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How do I pay for the house?
We have a management company named Sun Realty that takes care of the financial arrangements for the house. The exact price for your selected week including all deposits, taxes and insurance can be found on our Sun Realty listing. Just click on the "Book Vacation Now" link and you will be redirected to the Sun Realty listing for Conscience Point. Then, select the week you are interested in and a listing of all the costs and fees will appear. The time parameters for payment will also display on the page. Generally, the first half of the payment is due to Sun Realty within 7 days of booking and the remainder is due 45 days before your vacation begins.
Do you provide linens and towels?
Yes. This sets us apart from many rental homes. It would cost tenants close to $200 to rent linens and towels on their own. We think it is ridiculous to go on vacation and then have to pay extra for bedding and for the ability to dry off after a shower.
Can I get the pool heated earlier (or later) than your listed dates?
Maybe. We "winterize" the pool in the cold winter months. This renders the pool unusable, even for the polar bears who travel to the Outer Banks from the northeast and Canada (the chlorine is removed from the pool and it is unhealthy to swim in the water). We open it back up, or "dewinterize," the pool in the second week of April. Past experience has told us that this is the earliest date when the heater may be effective. Even then, the pool might not get as hot as you would like. Our heater is a heat pump that is dependent on ambient temperatures being pleasant enough to generate heat. If the outside temperature drops below 53 degrees, the heat pump automatically shuts off because the pump will not be able to get the tempereature of the water warm enough. The general rule is that the pump can get the water 10 degrees warmer than the highest outside temperature of the day. Thus, you really need an outside temperature in the 70s to get the pool warm enough to swim in. Sun Realty may tell you that it takes a couple of days to warm the pool up appropriately. This is not entirely accurate. In the late spring or early fall months, when the afternoon temperatures are regularly in the high 70s, it only takes a few hours to get the pool heated appropriately. In the early spring and late fall months, it could take days to warm to its maximum temperature, but if it is taking that long, it is likely that the pool will never get warm enough to be comfortable. Never fear, the hot tub is open and available all year long and if the pool won't get warm enough, just let us know and we'll work on getting your pool heat fee back to you.
Can I park at the beach?
Fortunately, Conscience Point is so close to the beach that you do not need to drive there. If you need to take a lot of beach supplies to the beach, you can always drive the 900 feet down to the sand and unload your load and then park back at Conscience Point. The proximity of the beach may not seem like a big deal now, but just wait until the summer vactioners come to town. You'll be so thankful that you can just step outside and walk down your own private little street to the ocean.
Do you provide toiletries?
No. Unfortunately, Sun Realty does not have a program where we can provide these items for our guests. We have to purchase them just like all other tenants every time we visit. You'll need to buy or bring toilet paper, napkins, paper towels and soaps.
What's the closest grocery store?
Rodanthe has a couple of general stores where you can pick up some essentials in a crunch. However, the key to any successful vacation is getting the initial main grocery shopping out of the way early. The Outer Banks has two main grocery stores, Food Lion and Seamark. Both grocery stores are perfect for prepackaged standards like potato chips, sodas, cereal, canned foods, etc. However, our experience has led us to question the quality of both stores' meats. We are fortunate that just 15 minutes south of Conscience Point is the Village Grocery. This gem of a grocery store is ice cold inside and has fresh meats. It is the place to go for your meats. Just about a mile south of the Village Grocery is a Food Lion. Perhaps because it is newer than other Food Lions on the Outer Banks, the one near Conscience Point is very clean and has great fruits and vegetables. In short, by staying at Conscience Point, you are perfectly suited for the best grocery shopping on the Outer Banks.
I want to stay for less than a week. Is that possible?
During off-peak weeks we consider tenants for partial weeks? Please contact us directly to discuss this possibility. Of course, you can always pay for the whole week and leave early or come late.
Do you have baby equipment?
Yes. We have a young child and he has grown up vacationing at Conscience Point. As a consequence, we have had to have proper supplies for him. We have two high chairs (one much newer than the other), two baby gates, a bath seat for little toddlers, a portable baby crib and outlet covers for all of the electrical outlets. We recommend that families bring their own portable cribs, but we have one if necessary.
Do you have a backyard for the kids or dogs to use?
Yes, we have a large fenced backyard perfect for playing with young ones. We even have a large sideyard, some of which is fenced for the protection of younger children. We're telling you, folks, Conscience Point has it all.
Are there any shops on the Outer Banks?
