Lake Hartwell Vacation Rental Houses

How does the pet deposit work? We ask for a separate check for the $100.00. This check will be due prior to the rental. As long as no damage has been established, the check will then be voided and mailed back (upon request).

How do you make a reservation? We require a signed lease contract with 25% deposit sent to the address on the contract. The contract can be emailed or faxed. This deposit is refundable up to 30 days before rental date. After the check and the lease have been received a copy of the lease with a receipt will be faxed or sent to the rentor. If the reservation is made within the 30 days, the full amount will be due.

Check in - Our check in time on the lease shows 3:00 pm and check out of 11:00am. This will allow the cleaning service plenty of time to clean out and prepare for the future rentals. We do have a sign that is placed at the top of the driveway to let you know the cleaning is currently in progress. When this sign is removed, then the cleaning service is complete.

Is there boat rental available? Harbor Light Marina rents several sizes of boats. Their contact information is 706-356-4119.  The weekend rate is more expensive that the weekday rate.  Others include: Big Water Marina 864-226-3339; Gordon’s Marine 706-376-3355

How can I find the property? I can email or fax you precise directions for you or so you may email the document to friend/ family. Directions are from Atlanta or Charlotte, NC. Basically, we're 8 minutes Northeast from exit 173 (hwy 17). Close to Tugaloo State Park. See a Map

Is there shopping nearby? Tanger Outlets are located in Commerce, GA exit 149 (25 min).

How far is the Tugaloo State Park?  5 minutes by car, or 2 minutes by boat.

If we bring our boat where can we park the trailer?  We are located on 1 acre lot. You can park the trailer (only) on the grass. Please do not drive on the neighbors grass, only one complaint, so far.

How close are you to other neighbors? There are 7 houses in the neighborhood. The lots per house range 1 acre to 2.5 acres. Basically, you can see the neighbors houses in the fall and winter, but it is pretty confined within the spring and summer months. You can tell by some of the pictures.

View from the Dock
This is just a cool picture that I wanted to add to the website.  This picture does point out the enjoyment that our kids have at the lake.

Has Lake Hartwell had problems with the Lake level dropping? Yes, eight years (2000) ago Lake Hartwell was close to 14' below full pool. Many lake lots had lost the water that should have been under their docks. Due to the steepness of the Lot, we never lost the water. Last year Lake Hartwell was 4’ above full pool. There is a website that post the all lake levels in GA and SC.   More recent we have been in the 2007 drought (14' below).  We have seen more docks sitting on the beach rather than floating.  We have pushed out dock out 30' and we still have the 18' water depth.  There are not many vacation rental homes that can say that! 

How steep is the lot?  The house is located on the top of a steep hill. We have a path that leads down towards the lake. We also have built the deck stairs solely for the access purpose. Obviously, with a steep lot we have never had a problem with the water level drying up. Most important, we have a 6 year-old boy and a 3 year-old girl and the family dog; they never have a problem falling asleep at night!

The Deck

 The spacious deck is 16 x 32 feet, and is ready for your dinner or your nap. 

We have just added low voltage lighting all around the deck area.   This is on a timer between 8:00pm and Midnight.  There are power outlets on the deck in case you want to bring a radio.

Is there a large amount of boat traffic? Our dock is located in a cove with 3 other docks. There are no short cuts for thru traffic. In the summer we tend to jump off the dock and float all around the cove. That includes friends, 6 year old, 3 year old and the family dog. Basically, it is quite private from public traffic.

The Carriage House

We have completed the remodeling the Carriage House in November of 2005. This is designed as a get away for either the parents or the kids. The garage is approx 50’ away from the house. The pool table is a “7’ bar box” style pool table. It is smaller (within 2-3”) than regulation size pool table. It was designed to be used in a commercial bar atmosphere. It has 1” slate top to eliminate any warping and is very heavy.

* Pool cues warp when they are placed leaning on the wall. Please make sure they are placed on the table or in the rack.

How bad are the bugs? It depends on the person. From last year we have not had anyone complain about the bugs, but due to the location, a bug free environment should not expected. We have always brought the bug candles and the bug spray for the kids.

 

Can we have a campfire? Of Course! We have an area specifically for that. This area has been cleaned from leaves and rocked for that reason. There are some lawn chairs, which can be brought down to roast s’mores. There is firewood that has been chopped for your use. Common sense and safety is expected when the area is used.

Looking up from the fire Pit area

This is a quick view of the deck.  This is a steep hill, that is why we installed a concrete walkway and stairs on the side.

How close is the local grocery store? Lavonia Foods is just south of exit 173 from I-85 approx 8 minutes from the house. Also, this area has plenty of fast food restaurants.

