Comprehensive Rental Information | Ward Realty on Topsail Island

Things to know before you make a reservation.

Rules and Regulations: Please carefully read the following Rules and Regulations that will appear on your reservation contract with Ward Realty.

Rental Periods: During the Summer,(early June through late August) reservations are for full-weeks only and the turn day for a vast majority of our rentals is Saturday to Saturday. There are several properties that are Friday to Friday and Sunday to Sunday. From January through Memorial Day and late August through December, partial weekly rentals are allowed for most rentals.

Reservations may be made by phone, online, e-mail or in person. After a reservation has been made, we will send a rental agreement to the person who made the reservation. All further transactions will be made with that person only. If you have any special requirements or a particular quality in mind, we strongly suggest you thoroughly discuss your needs with Ward Realty prior to confirming your reservation.

Total Vacation Cost: The total price for a vacation rental with Ward Realty is comprised of the following items: base rent, taxes (NC sales tax + local accommodations tax) + Travel Insurance (optional) + Security Deposit Waiver OR damage deposit + reservation admin fee + third party credit card processing fee if a credit/debit card is used.

CSA Travel Insurance: Protect the investment of your vacation with Travel Insurance from CSA. Medical issues, death of a family member, mandatory hurricane evacuations, and more are covered. For specific information on what exactly is covered and how to make a claim, please visit www.vacationrentalinsurance.com. Trip Insurance is a great way to protect your financial position in a vacation.

Security Deposit Waiver: In lieu of a Damage Deposit, you may choose to accept the Security Deposit Waiver for your vacation. This plan covers up to $3,000 of accidental damages. Click on the following link for more information: Security Deposit Waiver.

Cancellations: All cancellations must be received in writing (e-mail, fax, letter). If the property is re-rented on the terms set forth herein, Guest shall receive a refund of all payments made, less a $100 cancellation fee, reservation admin fee + tax, $19.95 third party credit card processing fee(s) + tax, and the travel insurance fee (if chosen). Otherwise, Guest is not entitled to a refund of rent payment made hereunder. Guest may not sub-lease. Please see Rules and Regulations for complete cancellation policy.

What is Provided in our Rental Properties: Each of our properties are individually furnished and equipped by the homeowner. All of our properties feature the standard items listed except when notated in the property description. Additional amenities including TVs, DVD/Blu ray players, telephone, outdoor shower and other items vary depending on the property and preference of the homeowner. Please visit each property on our website for more specific amenities. Standard items are - Central Air Conditioning, Color Cable TV, Internet Access, Washer/Dryer access, Fully Equipped Kitchen (microwave, dishwasher, coffee maker, blender, toaster, pots/pans, dishes, utensils, glassware), Bedding (pillows, comforters or bedspreads for the beds - excludes sleeper sofas), Iron and Ironing Board. Refunds will not be given due to the breakdown of these items. Please note that linens and paper products are not included, unless specifically indicated on an individual property's list of amenities. If you are looking for a specific amenity in a rental home, please click here to search for your Topsail Island rental by amenity.

Rental Items: Ward Realty uses a third party to offer rental items such as bed and bath linens, miscellaneous baby and beach equipment and vacation essential kits to help make your trip down to Topsail Island easier (and lighter!). Our reservationists will be happy to assist you for scheduling these services or order online at the time you make your reservation. If you or someone in your party has a special need that is not listed, please call our office and we will assist you in any way that we can. All rental items will be delivered to the property by the end of the check-in day. Rental items will be picked up on departure day. Please make reservations for these items as early as possible. Prices are per reservation and do not include applicable taxes. In the event you find that you do not need the items rented, a full refund will be made provided you cancel at least 14 days prior to your arrival date. A restocking fee of $25 will be applied for cancellations made less than 14 days. Please click on our list of Topsail Island rental items for prices and more information.

Pet Policies: Ward Realty provides three options of accommodations regarding pets.

  • Pet Free - Pets are not allowed for guests or homeowners
  • No Pets - Guests are not allowed to bring pets though homeowners may choose to bring their pets
  • Pet Friendly - Guests are allowed to bring pets for a fee

Ward Realty has many homes that are pet-friendly. After all, pets need a vacation, too! Only dogs are permitted pets, though some houses allow cats, as well. Pet Fees are added to your cost if you choose to bring your pet to one of the pet friendly vacation rentals. You must verify in the "Additional Property Information" section of each property's description the total number of pets allowed, what types of pets are permitted and the related pet fees. Please note that if you have allergies to pets that you should search for "Pet-Free" cottages - properties where pets are not allowed, even for the homeowners.

Island Locations:

  • Oceanfront: Property located on the Atlantic Ocean with direct beach access.

  • Oceanside / Oceanfront B-Lot: Property located on the oceanfront with no street to cross and limited ocean views.
    This property is either on an oceanfront B-Lot/Piano key lot or on oceanfront condominium complex (but specific unit is not oceanfront).

