Reviews

This profile includes reviews for Surf or Sound Realty's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Surf or Sound Realty

  PO Box 100 Avon, NC 27915-0100

  
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  Surf or Sound Realty

  26204 Rampart St Salvo, NC 27972

  
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  Surf or Sound Realty

  PO Box 270 Rodanthe, NC 27968-0270

  
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  Surf or Sound Realty

  40974 NC Hwy 12 Avon, NC 27915

  

Review Details

• Review fromcheri w

  Date: 09/19/2023

  1 star
  Surf or Sound Realty was NEGLIGENT in our recent rental of **** *******. ALL smoke detectors were hanging off the ceiling and batteries were either missing or dislodged or the smoke detector was disconnected. The minute we walked into the house upon given the ok, we were met with smoke detectors chirping and going off. Immediately called the office to get someone to take a look and got connected to three different call centers only to have my message emailed somewhere. Finally when I called the third time an after-hour maintenance guy called and came by to say flip the breaker. I'm responsible for 17 people/children in this house and that was not acceptable. He brought back batteries at 10:30 cycled all 14 smoke detectors and 4 continued to chirp. Disconnected those and said he would return the next day with new ones. I called the office the next day to have someone come look and was told we live on an island and it takes time to get specialty people out. We continued to have problems the entire week with no one ever coming to look at them or to fix them. I guess it's going to take a house burning down for someone to take action. NEVER AGAIN. Star rating would be 0 but could not select that.....

• Review fromMilan A

  Date: 09/17/2023

  1 star
  This was the worst customer service I have ever received. I had book a week long stay at a Surf or Sound Realty location in Nov. 2022 for a Sept. 2023 stay. I had family flying into the Outer Banks and was already driving in NC and 3 hours away on check-in day from our rental when I received a call from Surf or Sound telling me the rental was not available! This was 5 hours from check in time and 2 minutes after I had received a welcome text about the check-in. The company had no explanation as to why the rental was not available and had no comparable rentals (oceanfront) to offer. Then I checked their site and found other comparable locations (oceanfront) that were open and they would not accept replacing anything that had a higher cost than my leased rental. This is without question, an unethical business practice and not something NC rental law allows. The service personnel from Surf or Sound did help get me connected to another company (******* ******) that was able to meet our needs and provide comparable accommodations. There is no acceptable explanation for a company to tell a renter that their property is not available only 5 hours prior to check-in time let alone, not have a comparable back-up property available. I hope through legal counsel we can rectify this type of action from ever happening to another family again. It is appalling to this another family could be told they do not have a place to stay after traveling across country to visit the Outer Banks.

• Review fromElizabeth Z

  Date: 09/10/2023

  1 star
  My experience with Surf or Sound Realty and their property ******* *** ***** was nothing short of disappointing and concerning. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that this vacation rental was plagued with numerous issues that significantly impacted our stay. The most alarming problem was the presence of black mold in three bedrooms on the third floor and even in the stairwell leading to the lowest floor. This presented a severe health hazard and created an unsafe living environment. Moreover, the property showed clear signs of water damage, which manifested in damaged ceilings on the second and third floors. In addition to the mold and water damage issues, there were a multitude of other maintenance and safety concerns. The main fridge in the kitchen was broken and replaced with a smaller one, with no additional fridge provided to compensate for the loss of space. The mini fridge had significant ice buildup and failed to cool properly. Many bathrooms lacked towel bars, which had been ripped from the walls. Broken light switches and covers were prevalent throughout the property, posing further safety hazards. The safety of the property was compromised as well, with a sliding door in the game room lacking handles on both the inside and outside, leaving the home accessible to anyone. The only "lock" provided was a makeshift stick, which was insufficient for security. Moreover, numerous light fixtures either had burnt-out bulbs or simply did not work, creating an inconvenient and dimly lit atmosphere. It is disheartening that such a beautiful property was marred by a lack of maintenance and improper remediation of water damage and mold. It is imperative that Surf or Sound Realty takes immediate action to address these issues, ensuring the safety and comfort of future guests. I would strongly advise potential renters to exercise caution and thoroughly inspect any property offered by this company before making a reservation.