Where are the local restaurants? There are limited immediate restaurants. You can drive into Hartwell, which has several restaurants downtown 25mins away. There is the local Gumlog BBQ restaurant, which is within 5 minutes away. This is a locally known to have great BBQ and catfish. Usually on Sat. night it has 45 min to 1 hr. wait time. If you are a boating adventurist you can drive your boat to Jolin’s BBQ (you can also drive) or there is T61 restaurant. I can provide detailed directions if requested. Toccoa is 15 minutes North on Hwy 17. They have an Applebees, Walmart, a small movie theater, and several local restaurants. If you are heading out for an evening you can head down to Tanger Outlets and they have much more options for restaurants and shopping.  Anderson, SC is 19 miles north on I-85.  You can find every chain restaurant, retail, and home improvement store you need.

Can friends visit us while we are renting? We encourage it! We feel if you are comfortable and enjoying yourself you will enjoy coming back next year. Also, if your friends visit and have a good time they might be interested in renting later that year or next year.

What do we do for check out?  There is a checklist located on the information binder located on the counter. This includes: make sure what came in goes out, garbage is placed in the provided cans (all trash need to be in a bag), no need to make the beds, but if you throw the sheets in the hallway that would be appreciated; adjust the a/c or heat; lock up the garage; and leave the key on the kitchen table; lock the front door with the lock on the inside, then pull the door shut. If for some reason you forgot something, we do have a lock box with a key. Most important, there is a survey for your opinion on the house and your stay. Please make sure it is filled out, because your input is important to us and future renters.

Do you limit whom you rent to? Traditionally no, we have noticed in the past that people who are interested in renting on Lake Hartwell are looking for an area for relaxation and family bonding time. All individuals that have rented so far enjoy the home-like atmosphere and have respected our home. We would have to re-evaluate our answer if the local high school wanted to rent it out for the night!

* This is located in a family vacation area. Please respect other neighbors by keeping the volume down to a minimum in late hours. They will do the same.

How much parking is available?  By looking at the picture on the top of the ad we usually can fit 2 cars in front of the garage and a third next to our boat in the gravel part of the driveway. If you need more space, we can move our boat and trailer to meet your needs. Parking- Please park on the property that we own in front of the garage. There are septic lines on this grass so limit driving all over the grass. We own the property that is to the left of the driveway and not to the right.

What are some items that the renter should bring? Food and specific family needs. This includes any items that children or teenagers may need. We have had individuals bring their Playstation or XBOX to pass some time on rainy days. We have a DVD player; feel free to bring some movies or stop by your local Blockbuster before you come up. We have a good amount of towels, but if you think you run through several loads it would be a good idea to bring some extra. We have several floats for you to use. If you wanted to bring your own, it may be beneficial. We have some fishing poles. We are not expert fishermen so if you have would like to use expert skill poles you may have to bring them.

Is there washer and Dryer? Yes, we have a full size washer and Dryer. We do keep washer soap in the closet, but if you are using the washer a lot, please replace the soap.

What items can the renters expect that will be there? Basic necessities will be provided. This includes: paper items (toilet paper, towels and etc.), linens, utensils and cookware. Anytime the house is not rented, our family will be up at the lake. This means there may be some items left behind that you can use. Just give a call if you have a concern.

Telephone service? The house does not have landline service. We have cell phone (Nextel) service for your use. Feel free to use the phone as you would a regular telephone. This type of service allows you to bring the phone with you to the dock or out on the boat. It allows more flexibility outside, but it does limit your internet-surfing.

Cable-TV service? The house is equipped with Cable TV in all bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and garage. It is expanded basic cable. TV’s are located in the main living room and the master bedroom.

Floats- * We do have some floats available for your use. These have been abused in the past. Please make sure if you abuse them/ please replace them. They are usually found at Wal-Mart or Target.

Do you have a link to a website that offers more information regarding the Hartwell area? http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell/

 View over the dock

This view shows the direction of the boat ramp.  Just turn left and the boat ramp is around the island, which is barely shown over the Appling's dock.

Is the shore/beach area sandy? 90% of Lake Hartwell has Georgia Clay shore line. There are two areas that I know have sandy beaches. There is the Tugaloo State Park Beach (man made); then there are some islands that have some beach areas.

* There is an island that is barely shown in the picture above. We have taken the little ones over there with the canoe. They can walk around and sit in the sandy clay.

Can you fish off the dock or do you need a boat? You can count on catching your fair share of bree fish right off the dock. I do not know what that fish is but that is what the people at the bait shop called them! We have 4 fishing poles and one small child pole that you are more than welcome to use.

Golf? Catachee Golf Course is one of the most beautiful courses in the south. It is a bit on the high dollar side but people say it is worth it. There are also some cheaper public courses.

What kind of canoe is available? It is a 3 year old Old Towne 17’ canoe. It has two seats and two paddles. Once again common sense and safety should be used when operating the canoe.

What do we do with the Garbage? We have a trash service that comes every Monday morning. Just place the bags in the cans in front of the garage. Please be sure to put all trash in a bag.

* All garbage must be placed in a bag. The pick up service will leave all loose garbage in the can. This means that raccoons and other animals will help themselves to disburse this all over the yard. Please make sure they are in the bag. This was an issue over the 2005 season.

