Vacation Rental Agreement

This Agreement is between the owner of The Bayside Escape ("Owner" or "Host") and the individual completing the booking ("you" or "Guest"). You agree that you will be present at the property for the entire duration of your reservation and that you are solely responsible for the conduct and behavior of every individual present during your stay (each an "Occupant"). This includes ensuring all Occupants are aware of and comply with every term of this Agreement. If you are bringing a minor as an Occupant, you acknowledge you are solely responsible for that minor's supervision and you agree to these terms on their behalf.

The full amount due — including nightly rates, cleaning fee ($300), and any optional fees — is displayed at checkout. When a guest submits a booking request, their card is tokenized and saved with our payment processor (Stripe) but no charge is placed at that time. The owner personally reviews each request — typically within one hour, always within 24 hours — and, upon approval, the 30% deposit (or the full booking amount if pay-in-full was selected) is charged to the saved card. The remaining 70% balance is automatically charged to the same card 3 days before check-in. The deposit plan is offered only for a stay 14 or more days away; for a reservation closer to arrival than that, the full amount is charged at the time of approval. By submitting a booking request on the deposit plan, the guest authorizes both the deposit charge upon approval and the balance charge 3 days before arrival; on pay-in-full, the single charge upon approval.

Cancellation. Cancel 14 or more days before check-in and you receive a full refund of everything you have paid, including the deposit, cleaning fee and taxes. Cancellations within 14 days of check-in are non-refundable. Refunds are returned to the original card and typically appear within 5–10 business days depending on your bank.

The cancellation terms shown to you at checkout are the terms that apply to your reservation. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.

The following rules apply to your stay at The Bayside Escape. Violation of any rule may result in immediate removal from the property without refund and, where appropriate, contact with local law enforcement.

• Quiet hours: 10 pm – 8 am. Please be respectful of neighbors in Fishing Creek.
• No smoking or vaping anywhere inside the house. Smoking permitted outdoors only. Any evidence of indoor smoking results in a minimum $500 cleaning fee.
• No parties or events beyond the registered Occupants, except for events approved in writing in advance under Section 7(b). Absent that written approval, a maximum of 24 guests may be on-property at any time.
• Septic system: Only toilet paper may be flushed. No wipes, feminine products, or paper towels. Violations causing damage are the Guest's financial responsibility.
• Flex Barn: Step-free access — treat the rubber mats and equipment with care. No open flames inside the Barn. Return any magnetic tiles and activity equipment to storage.
• Wildlife & grounds: Do not feed or approach the deer. Leave the deer feeder undisturbed. Do not disturb nesting birds. Keep the property and grounds clean.
• Parking: Up to 10 vehicles in the driveway. No parking on Hoopersville Road.
• Boats & trailers: Welcome in the driveway. The Flex Barn can be driven into for unloading — secure all equipment afterward.
• Fire pit & pergola: Use responsibly. Never leave fires unattended. Extinguish fully before retiring.

Check-in time is 4:00 PM. Check-out time is 10:00 AM. Access codes will be sent to your email within a few days of booking, and full arrival instructions again on the morning of check-in. Please confirm your expected arrival time with the Owner.

If you or any member of your group fails to vacate the property by the designated check-out time, you authorize the Owner to charge the card on file for an additional night at two (2) times the applicable nightly rate, plus any costs of re-accommodating the next arriving guests.

Early check-in and late check-out are not available. Strict adherence to check-in and check-out times is required to allow full turnaround between guests.

No separate damage protection fee is charged for ordinary stays. Approved events require a refundable cleanup deposit under Section 6, which is separate from and does not limit your responsibility for damage under this Section. You are responsible for any damage to the property, its contents, or surrounding structures caused during your stay beyond normal wear and tear. Any damage must be reported to the Owner before check-out.

You authorize the Owner to charge the credit card on file for the cost of repair or replacement of any such damage, including but not limited to damage from rule violations, excessive cleaning requirements, or fines resulting from your stay. To avoid being held responsible for pre-existing issues, please notify the Owner of any damage you observe at check-in.

All mandatory fees are disclosed at checkout:

• Cleaning fee: $300 — charged per booking.
• Pet fee: $150 per stay (if applicable). Required if any pet is on-property. If it is discovered a pet was present without the fee being paid, you authorize the Owner to charge the card on file.
• Event cleanup deposit: $500 — refundable. Required for any event approved under Section 7(b). The deposit is charged to the card on file once the Owner approves the event, and is returned in full within ten (10) business days after check-out, less any amounts properly deducted under this Section. The Owner may deduct from the deposit only for: cleaning beyond normal post-stay cleanup and attributable to the event; removal or disposal of event materials left on the property; repair or replacement of property damaged during the event; and fines or penalties assessed against the Owner arising from the event. Any deduction will be itemized in writing with supporting receipts or photographs within those ten business days. Deducting from this deposit does not limit the Owner's rights under Section 5. If event-related costs exceed $500, you remain responsible for the balance and authorize the Owner to charge the card on file for it. If the event is cancelled but the stay proceeds, the deposit is returned in full. If the booking is cancelled under Section 2, the deposit follows the same cancellation terms as every other amount paid.

Note: No additional services (fishing guides, yoga, catering, etc.) are offered by the property. You are welcome to arrange these independently, and the Owner is happy to provide recommendations upon request.

(a) The maximum number of guests permitted on the property at any time is 24, counting overnight guests, day visitors, and children of all ages. This limit applies at all times except during the scheduled hours of an event approved under Section 7(b).