• Review fromJanelle R

  Date: 08/14/2023

  2 stars

  Janelle R

  Date: 08/14/2023

  I have rented many homes through Surf or Sound Realty. In the past, I only sang their praises. I even recommended them to several of my friends. Unfortunately, this past July changed my opinion. I rented Sunset Serenade with my family. The house was not what was advertised. Appliances were broken and their were so many other issues. I called several times. Maintenance came to look at the stove. It was not fixed during my stay. The other issues were never looked at. I understand that houses are used and may need repairs, but I felt that Surf or Sound did nothing to try and make this issue better. Not having a functioning stove made this a very difficult week. My family and I spent a lot of money to stay in what should have been a fantastic home. I tried to actually take care of this during my week of vacation. However, I was always told that they would pass my concerns to someone else and someone would get back to me. They never did.

  Surf or Sound Realty

  Date: 08/23/2023

  We sympathize with the inconvenience described in this review. Please know that our maintenance team is always eager to remedy any concern as soon as it is brought to our attention. Our notes regarding this reservation do not reference any issue with the stove being reported to us, and the subsequent guests have not reported any issue with the stove. During a phone call on Thursday, the guest only mentioned that the oven controls were difficult to use.

• Review fromAnn V

  Date: 07/04/2023

  4 stars

  Ann V

  Date: 07/04/2023

  We rented Summer Duck for the last week in June 2023. It is a beautiful cottage and a beautiful location. It has the sound close on one side and the ocean close on the other. There were a few small things I would change about the cottage. The air conditioning has a governor that keeps it at 72°, which was extremely hot. Especially when trying to sleep at night. The cottage has beautiful floor to ceiling windows, but none of the windows have Light/heat blocking shades, which means the upstairs when cooking dinner would get to 77 to 80° we had to buy a box fan to run upstairs in the late afternoon evening and then had to move it downstairs to the bunk room because of the heat. When spending over $6000 for the week, you’re kind of expected to be comfortable temperature wise. This would probably be my only issue with the cottage that might keep us from renting it again. The only other minor inconvenience is the lack of a full bath on the first floor. That meant people at the pool and anyone sleeping on the first floor. Had to go to the second floor in order to access a restroom. Just seem like an odd layout. The kitchen is fully stocked and there are plenty of games and puzzles. The pool and hot tub are very nice. We had a great week!

  Surf or Sound Realty

  Date: 08/23/2023

  Thank you for your many compliments regarding Summer Duck. We are thrilled to hear you found the cottage and it’s location to be beautiful, the hot tub and pool are very nice, and that the kitchen is well-stocked. We appreciate the opportunity to share your thoughts regarding the governor on the thermostat - and your suggestion to add a restroom to the ground floor level - with the owners of this home.

• Review fromSuzanne K

  Date: 07/03/2023

  1 star
  We recently rented #741 Big Kuhuna and wanted to warn renters to save your money. The house was very disappointing. water stains on ceilings in 2 areas , hole in wall , screens fell off of 5 doors all week long and the washer did not work all week. For the cost of this rental , we asked for some money back as it felt very over priced and have not received a reply. Save your money and go elsewhere ! Suzanne

• Review fromMariya V

  Date: 06/08/2023

  1 star

  Mariya V

  Date: 06/08/2023

  We stayed in ****** *******, property * *** (rented by Surf or Sound Realty) from 05/20/2023 to 06/03/2023. A beautiful house, tastefully furnished, chef’s size kitchen. Lavish vegetation surrounding to insulate you from neighbors and the road. Gorgeous view and sunsets. There is no access to the water / sound. I wish this was clearly noted on the house description advertised as ‘sound front’. We called the agency before booking to confirmed the access to the water which they did. That was false. We wouldn’t book otherwise. No walking distance access to the water and landlocked. Surf or Sound Realty - the booking agent, with which we had good experience in the past - has promised to mitigate this false advertisement with no results so far.

  Surf or Sound Realty

  Date: 06/16/2023

  We thank Ms. ******** for her many compliments on ****** ******* – its beauty, tasteful furnishing, lush vegetation, and “chef’s size kitchen.” It is an amazing secluded home with stunning views of the sound. We were dismayed to hear these guests had come to expect direct water access, as such access is not specified in the property description. The property page also offers a convenient link to the home’s sound front location on ****** ****. Neighboring homes have docks, but this property does not. We have reviewed recordings of the phone calls, and at no time does any representative describe the property as having direct access. Please know we sympathize with the disappointment these guests may have felt when they discovered their misunderstanding. We hope this unfortunate experience will not mar their memories of the quality service we have provided them during previous stays.