Are you kidding? That is what the Outer Banks is all about - the beach and shopping. In fact, just across the street from Conscience Point is a quaint little center with great souvenir shops, an ice cream parlor and an Asian restaurant. Up along the northern beaches, there are literally hundreds of little shops to get lost in. We don't want to spoil it for you, but trust us, you won't be disappointed. If you get a chance, go into downtown Manteo and stroll their shops. It is a great way to spend an afternoon when the summer sun is too hot.
What happens if a hurricane interrupts our trip?
Hopefully, you purchased trip insurance. If you are forced to evacuate, contact Sun Realty after the evacuation to get reimbursed for the portion of the trip you were forced to forego. If you didn't buy trip insurance, well, you are out of luck. Contact us and we will try to get you a discounted rate on another week (as long as it is not during the peak months).
Are pets allowed?
Yes. We allow up to two dogs per week. Sorry cats, you aren't allowed. There will be an additional pet deposit to pay for the extermination after your pets leave. The most important thing to remember is please, please, please pick up your pet's poop!
Do you have internet access?
Starting in 2007, we will have high speed wireless internet access for no additional charge.
Is Conscience Point oceanfront?
This has been a source of confusion over the last year or so. No. Conscience Point is not oceanfront, but it is oceanside. It is about 900 feet from the beach and is just across the street from Pamlico Sound. Some people have gotten to the house and thought that the picture displayed on our home page was misleading. They believed that we used trick photography to make the Atlantic Ocean look closer than it is. The confusion is that the picture does not show the Atlantic Ocean in the background, it shows Pamlico Sound (the picture is looking west, not east). In short, Conscience Point is a rare find on the Outer Banks. It is one of the only houses to have an unencumbered view of the marvelous sunsets while being a mere 5 minute walk to the beach. The beach is visible from the house, it just isn't as close as Pamlico Sound. Check out our music video in our multimedia section to see the different views.
Aren't your rental rates a little high for 2008?
Actually, no. First of all, when comparing rates, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. The rates on our site include all of the fees that used to be tacked on at the end. The only item not included in the price is tax. Secondly, we made a deliberate decision to separate our home from the rest of the pack in 2008. For those who truly want to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, Conscience Point has always been a terrific escape. But we always envisioned the house as more than just a place with great views. We want people to come to Conscience Point and stay in a nice home that offers things that they don't get to experience the other 51 weeks of the year. So, we are adding a sport court, a first rate home theater system, arcade games and video game consoles such as Playstation 3 and/or Nintendo Wii. These additions take us up into the upper echelon of rental homes and, put simply, you get what you pay for. If you or your family are not interested in playing games or running around outside, Conscience Point may not be right for you (though our views are still unparalleled). But, if you want a vacation experience that you cannot get anywhere else on the Outer Banks, you'll agree that the prices are right on target. In fact, the rates have only increased by $400-$900 per week. That is only $57-$128 per day for all of the frills you could ask for in a vacation home. So, no, we believe our rates are still very competitive.
What extra fees will I be saddled with?
NONE! For the first time, the rates you see listed for 2008 are all inclusive. You will only have to pay extra fees if you are adding pool heat, bringing a pet or purchasing trip insurance. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is. In past years, people had no idea that on top of the rate quoted they would have to pay an administrative fee, a security deposit/damage waiver, a credit card fee and a few other hidden fees that weren't clearly displayed. We, of course, always told our guests about these extra fees, but those who booked directly through our management company were often left with sticker shock. After a lot of complaining from owners and a strong recommendation from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, those days are over. Please keep in mind, though, that fees are not taxes. Taxes are NOT included in the price. You can figure the grand total out, including taxes, by simply adding on an additional 11.5% to your rental rate.
What made you decide on a sport court?
When we purchased Conscience Point in 2005, we loved the fact that it was such a large area of land. The house actually rests on two lots. From day one, we always thought that the second lot, where the pool sits, was underutilized. There was a huge front yard that was never used. Inside the fence, a fairly crummy excuse for a volleyball net sat next to the pool on some even crummier grass. We considered upgrading the grass inside the fence, but that would have still left a huge area of land in front of the fence that would never be used. So, we decided to bite the bullet and put in a first class exercise area. Voila! Conscience Court was born. Originally, we had hoped to fit in a full size tennis court, but there wasn't quite enough land. At the end of the day, it worked out better anyway. Many people do not know how to play tennis (at least play well enough to make it fun), but everyone can play paddle tennis. Young tots can play alongside their great grandmothers and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Why should we choose Conscience Point?
The better question is why wouldn't you choose Conscience Point.
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