(b) Approved events. Wedding ceremonies, anniversary parties, milestone celebrations and similar gatherings are permitted only where all of the following are satisfied:

1. Notice. You requested event approval in advance of check-in. No minimum number of days applies, but the request must be made early enough for the Owner to consider it and respond in writing before the event.
2. Written approval. The Owner confirmed the event in writing, including the approved attendee count and the scheduled event hours. Verbal or implied approval is not sufficient.
3. Deposit. The $500 refundable event cleanup deposit under Section 6 has been paid.

During the approved event hours, up to 50 attendees may be on the property,inclusive of your 24 overnight guests. A professional photographer, videographer and officiant count toward the 50.

All attendees other than the 24 registered overnight guests must depart by 10:00 PM, when nightly quiet hours begin. Only the 24 registered overnight guests may remain on the property after that time.

You are responsible for clearing up after the event. The following are not permitted at any event: DJs or live bands outdoors; amplified sound systems; attendees beyond the approved count; tents or commercial event rentals; and any music after 10:00 PM. Quiet background music is permitted within quiet-hours limits.

Holding an event without satisfying every condition above, or exceeding the approved attendee count, may result in immediate removal from the property without refund, forfeiture of the cleanup deposit, and contact with local law enforcement.

(c) Parties and gatherings beyond the registered group (or approved event count) are not permitted under any circumstances. Unauthorized gatherings may result in removal without refund and Owner may contact local law enforcement. You agree to respect the property, neighbors, the Fishing Creek community, and all applicable local ordinances including noise regulations.

The Owner takes great pride in The Bayside Escape and strives to keep it in excellent condition. If you notice any maintenance issues, hazardous conditions, or housekeeping concerns upon arrival, please notify the Owner immediately. If the property is not in the condition represented in the listing, the Owner may, at their sole discretion, offer an appeasement not to exceed the amount you paid for the reservation. Shared access to the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, public roads, and surrounding areas is not within the Owner's control or responsibility.

You agree to allow the Owner and/or their agents reasonable access to the property during your stay when necessary to address maintenance issues. In case of emergency, the property may be accessed without prior notice.

This is a private home, not a hotel. You are expected to leave The Bayside Escape in a clean, orderly condition. Specific checkout procedures will be provided in the house manual. Please: remove all trash to the outdoor receptacles; run the dishwasher; return furniture to its original position; and ensure all doors and windows are closed and locked. Excessive cleaning beyond normal post-stay cleanup will result in additional charges against the card on file.

(a) Force Majeure. All payments are non-refundable unless stated otherwise (Section 2). No refund is due if your stay becomes impossible due to circumstances outside the Owner's control, including natural disasters, fire, epidemic, pandemic, government quarantine or evacuation orders, or other acts of government agencies. Inclement, unfavorable, or severe weather is not a force majeure event and does not entitle you to a refund or credit.

(b) Cancellation by Owner. If the Owner cancels your booking for reasons other than Force Majeure, you will be notified as quickly as possible and will receive a full refund of all amounts paid. The Owner is not liable for any additional costs associated with cancellations beyond the refund of amounts received.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Owner, and their agents, for any liabilities, claims, damages, injuries, costs, or expenses arising from or related to your use and occupancy of the property, including any claim for personal injury, property damage, or loss resulting from the actions or omissions of you or any other Occupant during your stay.

You and all Occupants accept and assume all risks involved in or related to the use of the property and surrounding grounds, including but not limited to: access to the Chesapeake Bay shoreline (which is across the public road from the property, not on it); the pergola, fire pit, and hammock; the Flex Barn and any recreational equipment stored therein; outdoor cooking equipment; the backyard playset; any watercraft or recreational equipment you bring with you (the Owner does not provide kayaks, paddleboards, or other watercraft); bicycles; and any other features or activities during your stay on or off the property.

You understand that traveling and staying in a vacation rental may increase the likelihood of contracting an infectious disease, and you voluntarily assume that risk.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, YOU KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, AND FREELY ASSUME ALL RISKS, BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, OF THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED ACTIVITIES AND PROPERTY FEATURES, AND YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN ANY SUCH ACTIVITIES.

If the Owner employs the services of an attorney to enforce any terms of this Agreement, you shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred.

If your booking was made under false pretenses — including a falsified name, age, or misrepresentation of group size — your reservation will be subject to immediate cancellation, removal from the property, and forfeiture of all amounts paid.

This is expressly a short-term, transient vacation rental and is not a lease or long-term residential tenancy agreement. The Bayside Escape is not intended to serve as your primary residence. This Agreement grants only a limited, personal license to use the property for the stated reservation dates. It creates no property rights and no rights to renewal or recurring use. You may not sublet the property or assign any interest in this Agreement.

If you remain after your checkout time without authorization, any extended stay is day-to-day only and does not constitute a renewal. You will be charged at a rate of two (2) times the applicable nightly rate for each holdover day, plus all costs of re-accommodating displaced future guests.

Any dispute arising from or relating to this Agreement or the property that cannot be resolved through direct discussion shall be submitted to binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, conducted in the State of Maryland or virtually if consented to by all parties. Any arbitration award against the Owner cannot exceed the total amount you paid for the booking at issue. Judgment on any award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE OWNER OR THEIR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR STAY. THIS LIMITATION APPLIES TO ALL CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER CAUSE OF ACTION.

ALL PROCEEDINGS TO RESOLVE CLAIMS WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT IN A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. IF A CLAIM PROCEEDS IN COURT RATHER THAN ARBITRATION, BOTH PARTIES WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. If any claim proceeds in court rather than arbitration, such action shall be brought in the state or federal courts of Dorchester County, Maryland, and each party submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts.

If any section of this Agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, all remaining terms remain in full force. This Agreement is binding upon receipt of your initial payment — sending payment constitutes your acceptance of all terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions herein. This Agreement is made in full compliance with federal, state, and local Fair Housing Laws, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status.