What percentage of the cleaning fee actually goes to the cleaning people? 100% of the $100.00 goes directly to the cleaning people.

How many beds do you have?  We have a queen in the master, queen in the guest room, and 2 singles in the 3rd bedroom. We do have a futon out in the carriage house. This is not as nice as a bedroom but it is perfect for young teens or husbands that are in the dog house.

Note to Past and Future Renters- We are limited in pictures from this past summer. We would appreciate any digital pictures that we can use for future lake ads. We would also like to hang some pictures up in the hallway of your vacation so others can appreciate the house when it is raining!

Have you ever thought of Selling the property? - As a wise man once told me, "the shirt on my back is for sale if the price is right".  Thank you for the words of wisdom, Mike Shiffman.

 Have you ever thought of Selling the company all together? - See Mike Shiffman's comment above.

What upgrades have you completed during the 2004/2005 winter?

 o Installed a 6’ concrete path to the lake Complete
 o Recovered the pool table. Complete
 o Blown in insulation in the attic. Complete
 o Cable service was installed Complete
 o Brand new pillow top (Queen) mattress in the master bedroom Complete
 o Canoe is available Complete
 o Patio set on the new deck Complete
 o 2 person Hammock Complete
 o Washer and Dryer Complete
 o As of 10-26-04; The garage has electricity, insulation, sheet rock, and painted.
 o Deck has been stained in October. Complete
 o Installed a 40’ ramp to which pushes the dock 15’ further out into the lake Complete

Upgrades that were completed in the 2005/2006 winter

 o Replace all decking on the dock/ Complete Jan 2006
 o Installed 4 additional floats on the dock/ Complete Jan 2006
 o Repainted the tin on the dock. / Complete Jan 2006
 o Finish all of the trim work in the detached garage/ Complete Nov. 2005
 o Carpets in the Family room and hall were replaced with hardwoods. Nov 2005
 o A new swim ladder will be installed on the dock/ Complete Jan. 2006
 o A new 27” TV replaced the 19” TV in Family room. The 19” TV was moved to the master bedroom; Complete in Sept. 2005
 o Installed rock on the side of the cart path to prevent erosion. Complete Sept 2005
 o New patio cushions

 

Upgrades during the winter of 2006/07

-    New flood lights for the path to the lake.  A three way line was installed, so our guest could turn it off at the house or at the dock
-    Low voltage lights were installed on the large deck.  This looks amazing at night.
-    A new front door was installed that has a glass frame.  This brings more light into the kitchen area
-    A pool cue rack was installed
-    We have installed power to the bottom of the stairs at the dock.
-    We have stained all of the decks
-    New Pots and Pans were purchased
-    Covers were placed on the electrical outlets in the game room

Upgrades during the winter of 2007/08

-    We had a company spend over 2 weeks clearing all trees, limbs, and bushes smaller than 4" clearing the Army Corps of Engineers property.  You can see by the picture below the amazing difference.
-    We will be installing railing for the walk to the water.
-    We will be pressure-washing the house again
-    Painting touch ups

Feedback from past renters: some good some bad, either way:

 o “The house is very clean an inviting when you walk in.”

 o “The view in the morning is amazing. It was wonderful to wake up to it”

 o “The Carpets were showing their age”. We installed hardwood floors in the kitchen, family room, and the hall on 12-17-05

 o “I would build-up the perfect water-ski conditions in your ad. It's a
great lake for that”

 o “It is a tough walk up the hill, you definitely get your exercise, bring good shoes”

 o “The location is great, and not difficult to find”.

 o “We had our family and friends come and visit, and the deck was perfect”

 o “I did not realize the house is pet friendly, my elder parent have allergies”

 o “It wasn’t fun not being able to do laundry”. (washer and dryer was installed the next week)

View from the house

 o “I did not realize there was not an automatic ice maker” (there are 6 ice trays)

 o “The beds were really comfortable.”

 o “It was great to be able to bring the dog.”

 o “I agree that the hill is tough, but we come back each year because you always have water, even in a drought!”

 o “Even the bathroom window has a great view”

 o “We could not take 5 showers in a row”. The hot water ran out before the fifth shower.

 o “It was difficult to walk up the road from the lake.” We have had problems with the rain disturbing the road so we invested in a 6’ wide concrete path. (see picture above; installed on 4-18-05)

 o “It is beautifully decorated”

 o “I can see that you try very hard to please your guests”



I truly rely on the feedback of each of the vacationers. I will welcome all input and I will address all concerns immediately. One thing I always ask several days after the vacation time is, “what can we do that will make your future stay, or future renters stay better?” We have received positive feedback, from an extra trash can in the bath, to providing trash service, to providing more towels, and asking for a binder that shows local stores and restaurants.



Emergency issues:

We have a local electrician, local HVAC service, and a woman that completes the cleaning after you leave. Even though I am located in Duluth, GA, we make sure if there is a problem it is resolved immediately.