Frequently Asked Questions

A deposit of 30% of the total rent, fees, and taxes is due at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 2 weeks prior to arrival. Reservations made within 14 days of the arrival date require full payment at the time of booking.

Cancellations made 30 days or more prior to arrival with written notice shall be given a full refund, minus a $50.00 cancellation fee. Cancellations of less than 30 days prior to arrival shall forfeit the entire rent, fees, and sales tax unless Northern Properties is able to re-rent the property. Refunds on any forfeiture will be issued the dollar value the unit is re-rented for during the same dates as the canceled reservation, minus a $50.00 cancellation fee. You commit to your dates at the time of booking, there is no refund for early departure or refusal to occupy upon arrival or no-shows.

Reservation Changes:
You may contact us to change your dates or add a day to your reservation as long as the property you have reserved is available. Please call us at 906-493-5930 to amend your reservation.

Home Transfers:
Reservations may be transferred with no penalty, but guests must provide a legitimate reason for the request, and a maximum of one home transfer is allowed. Home transfers are not permitted for any reason if notified less than 30 days prior to your arrival.

Check-in time is 3 pm or later. 

Check-out time is by 9 am during peak season and by 10 am during off-peak season. 

Peak season is Memorial Day weekend (starting Friday) through Labor Day weekend (ending Monday). Off-peak season is all other times.

Occasionally, we can allow for an early check-in or late check-out, but it will always be dependent on the reservations that are before and after your stay and our housekeeping and maintenance team’s schedule. 

If you arrive earlier than 3 pm, we cannot guarantee your home will be ready for you and you may have to wait. We cannot give out keys until the office has been notified that the home is clean and ready for guests.

Late check-outs cannot be approved on the day before you depart or on the morning of your departure date. Late check-outs are never permitted if there is an arrival on your departure day or during the peak season, which is Memorial Day weekend (starting Friday) through Labor Day weekend (ending Monday).

Please call or email us in advance of your reservation dates if you’d like to see if an early check-in or late check-out is possible for your stay.

• Check-in time is 3 pm or later. If you arrive earlier than 3 pm, we cannot guarantee your home will be ready for you and you may have to wait. We cannot give out keys until the office has been notified that the home is clean and ready for guests.                     
• You must check-in at the Northern Properties office first. At check-in you will receive your key, directions, and information about your home. Please do not go directly to the home, even if you are a repeat guest and have been there before.                                      
• For late arrivals or in the event the office is closed, there is a rack located to the left of the front door of the Northern Properties office that will have an envelope with your last name and the name of your rental home on it. Everything you need will be inside the envelope, including directions to the home, home instructions, and a key. 
• Directions to the Northern Properties Office: When you exit the ferry, follow the main road (M-134, also called Channel Rd) 7.6 miles. We are a brown building on the left, immediately following Esther’s Mexican Restaurant.      
• Your paperwork will have the Northern Properties contact information on it, including an office cell phone number for urgent home-related maintenance after hours.
• If you have guests that will be staying with you and will be arriving at a later time, please make sure they know how to get to the home. We are happy to send directions in advance that can be given to your guests.
• Please review our Rental Terms and What to Bring information and share this with all of the guests in your group. You are responsible for everyone in your party, and should make sure they know the rules and what amenities are in the home.  

• There is a list posted at each of the homes with check-out procedures. Please be sure to follow these instructions to help keep our reservation process running smoothly and avoid any unnecessary fees.
• Check-out time is by 9 am during peak season and by 10 am during off-peak season. Peak season is Memorial Day weekend (starting Friday) through Labor Day weekend (ending Monday). Off-peak season is all other times.
• Our housekeeping and service crew will show up at, or shortly after, check-out time. If an unapproved late check-out interferes with their schedule, there will be a fee of $50 charged for every half hour they have to wait.
• Late check-outs cannot be approved on the day before you depart or on the morning of your departure date. Late check-outs are never permitted if there is an arrival on your departure day or during the peak season, which is Memorial Day weekend (starting Friday) through Labor Day weekend (ending Monday).
• Homes are inspected after each guest. Any items that are damaged or missing upon your departure will be charged to the card on file.

