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Rental & Reservation Policies

At First Mate Vacation Rentals, we’re committed to your satisfaction. In order to make sure everyone fully understands the terms and conditions relating to the rental of vacation properties, the following are our rental and reservation policies.

Deposit and Payments
Payment in Full is due at booking and required to confirm your reservation.  Please review your reservation and make sure all the information including check in and check out dates are correct.

Payment Terms
Credit Cards,  Checks and Cash are accepted. There is a $25 charge for all returned checks plus the cost of collection and any additional fees your bank or institution may charge.

Communications. Guest(s) agree to be contacted via phone call, text messaging or email by management company regarding any issues or other communication needs prior to, during, or after their stay.

Cancellation & Refund Policy
If you need to cancel your booking, please contact our office during normal business hours at 361-983-2671. Cancellation does not guarantee refunds. Please read the refund policy below carefully. Refer to our refund policy for trip refunds.

Refunds
Are subject to the ability of the Property to be re-rented
.  If Sufficient Time is given, then a Partial or Full Refund will be given less a Cancellation Fee of either $ 35 or 5% which ever is more.

During peak rental periods, May – October, and certain holidays, there are No Refunds, with the following exceptions.

  • If a rental equal to or greater than your booking is secured, then a refund will be issued minus a processing fee.
  • If a rental of lessor value is secured, then only a partial refund will be issued.

Rates
Rates, terms and applicable taxes are subject to change without notice. If the property reserved becomes unavailable for the dates reserved, we reserve the right to move Guest in advance to a comparable property or refund the Guest the amount paid.

Minimum Stay Requirements
During peak rental periods, Tigrett Real Estate requires a minimum rental stay. There is at least a three night minimum for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. The popular Lone Star Shootout event necessitates a four night minimum rental. Weekends are a two night minimum and other rental stay restrictions may apply. Please be sure to contact us at 361-983-2671 if you have any questions regarding minimum stay requirements.

Exceptions
All rental units are subject to change of ownership and or removal from the Rental Pool at any time. First Mate Vacation Rentals shall not be responsible or liable for any actions which are beyond our control. You will be notified immediately in the event of any changes.

Check In and Check Out
The rental period begins at 4:00 p.m. on the day of arrival and terminates at 1:00 p.m. (11 AM No Agenda Hacienda and 12 noon at Tide Runner Retreat) on the day of departure. Late departures may incur an extra charge of $25/hour or portion thereof and must be approved 24 hours in advance. The properties are professionally cleaned and inspected before and after each rental to ensure that all guests have a clean comfortable stay. Please be thoughtful of renters who may be checking in on the same day that you checkout-occasionally delays may occur.

To check-in, visit our office at 1842 W Adams Ave in Port O’Connor. If you are checking in after hours, an envelope with your name will be left in the “Pick Up” box by the front door of our office. The envelope will contain your key and directions to your rental…it’s important for you to keep the rental envelope on hand in the unit because it contains important check out information.

To check-out, visit our office at 1842 W Adams Ave in Port O’Connor. During office hours, please see the attendant at the front desk to turn in your key and settle any outstanding charges. For after hours check-outs, you may drop your key in the “Drop Box” mail slot near the front door of our office. A final invoice will be emailed to you after we have inspected your rental and charged any outstanding amounts against your credit card on file.

Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property shall NOT be exceeded at any time during your stay, including guests and visitors. Exceeding the maximum occupancy of the property may result in the immediate cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of any and all monies paid or due. No property may be used as an Event Staging or Registration Area or Party of any type (Wedding, Birthday, Fishing Tournament, etc) without prior approval.

Damage and Cleaning Issues
Any damage or cleaning issues noticed upon arrival should be reported to the staff immediately. If damage or cleaning issues are not reported within 3 hours of your arrival, your credit card may be charged for the cost of the repair. All general maintenance issues should also be reported so the unit can be kept in good repair. You must contact the cleaning company to address any cleaning issues within 3 hours of your arrival. You will not incur any additional charges if the following items are adhered to:

  • No damage is done to the unit or its content including the linens.
  • No items are missing upon the inventory check. (This includes, but is not limited to, transferring items to other units.)
  • All debris, garbage and discards are placed in proper containers outside the unit inside the Trash Toters.
  • All soiled dishes are placed in the dishwasher.
  • There was no exceeding the maximum occupancy of the unit.
  • There was no smoking or evidence of smoking in a designated non-smoking unit.
  • Unit is left in neat condition.
  • Pet friendly units show no sign of pet damage or excessive cleaning-including pet hair on the furniture or bedding and yard needs to be picked up of your pet’s waste and disposed of in outside blue toter.
  • NO cleaning of fish on the premises of non-waterfront properties. All fish carcasses must be disposed of in the ICW. Do NOT dispose of carcasses in boat slips, canals, marinas or trash receptacles.

Any damages, fines or other charges generated by failure to adhere to these rules will be charged to the guest.

If you experience any problems whatsoever with the vacation property during your stay, please contact us and we will do our best to rectify the matter as soon as it is practically possible. Should a problem remain unresolved, you are required to notify us in writing within 7 days of your return. No action can be taken or liability accepted for any complaints received after this period. We aim to resolve complaints within a two month period from receipt, the details of which will be kept confidential to only the parties involved. Please note that as Texas is a Gulf state, insects such as ants, fleas, mosquitoes, water bugs, and the like are occasionally inevitable — as are grass burrs and stickers — and are not cause for complaint. The vacation property is treated periodically as part of a pest and termite control program, and is cleaned after each rental.

Parking
Parking is limited to the driveways of the rental property. Do not park on the street or on other property. If you need additional parking, contact our staff for parking alternatives. Due to the regulations of many of the subdivisions and developments in our area, improperly parked vehicles are subject to towing at the owner’s expense.

No Smoking
Smoking is not allowed in any of our units. Smoking is not allowed outside by any open window/door. Smoking is permitted on balconies as long as the doors and windows are closed. All butts, ashes and other smoking trash should be properly disposed. Any additional cleaning due to smoking will incur additional charges.

BBQ Pits, Grills and Deep Fat Fryers
For safety reasons, these items are not allowed to be used indoors or on wood decks. Please limit their use to a well-ventilated, concrete slab area. Misuse of these items that lead to damage will be the responsibility of the guest.  Upon departure if you have used these items please clean them to the state you found them in upon arrival to avoid additional charges.

Severe Weather
We do not refund rents or deposits lost due to cancelled or shortened stays because of weather. Departures due to inclement weather do not warrant refund of rent or deposit. We suggest Vacation Travel Insurance during the hurricane seasons.

Pet Policies
(Allowed in Pet Friendly Units Only) There is a maximum of two pets per rental allowed in each unit for an additional fee of $35 per pet, per night. Guest pets must be treated for fleas and ticks using a reliable flea and tick treatment plan prior to arrival. Guests must pick up after pets and tightly tie the remnants in a plastic bag if staying in a Pet Friendly Unit. Pets are not allowed on the furniture and all pet hair must be cleaned up prior to departure. A fee of up to $1,000 will be charged (in addition to the nightly fees) if there is any report of pet hair on bedding and sofas. Guest pets must be leashed at all times when outside of the unit. The violation of any terms of this pet policy subjects the guest to additional fines or termination of the rental period. Guest pet policies and unit availability are subject to change per county and association rules and regulations at any time. Pets may not be left unattended in the properties. You must kennel your pets if left in the properties.

Community Rules
Guest agrees to abide by rules of the community. These may be posted in the unit or at the community pool or office. These rules may change from time to time.

Pictures and Inventory
Pictures are taken infrequently of the Property and the actual layout and inventory in the Property may be slightly different at the time of your arrival.  If you have special requests or needs for certain items, please check with the Office before your departure.

Falsified Reservations
Any reservation obtained under false pretense will be subject to forfeiture of advance deposit and/or rental money and the party will not be permitted to check-in.

GUEST assures us that the tenants will observe all conditions and terms of this agreement as to maintaining the rental in good order and appearance and will conduct themselves in a manner inoffensive to neighbors.

GUEST assures that any tenant who violates any of the terms of this Agreement shall be immediately denied occupancy and shall remedy any damages or other expenses, which are caused by the tenant and/or the tenant’s guest(s).

GUEST agrees that any tenant who is found using drugs or allows others to use drugs on the premises will be immediately denied continued occupancy at these premises.

GUEST and/or their guests shall not disturb, annoy, endanger, or inconvenience neighbors, nor use the premises for any immoral or unlawful purposes, nor violate any law or ordnance, nor create waste or nuisance on or about the premises.

GUEST agrees that during the term of this agreement and such further time as he/she occupies the premises, he/she will keep the rental clean and free of trash, garbage, and other waste; and all pipes, wires, glass, plumbing and other equipment and fixtures in the same condition as at the beginning of, or may put in during the term of the agreement, reasonable wear and tear and damage by unavoidable fire and casualty only exception.

GUEST agrees to indemnify and save our company harmless from all liability, loss or damage arising from any nuisance or harm made or suffered on the premises by the GUEST, tenants, or guests or from any carelessness, neglect, or improper conduct of any persons entering, occupying or visiting the premises. We accept no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage or alteration to the terms of your reservation caused by events beyond our control, including but not restricted to war, terrorist activity, civil commotion, flight delays, or cancellations, airport closures, loss of luggage, adverse weather conditions, fire, flood, or industrial dispute. We cannot accept any liability for failure of public supplies such as water, electricity, Internet or breakdown of the air conditioning system. Nor for the consequences of the action or omissions of persons who may control or supply main services, or any actions taken in the vicinity of the property reserved, by any authority over which there is no control.

We cannot accept any liability for your personal safety during your vacation. It is particularly important that children are supervised at all times in and outside the vacation property. We assume no responsibility for accidents. You are reminded to exercise care as to your personal safety, and the safety of your companions. Whenever possible, valuables should be left secure and out of sight.