  • Ocean View: Property located on Second or Third Row or Interior with some views of the ocean

  • Second Row: Property located across street from ocean

  • Interior: Property located in the interior/middle of the island

  • Soundview: Property located on the sound/marsh side with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway

  • Soundfront: Property located on the open sound waters

  • Canalfront: Property located on a sound-side finger canal

  • Mainland: Property located just across the sound on the mainland

Bedding Types:

Due to space provided on our vacation rental description pages, we have shortened some of the amenities and bedding terms. Click here for a list of the Abbreviations of Beds, Household Items, etc.

Things to know before you arrive on vacation.

"What to Bring" includes the following: Most of our rental homes do not include bed or bath linens. Rental homes that provide linens are indicated on the list of amenities. Otherwise, guests must furnish sheets, pillow cases, towels or rent them with Ward Realty. Paper products, non-abrasive cleaning supplies and beach furniture is also not provided, but may be found at the property. Most kitchens are well equipped, but if you have a favorite kitchen item, you may wish to bring it with you. Though the appliances may vary, each property is furnished with cooking utensils and dining service for the number it accommodates. Please click here for an expanded checklist of what to bring to Topsail Island.

Office Hours
8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday and 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM on Sundays after Memorial Day and before Labor Day. We close our office at 5:00 PM during all other times. During the month of December, our office is closed on Sundays. In observance of the Christmas season and New Year's holiday, our office will be closed for the last half of December and will reopen after New Year's Day in January. During this time, no check-ins will be permitted.

Check-in: You may check-in to your vacation home beginning at 4:00 pm on the day of arrival, provided the vacation home has been cleaned and inspected. Please make plans to check-in from 4:00 pm until our office closes at 5:30 pm. We will send you an email 3 days prior to your check-in date with specific check-in information. We will also text you once the home is ready for occupancy. If your vacation rental requires a pool pass, gate fob, etc. then please make plans to pick up these items anytime after 12:00 on your day of check-in. These items require a cash deposit that will be refunded when you return the pass to our office at the end of your stay. Our office is located at 202 South Topsail Drive, Surf City. Do not go to the property prior to checking in at our office, because this may delay your check-in. If a property is occupied or if there are cars in the driveway, the cleaners and inspectors will skip this property and move on to the next. Furthermore, if you occupy the property before it has been inspected, Ward Realty may be unable to provide you with a clean and properly maintained home at the beginning of your vacation.

Please plan your day of arrival accordingly. Every effort is made to ensure that all properties are clean and ready, but in some instances it may be necessary to delay occupancy for repairs or extra cleaning. There are no rebates for late occupancy. If you want to arrive early and will be comfortable hanging out on the beach all day, shopping or visiting the sites, then it may make your first day more fun. However, if you have infants, elderly family members, pets, or anyone with special needs, you need to plan for a later arrival. Two final notes: The swing bridge opens on the hour, every hour, for recreational boats so plan to travel on and off the island on the half-hour (bridge opens at any time for commercial vessels) as traffic can be heavy due to bridge openings. And, please, please, please do not go grocery shopping until you have checked-in to avoid spoiled food.

Late Arrival: You can check-in after our office closes if your rental agreement has been signed and your reservation has been paid in full. Please call us if you think you will be arriving past 5:30 pm (depending on season) to make arrangements for your check-in.

Departure Time: We know it will be difficult leaving Topsail Island, but Check-Out time is 10:00 a.m. PROMPT! Please enter the closing code on your keyless lock (if applicable) or return your 2 sets of keys (if applicable), any pool, parking or beach access passes to our office. Do not go back to the property after you have turned in your keys or pushed the closing code. You are responsible for completion of the items on the check-out procedures list that is included in your check-in packet. If you plan to leave earlier than 8:30 am, please leave the keys and passes, if applicable) in the drop box to the left of the rental office door. Please drive carefully and we hope you take great memories of this island home with you.

Parking: Parking varies greatly between properties. Please plan for the least number of vehicles possible. Most Condo complexes limit parking to two vehicles and unfortunately there are a several single family homes and duplexes that have very limited parking. You may wish to check with our office to make sure prior to your arrival. Please note that the towns of Surf City (April 1 - October 31) and North Topsail Beach (year around) require paid parking in public lots. You can get more info about parking here for Surf City parking and North Topsail Beach parking.

Mail/Messages: Mail, faxes & packages sent to you in care of Ward Realty may be picked up at our office during regular business hours. Please remember to put the name of the property where you are staying on anything that is sent to you. We will not forward mail, etc. that was not picked up or arrived late. ONLY TRUE EMERGENCY MESSAGES WILL BE DELIVERED. All others will be posted on the bulletin board in the rental office.