• Review fromBill W

  Date: 04/14/2023

  1 star

  Bill W

  Date: 04/14/2023

  My family and I rented Beagle by the Sea in Frisco the week of 4-1-2023. About half the light bulbs were burnt out, no luggage lift as advertised and the gas grill is shot. I called Surf or Sound 4-3, 4-5 and 4-6, with zero response, all they did were take messages. After they get your money good luck. They did give a ****** refund, still haven’t received as of 4-14. All they had to do was call and take care of business, terrible customer service.

  Surf or Sound Realty

  Date: 04/25/2023

  Bill - Please let us reiterate our sincere apologies for falling short of our usual service excellence during your stay. As we've mentioned, oversights by our maintenance teams are generally very rare and we regret missing the items you mentioned. We also appreciate the chance to investigate what led to the less-than-prompt communications you received so that others will not share you're experience. On behalf of everyone here, we hope you will afford us a future opportunity to impress and delight in the ways we are confident we can and begin the process of earning back your trust and enthusiasm.

• Review fromJohn S

  Date: 02/04/2023

  1 star

  John S

  Date: 02/04/2023

  Horrible company booked a vacation for July 2023 at price that was shown within a year from time of vacation paid deposit o* **** then was informed that price wasn’t correct and we couldn’t afford to pay new price because it had went up over ***** over original agreed price and they refused to refund deposit so they essentially robbed me of almost **** after they changed original price after we had agreed on it horrible company do not deal with them!!

  Surf or Sound Realty

  Date: 04/25/2023

  John – Please know that everyone here completely sympathizes with the disappointment, frustration, and stress that the rising costs of an Outer Banks vacation is often having on families planning treasured vacations, especially those who have been with us for decades and even generations. For others reading this review, please also understand that we are always happy to transfer advance deposits to another home or another week in this calendar year, as we are always eager to match every guest with a vacation home that suits their needs, desires, and budget. It is also important to know that any pre-reservation (made prior to the announcement of actual rates) is clearly described as only showing “reference rates” on our website and throughout the pre-reservation process. It is important to recognize that here on Hatteras Island, median home sales prices have increased 65% over the last 24 months, while demand for vacationing in this area continues to break records. These extraordinary inflationary factors are out of our control, yet affect all homes in all programs across the Outer Banks and beyond. It is also vital to understand that the agreement this leaseholder and all leaseholders enter into when they agree to place a deposit on a property removes the option of marketing that property to other potential renters from the property owner, a fair exchange agreed to by both parties. Allowing the option to transfer an advance deposit to another property in the same calendar year is a very generous flexibility allowed during this unusual time. John knows all of this and we sincerely hope that he will let us help match him with one of our other 500+ premier homes, which will be a wonderful fit for his budget and his family's needs. Submitted: 02/16/2023

• Review fromCh M

  Date: 01/03/2023

  1 star

  Ch M

  Date: 01/03/2023

  Dishonest and disreputable company. I made an advance deposit in Jan of 22 for Aug of 23. Total rent w/fees was $4,000/week. I get the lease Nov of 22 and cost is now $5900. They are charging $700 for cleaning fees for family of 4 w/ 1 dog plus the weekly rent went up 20%. I said no way. I didn’t sign the lease and wanted my $490 deposit back. They kept it. I contacted the NC attny general office and made a complaint, Arguing this was basically bait and switch. Xris Wilson, VP of property management, flat out lied to the NCAG and said I was comparing rates from three yrs ago, despite me providing emails from SorS to me in summer 2021 as a renter of the same house. I stayed there for 10 yrs. I know how much it costs and what a normal yearly increase is. Many people are angry about the huge increases and I encourage anyone to contact NCAG and make a complaint. Maybe when there are enough, consumers might get some satisfaction. Until then, stay away. This is a deeply dishonest business.

  Ch M

  Date: 01/19/2023

  Raising the cost of a rental 30% from Jan to Nov of the same year and then holding that customer to the new amount or lose their deposit is DISREPUTABLE. And illegal. The house in question did not change hands, there were no renovations, and whatever other excuses this management company comes up with to excuse their greed. There was a time on Hatteras Island when realty companies recognized an annual increase of greater than 10% was excessive and renters would not be held to their previous reservations. Those days are long gone. This company was the subject of a class action lawsuit in 2020 because of dishonest business practices. Looks like they haven't learned their lesson. Rent from literally anybody else. These people are thieves.