FAQ
Utilities: Paid by Landlord
Public Water
Private Septic
Lawn Care (seasonally as needed)
Rent & Utility Payments
How is Rent Paid?
Rent payments are handled through TurboTenant. Once your profile has been converted to "Tenant" status you will be able to connect a bank account (no processing fee) or pay with a debit / credit card each month (additional processing fee). You and your roommates will have the option to set-up "Auto-Pay" as well when paying your first month's rent. We do not accept personal / bank checks or cash for rent payments.
Can I split the Rent through TurboTenant?
Yes! You have the option to split the rent however you see fit between you and your roommates.
How am I charged for the monthly electric bill?
Electricity bills are paid "in arrears" which means you pay for the service after you have already used it. The electric bill generally comes out during the first week of the month, at which time you will be charged a fee in TurboTenant due within 14 days. We will combine the electricity bill from Eversource and SunRun (solar panels) into one charge for the convenience of accounting.
The first and last electric bills may be pro-rated due to the exact dates the meter is read. The last electric bill will come due after your tenancy has ended. This bill will be paid from your security deposit as TurboTenant does not allow payments after a tenancy has ended.
Move-In Costs
Utilities: Paid by Tenant
Electricity
This includes: Heating / Cooling / Hot Water
The heating & cooling system is made up of one heat pump on the exterior of the home and includes six interior wall units.
There are two electric bills each month. One from Eversource and one from the lease of the solar panels through SunRun. Both of these bills will be kept in the owner's name and will be charged to the tenants through TurboTenant.
The solar panels are leased at $53.92 per month. They generate a variable amount of electricity each month (based on weather conditions) and this electricity is sold back to Eversource lowering the overall electric bill. Generally, it works out that the electricity generated by the solar panels is cheaper per KWH than what Eversource charges per KWH.
Historically, the total electric bill has ranged from around $175/mo to as high as $450/mo. This depends on a lot of factors including the number of people occupying the home, the cost per KWH that Eversrouce is charging, the use and frequency of the heating / cooling / hot water systems, and the weather outside. It is suggested that you budget for around $315/month on average over the length of tenancy.
Wifi
Router & Modem Included with Home. The WiFi service will be kept in the Landlord's name and the monthly fee will be billed as an additional utility charge each month.
Natural Gas
For Cooking & Auxiliary Heating. The natural gas service will be kept in the Landlord's name and the monthly bill (based on useage) will be billed as an additional utility charge each month.
Snow Removal / Shoveling / Sand & Salting
Typically, Cape Cod has comparatively mild winters to towns further inland due to all the ocean surrounding it. Over the past several years there has only been a handful of major storms that required shoveling to remove the snow bank from the end of the driveway. Keep in mind there is no guarantee that this next winter will be similar to those in the past.
Trash Removal
Option 1: Sandwich has a Public Works location (about 5 minutes away) where trash & recycles can be disposed of. For more information click here. As a tenant of a home in Sandwich, your lease will act as your proof of residency when getting your Transfer Station sticker/pass at Town Hall.
Option 2: Private curbside pickup can be arranged. There are a number of local companies that provide this service on a weekly basis including Nauset Disposal, Gibbs Rubbish, Pina Sanitation, Republic Services, etc.
The last month's rent and the security deposit will be collected after the lease agreement has been signed by all parties. You will be charged through TurboTenant for the specified amount and it will be due in 7 days. These deposits will be held in an interest-bearing "Landlord-Tenant" account at a local Massachusettes-based bank until they are either used by the landlord (last month's rent) or returned to the tenant (within 30 days of moving out). One tenant will need to fill out a W-9 in order for the account to be opened. The W-9 is a requirement of the bank should your deposit accrue enough interest for them to report it to the IRS for tax purposes.
The first month's rent will be due the first day the lease takes effect, which is usually the initial move-in day. If the move-in day falls on any other day than the first of the month (or when the rent would normally be due monthly), a pro-rated amount of rent will be collected for the partial month.
Maintenance Requests
On the off chance something does go wrong with the property, you have several options for submitting a maintenance request.
If the request is an emergency, we recommend contacting the landlord immediately via the phone number provided to you, regardless of the time of day. If the request is not an emergency, please submit a maintenance request through TurboTenant's maintenance request function and you will be contacted within 24 hours.
If you are unsure what to do, please air on the side of caution and call the landlord for guidance.
Included Furnishings
The home comes fully furnished and includes all the major furniture you see in the photos as well as all the appliances including a washer and dryer located in the downstairs bedroom closet. No linens (sheets / towels / pillows / etc.) are included in the rental.
Parking
The home features a large gravel driveway spanning almost the entire width of the lot that can fit up to four cars side by side. The home does not have a garage. Parking of boats or RVs is not permitted on the property.
Storage
There are two sheds located on the property, one is for landlord use and the other is for tenant use. There is a waterproofed crawlspace basement that can be used for storage of boxes or totes if necessary. There is an attic, but no access is permitted due to the blown-in insulation.
Pets
At this time, we do not allow pets (dogs / cats) to be kept in the home (with some small exceptions):
Certified Service Animals - Always welcome
Caged Animals - Will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis