Ocean Beach Rental Agency - Lavallette, New Jersey

Alyson T.

Biggest issue with the house: it was dirty. We even called the cleaners back the day we checked in and it was still dirty after they left. We had to vacuum and wipe down every surface because it was gross. Dirt and dust everywhere, dirty baking tray in the oven that was never cleaned, food bits under the couch even after the cleaners came back, food caked into the placemats… my feet were dirty after walking on the floors for 30 minutes. The front door was falling apart and pieces from the inside of it were on the ground. Considering we were told the house was vacant immediately before we stayed there, it makes me question how long it’d been since anyone cleaned it. Also, the house has a significant slant in the upstairs master by the bathroom that would throw me off balance every time I walked into the bathroom for the first few days. And for a house that’s rented for a week at a time, I would have expected more kitchenware, like serving bowls/mixing bowls/storage containers and oven baking trays. There was 1 serving bowl, 1 mixing bowl, and a few plastic storage containers but those didn’t all have lids. There was 1 baking tray that didn’t have edges so it couldn’t be used for most things because food and oils would have just fell off the tray. Also the downstairs toilet would run randomly, the upstairs toilet tank broke the first time we used it and was out of commission for about a day, lights were out a few places, etc. Regarding the upstairs toilet issue- we called it in when we discovered the issue, which was 9:45pm on a Saturday. The answering message said the voicemail was monitored until 10. When we didn’t hear back I assumed we’d get a call in the morning. It was Father’s Day, my husbands first Father’s Day. We awoke to a faint sound of knocking but we assumed it was the neighbors because they had workers there working on their roof. And surely, we thought, somebody wouldn’t show up unannounced without any word that they’d even received our message, on a Sunday morning, on Father's Day. Well I was wrong because when I called to followup on the message I was told that it had been workers that morning. While I do appreciate them being there first thing, it seems a reasonable request to be notified prior to strangers showing up at the house. Other side note: it should be listed with the house details that the ceilings in the house are low, especially with the ceiling fans everywhere. We are short and had to duck in the bedrooms because of the fans.

Also beware: we had $285 in hidden fees that you don’t see until you see the rental agreement (handling fee and badge fee). At least AirBnB and VRBO show you these fees upfront so you know total cost before pursing the booking. Given the high cost of the rental and the issues we had (and no compensation for the issues because it’s in the rental agreement that they aren’t responsible to compensate you for issues as long as they make a “reasonable effort” to correct), I will not be renting from this agency again.

The good: house location was great and as advertised. Good use of the small space within the house. Also the AC worked great.

Melissa D.

After visiting their website and finding a property I was interested in renting, I filled out a very short, easy form. I was surprised to get a call the very next day from the rental office. I know that the properties get filled up so quickly and I was nervous that I didn't look sooner for summer vacation. The woman at the office answered all my questions about the property (and I had a lot!) And once I was satisfied that I had all the info and was ready to rent, they made the process so simple. Everything, down to the contract was done electronically. If I had a question about the contract, they answered as soon as I called. Overall great experience with the office. Hoping that the property will turn out to be just as great!

karen V.

My family and I have been renting houses through this agency for the past 30 years. Ocean Beach Unit III is our favorite place to go during the summer. The community is very family friendly and well taken care of. I always enjoyed spending a few weeks there during the summer when I was a child and now my daughter is getting too experienced it as well. We would like to send a big thank you over to Tom at the agency for helping us to find the perfect home for this summer vacation. He has been wonderful! Can't wait to visit in the summer of 2022! 🌞

Debbie W.

Ocean Beach Vacations has been the best rental management company we've ever had the pleasure to rent from. Our stay in Lincoln City was made even more special with the excellent service we received from them. They handled a small issue with the drains in the home and jump right to it including sending over a very efficient and professional rooter service to fix. Next time we vacation on the Oregon Coast we will be using their property management services for sure!

Sara S.

Everyone is so pleasant and excited for you to enjoy your vacation. Their online signatures make life easy. The whole process is seamless.

C E.

My great grandparents rented when this area first started here and now their great-great grandkids enjoy the toes between the sand feeling and the thrill of being on a bogey board in a wave. Thank you Nanna and Popop!
There’s no snootiness only a few ‘rough-around-the-edge’ types. Mostly middle-class, hard working people come here. The college riff-raff are gone by the end of August. Some people drive WAY TOO FAST up and down the roads. (These are my only complaints)
But if I had time to write about all the quality and value I find in coming back, year after year to Ocean Beach in this review, I would. With Ocean Beach Sales & Rental there is no hidden agenda. Good people, who like what they do. I’ve never in almost a decade of renting, never had an I’ll-tempered or ill-mannered receptionist on the other line with them.
Thank you for everything and see you in August!

Victoria S.

Our family has been renting at Ocean Beach since the 1950s and I am actually saddened to say that I don’t see any of us returning again. Generations of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, grandkids have all been staying in Unit 3 and have seen changes over the many years but it has reached the point where you can’t simply enjoy yourselves as a family. I understand the need for rules, but they’ve taken it too far. After having my cooler searched, which I don’t have any issue with, I was told that I had to take it back to the house (I couldn’t even leave it at the entrance of the beach, out of the way, with the less than polite employee) because I had SANDWICHES in my cooler, not alcohol or glass bottles which is reasonable, but SANDWICHES…and the rude young woman who searched my bag couldn’t explain why a sandwich can’t be on the beach, other than “that’s the rule.” A short while after, the same young woman harassed a young family with a few children for playing with a ball at the BACK OF THE BEACH where no one else was even nearby, and when they father was COMPLYING, but asking simply why he and his children are not allowed to enjoy themselves she escalated the situation and called Beach Patrol. Meanwhile if you go out on the same beach and night there are dozens of teenagers drinking and blasting music (which I personally don’t care, they’re not bothering me and they’re not my children) but that no one says a single thing about. And after labor day, you can do as you please because despite paying for beach badges for an entire week, there are no beach patrol, no OB staff and NO LIFEGUARDS. Sadly a decades old family tradition is going to have to come to an end, if anyone can recommend another Jersey Shore vacation community I would greatly appreciate the input.

Russell A.

Our family has been renting for years! Always the "highlight" of our year, meeting up with our grownup children & grandchildren! As our daughter, Cheryl, just posted on FB, "the tan will fade but memories will last forever!"
Thank you all at Ocean Beach Rental Agency for your great service!