WHAT TO ASK \ Renting summer houses

If you're renting a house near the water this summer and you can't see the property in person beforehand, here are some questions you may want to consider asking the owner or rental agent. The answers will help you decide whether the house is right for you, what you need to bring from home and how much you'll have to budget for extras such as boat rentals.
How far is it to the water? At some resorts, all the properties are waterfront; in other areas, you'll save a bundle if you're willing to walk a block to the beach; and in some places, adding a view of the water adds hundreds of dollars to the price.
If it's a lakefront cottage, and you have children who are not proficient swimmers, how deep is the water? Is the beach or lake bottom mucky, sandy or rocky?
How private is it? How far away is the nearest house and the main road?
What are the busiest and least busy weeks of the summer? (In areas where school begins in mid-August, rentals may open up toward summer's end; in areas where school is in session until the end of June, you can get bargains in June.)
What happens if there is a problem with the facilities? Does the property manager or owner live nearby?
What is the square footage?
How many bedrooms are there? How many people can sleep comfortably?
What is the price difference between houses for one family and houses that can be shared by two families? (You can often save money by getting a bigger house and splitting the cost.)
How many bathrooms are there?
How modern is the kitchen? Is there a microwave, dishwasher or toaster?
Are there stairs? If you have a toddler, ask about baby gates.
Are sheets, pillows and towels provided?
Is there a washing machine in the house? If not, where is the nearest laundry?
Are lawn chairs provided?
Will you have access to boats during your stay? What type of boats? Are they free, or do you need to rent them? What are the local regulations on wearing life jackets, and are child-size preservers available?
What is the fishing like? Do you need to obtain a fishing license? If so, how?
How hot does it get, and is there air conditioning? How cold does it get, and is there heat?
Are pets allowed? Is smoking allowed? Even if you don't have pets and don't smoke, if you have allergies you'll want to know who else has been in the house.
What is the refund policy? If dealing with an agency, is cancellation insurance available?
Where is the nearest grocery store or restaurant?
What are the local attractions, and how far away are they? What do you do for fun if it rains? How far is the nearest movie theater and playground?
Are there black flies, mosquitos or deer ticks?
Is there cable TV, a DVD or VCR, or Internet access? If there's TV but no cable, what is the reception like? What is the local cell-phone service like?
Source: Associated Press