What to expect when you’re renting

Rental properties on Martha’s Vineyard vary from the most simple summer cottage to beautiful secluded mansions many can only dream of renting. As a rule, most properties are available on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, with most of the “nicer” properties requiring a two-week or longer stay. Prices range from roughly $1,000 per week to well over $25,000 per week in season. High season is generally July and August. Shoulder-season bookings in April, May, June, September, and October are also available, generally at reduced prices. Some properties are also available during the holidays and off-season.

Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury are more secluded and tend to be the more expensive towns. Oak Bluffs has the most mid- to low-end listings and is best suited for those looking for a busy, younger environment. Edgartown and Vineyard Haven both offer a good selection of mid- and high-end properties, some waterfront or water views, with easy access to town amenities.

Booking early is highly advisable. Many of the island’s summer visitors return every year, so properties begin to book as early as a full year in advance. By Christmas, July and August inventories begin to thin, and by March or April, you may need to be flexible in both the location of your booking and the weeks of your visit. But don’t despair if you can’t find what you want! Our rental agents will work with you to help you find a great Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental.

Back to Top

How to use our rental property database, save search results, and e-mail them to friends

To find an available rental property that suits your needs, you can either use the Search Properties function in the left-hand column for a Quick Search or click here for a Detailed Search. Be sure to click on the For Rent button to see rentals. You can select one or more towns by pressing and holding the Ctrl key (Command key on a Mac) and clicking on the towns you want to select. Or choose All to find a property that meets your search criteria in any town. You can also browse the entire database and sort by price, location, and number of bedrooms to get a better understanding of what’s available in different areas and price ranges.

It’s a good idea to rank your needs and preferences before you conduct your search and to remember that some items will work against each other. For example, if you’re looking for a low price, you probably won’t be finding waterfront properties! Talk over priorities with others who may be sharing the house with you, and get a consensus on what is most important for the group as you begin to search. Try to prioritize the items on the following list to help clarify your group’s wants vs. needs.

• Weekly price

• Time of visit (weeks available)

• Location: secluded, in-town, waterfront, beach access, etc.

• Number of bedrooms/other sleeping arrangements

• Property type: single family, guest house, multi-family, etc

• Town preference (Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, etc.)

• Special requirements: pets allowed, smoking permitted, washer/dryer, linens provided, etc.

Once you have an idea of where you’re willing to compromise, begin the search process. In the detailed search area, you can specify all required items and look through the results. You can also save your search criteria and save and e-mail search results to others by becoming a registered user. Once you have saved your search criteria and results, you can modify the information, add new properties to the results, and work with a Coldwell Banker Landmarks rental agent to find more properties.

Back to Top

Booking your vacation rental

If you’ve successfully found a property you are interested in renting, and it looks to be available when you want, you’re ready to book! To confirm your rental, you need to work with a Coldwell Banker Landmarks rental agent, who will generate a lease for you, collect the necessary deposits, and review the rental terms and conditions with you.

You can either call us at (508) 693-6866 Monday-Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm eastern time, or click here to send an e-mail, and we will contact you. Please include your name, e-mail, and registered Coldwell Banker Landmarks username so that we can access your search results and confirm availability of the property you’re interested in.

Please note, most rental properties on the island are listed by multiple agencies, and unless the property owners keep their availability records up to date, the availability information shown in our database may not be 100% accurate.

If the property you are interested in is not available on the dates you have selected, be assured that your Coldwell Banker Landmarks rental agent will work diligently to find you a comparable property in a timely fashion.

If you have not been able to find a property to meet your criteria, or you prefer to have a Coldwell Banker Landmarks rental agent conduct a rental search for you, please do not hesitate to contact us! We’re happy to help.

Back to Top

Information for first-time visitors

If you’re coming to the Vineyard for the first time, be sure to read through the information entitled The Island. If you’re planning to bring a car, you should contact the Steamship Authority advanced auto reservations bureau (508) 477-8600 as soon as possible to coordinate arrival and departure dates. Visit www.steamshipauthority.com for more information on bringing a car to the Vineyard.

Back to Top

Information for off-season rentals

Many rental properties are available during the off-season, the time of year most locals prefer! The holiday season is active in most areas of the island, and many seasonal homeowners enjoy lovely holiday breaks with their families and friends here. If you are interested in an off-season rental, please contact a Coldwell Banker Landmarks rental agent, and we will help you with the special requirements of off-season rentals.

Back to Top

Year-round rentals

Due to the abundant seasonal rental market on Martha’s Vineyard, year-round rentals tend to be difficult to find. However, given our many local resources and contacts with landlords, we may be able to assist you locating a suitable year-round rental property. Please contact a Coldwell Banker Landmarks rental agent, and we will work to assist you.

Back to Top