feel comfortable enough to ask or tell them anything. Nick says, “Exchange cell phone numbers, emails, any contact you can because I’ve had people call me at 1 am before because they’ve locked themselves out of their place”. In any event, it is always a good thing to know your agent’s contact information!
5. Communicate Clearly!
Nick says this is one of the most important ways to assure you will enjoy your rental time here on the island. To customize your experience and make it exactly what you and your family want, you should give every last bit of information to your agent and make sure they know and understand what it is that you want. That way, they’ll be able to better envision the kind of experience you want to have here.
Today, so many vacationers look to various websites to find their rentals, which is convenient and often recommended by your agent to do as well (hit up foxroachshore.com to do a pre-search before or during your search with an agent!). But you’ll find that speaking to an actual agent has more value because this person is going to find exactly what you’re looking for and handle every last detail of the transaction that you may not be able to- such as visiting the options of rentals you are considering. “I always tell my other agents to visit the rentals if their clients can’t,” Nick says, “we want to make it as convenient as possible for them”.
6. Be Prepared.
Your agent will inform you of what you need to bring and when and where you need to be for check-in and checkout. At Nick’s office on Battersea, ”Check-in is every Saturday at 2:00 where we’ll have a tent outside equipped with snacks and agents there to help you with any questions you might have,” he says. So pick up your keys, grab yourself a soft pretzel and head to your rental to start your vacation! “All you need to bring are sheets, pillowcases and your own towels. The rest will be provided for you since the rentals are fully stocked”.
7. Enjoy Your Vacation.
This may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but knowing every activity and attraction available to you will pay off on a rainy day when the beach is not an option. Check out family night every Thursday night on the boardwalk or the shopping downtown on Asbury. There are plenty of activities and events throughout the summer as well as indoor attractions that can be found.
“Nick has always been sensitive to finding the best possible accommodations for us, especially as the family grew. In doing, so he always meet our needs to stay within our budget. On the rare occasion we had an issue with the rental property, Nick was on top of it immediately and masterfully resolved any problems” commented vacation renter, Jim Shortley
To search for available Ocean City rentals, click on http://njshore.foxroach.com/area/ocean-city