While we love our furry friends, the majority of our properties do not allow pets. This is something that is strictly enforced and can result in additional fees if violated. As required by law, we do allow service animals at all properties, however, we do ask that you contact us before bringing a service animal so we can make the necessary arrangements. Any properties that do allow pets are listed as such. We are sorry, but cats are not allowed in our rental homes. You can view our full Pet Policy here.

Our homes cannot be used for large functions such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, family reunions, etc. unless the maximum amount of people at the function does not exceed the capacity of the home.

All of our homes are non-smoking. This includes cigarettes, vaporizors, and marijuana. If you or your guests smoke or vape inside a home you will be billed for the cost to restore the home to ‘non-smoking’ condition. Costs involved include washing all blankets and pillows, window treatments, furniture, walls, etc. All cigarette butts must be contained outside. Please do not throw butts all over the yard for our service crew to pick up. If this happens, you will be charged a fee for their time.

Because each home we manage is independently owned, please check the amenities list for your specific property on our website. If you still have an inquiry regarding what a home may or may not have available, please give us a call or send us an email.

Each of our homes has the following:

• Toaster
• Microwave
• Coffee maker
• Television (the home’s webpage lists whether the home has Satellite TV, Smart TV, or Regular TV)
• BBQ grill (the home’s webpage lists the type – propane or charcoal)
• Fully furnished kitchen with utensils, pots/pans, cups/glasses, bowls/plates, etc.
• Bedding, such as pillows, blankets, and sheets
• A limited number of towels (one set per guest)
• Refrigerator and stove with oven or convection oven
• Box/floor or ceiling fan, one per room (does not apply to homes that have air conditioning)
• Outdoor fire pit

Things we supply:

• Dish soap and a limited number of dishwasher detergent tabs (for homes that have dishwashers)
• A limited supply of toilet paper (one full roll per bathroom)
• A limited supply of trash bags (one lining can + one extra per can)
• Mouse traps (you are in the wilderness!)
• One standard-size adult life vest per kayak/canoe for homes with kayaks/canoes

What to pack:

• Toiletries, personal care items such as soaps (hand & body), shampoo, conditioners, etc.
• Paper products (paper towels/paper plates/napkins/coffee filters/extra toilet paper, etc.)
• Trash bags
• Foil, baggies, food storage containers
• Laundry soap for homes with washer/dryer
• Necessary tools for cleaning up after your pet, for example, a scoop and bags
• Beach towels for swimming and/or hot tub use
• Charcoal for the BBQ grill. If your home has a propane grill, we will supply the gas.
• Drinking water can be purchased at the local grocery store. Our water supply comes from private wells, which may have minerals that can result in rust and/or an unpleasant odor.
• Binoculars for viewing wildlife and freighters
• Camera and/or video camera
• Food and beverages, including cooking oil and spices
• Life vests for children for waterfront homes, or homes that provide water toys such as kayaks
• Favorite pillow
• A good book

As part of your reservation, a separate cleaning fee was paid for the departure cleaning of the rental. Unfortunately, we do not offer a daily cleaning service at this time.

While we do not inventory firewood, there will occasionally be wood left over at the property from previous guests. If you arrive and find no wood for the fire, you can purchase it from Drummond Firewood Service located at 30160 E Tourist Rd. You can pick it up anytime and use the drop box for payment or call ahead (906-493-5610) and arrange for the wood to be delivered to your rental home for an additional fee. 

For rentals with a gas grill, the propane is included with the stay. If you arrive to find the tank low or empty, please contact us and we’ll be happy to switch it out or refund you the cost of getting a new tank. We do not, however, inventory and supply charcoal or lighter fluid for charcoal grills. 

We have included some information on island activities and events under the Explore section on our website. However, the Drummond Island Tourism Association is the best, most up-to-date resource for learning all about things to see and do on the island. You can visit their website at https://www.visitdrummondisland.com or stop by the Visitor’s Center located at 34974 S. Townline Road (at the 4 corners) to pick up guides and maps to help you make the most of your time on Drummond Island.