Charming Harvard Victorian | House in Observatory Hill, Massachusetts

We have always and continue to follow a strict sanitation procedure with our property during this time period. This charming Victorian is a 10-minute walk or 5-minute trolley ride to Harvard Square. It is close to MIT and Harvard.
Nestled up to Harvard Sq. Our home has a stunning old charm with great period character.
This beautiful 125+-year-old home offers approximately 1900 sq feet of indoor living space. Off the kitchen is a relaxing deck with a table that's perfect for breakfast, brunch, dinner or happy hour. The home also boasts a beautifully landscaped garden yard with relaxing front porch and backyard seating. Our home has a big-screen TV, and lots of comfortable sitting venues to relax and enjoy its Victorian charm.
While you don't need a car in this area, as the 'T' stop to Harvard sq with access to all of Boston is across the street, tons of bicycles just outside the gate, and the home often offers one off-street parking space, a rarity in Cambridge!
Our home can accommodate 8 people/4 couples comfortably. The top floor has stunning vaulted/Abbey ceilings, and pillow sofa is a favorite spot for all, adults, teenagers, and kids to sleep as well.
We provide all the linen, towels, soap, coffee and paper products you need. The Coffee Maker will be fully loaded and ready to go when you arrive.
You'll have the entire suite to themselves.
Area: The Huron Village neighborhood has excellent local shops and restaurants to explore with a classic New England feel right in the middle of everything. The Longfellow House on Brattle is just a few blocks away.
Our home is a historic home. When it was built there was no electricity in local homes, the light bulb had just been commercially released the year before; there was no internet, telephone, TV, or cars. All of the materials to the house were brought to the building site by horse and buggy. Almost, everything was handmade, custom for every building. The floors are not going to be perfectly level, there may be some light creaking here or there, and some of the furniture is antique. She's a beautiful and sturdy house. Everything is plenty durable enough for a family, but, it does show some years of love and use. This is typical for the area for homes that focus on restoration vs. renovation. There are multiple generations and time periods together in the same space spanning over 100 years. We do keep it very clean and are frequently recovering pieces. Our goal is to ensure you, and we, have as close to a classic New England feel and experience in our home as possible, while still ensuring modern convenience.
We have four bedrooms (three queens and one king) plus a living room that can be converted into a private room with a very high-end queen Tempur platform sofa bed.
Most Victorians in the area only have 1 bathroom, unless they've been gut rehabbed. We are very fortunate in that we have 1.5 good sized bathrooms, which is rare, however, the home only has one shower/bath. We've frequently had groups of 10+ people, and folks haven't had a problem as we have endless hot water.
We are always available to answer any questions and happy to answer any you may have before or after booking.
---
No smoking
Not suitable for pets
No parties or events
Check-in is anytime after 4 PM
Check out by 11 AM
Self-check-in with smart lock
ABSOLUTELY NO PARTIES or similar gatherings. We've never had issues with families or friends traveling together, family dinner/birthday party or things like that, we are explicitly addressing parties.
Everything needs to be inside by 10 pm at a respectable noise level. Sorry to be so blunt but we have had some major issues with this lately. It jeopardized guest safety/experience and our ability to host. There are many beautiful clubs and environments nearby for such activities. The area we are in is an upscale housing area not suitable for parties and similar events. As such you may find yourself without a place to stay. If in doubt, please ask before booking.
This is the perfect home for someone wanting to experience an authentic Victorian charm.
ABSOLUTELY NO PARTIES or similar gatherings. We've never had issues with families or friends traveling together, family dinner/birthday party or things like that, we are specifically addressing parties.
Everything needs to be inside by 10pm at a respectable noise level. Sorry to be so blunt but we have had a number of epic issues with this lately. It jeopardized guest safety/experience and our ability to host. There are many wonderful clubs and environments nearby for such activities. The area we are in is an upscale housing area not suitable for parties and similar events. As such you may find yourself without a place to stay. If in doubt please ask before booking.
We do collect a $200 deposit which will not be returned if there are noise complaints or issues from the neighborhood or if our cleaner has to completely reconfigure our home, or re-establish all the TV wiring after your stay.
We have very few rules except to enjoy yourself and be respectful of our home and neighbors. We've tried to set everything up so you have a 5-star experience all around all. So all you need is your clothes and to focus on having a good time in our home as though it's your own.
The few small rules we have are:
* No smoking
* No pets
* Our home is not suitable for loud parties (PLEASE Please be good neighbors! The outside decks and patios are wonderful places to hangout out but, please be conscious of noise, be quiet after 10 pm, and move inside. We have neighbors who sleep with Windows open and Cambridge has very strict noise laws that kick in around 10 pm.
Our home was built in 1880.. Please do not flush Tampons, Baby wipes (even the flush kind), or paper towels as they will clog up the plumbing system while you are there.
Please understand the home is well over 120 years old from a time when all the materials to build it would have been brought by horse and buggy. The house would have then been hand built by skilled workers from scratch. It's clean, exceptionally comfortable, and in a great location. However, we've very purposefully not blown out the charm of an old house. The doors are all hand made, so not perfectly square, the floors creek a wee bit here and there, and some of the windows are a bit wavy. This is the perfect home for someone wanting to experience Victorian charm and what the homes and mansions in the area are like.
[By Booking Guests agree to the rental agreement below and agree to be bound by it [this is to comply with new short-term rental laws in Cambridge]]
SHORT TERM RENTAL AGREEMENT
Below is our tenant rental agreement for our home in Cambridge Massachusetts 02138. By renting our property you (THE RENTER and THE RENTERs party) agree to this agreements terms and those in the listing, as do all members of your party. We (THE OWNER) make the agreement available before booking for this purpose. It is your responsibility as the tenant/renter to ensure that all members of your party have access to the agreement, understand it’s terms, and agree to them.
THE RENTER will be present at the property and agrees they have not rented the property for a third party without prior written permission from THE OWNER.
Terms of the Agreement:
1. THE OWNER has the right to inspect the premises without prior notice at any time to enforce the terms of this agreement. Should THE RENTERs violate any of the terms of this agreement, the rental period shall be terminated immediately. THE RENTERs waive all rights to process if they fail to vacate the premises upon termination of the rental period. THE RENTERs shall vacate the premises at the expiration time and date of this agreement.
2. You are responsible for providing your own phone(s). There is no phone service at the house, however, there is WiFi your cell phone can use for WiFi calling. Emergency medical, fire, and police service can be called by dialing 911 and calls of an emergency nature should use your cell plan and not WiFi to aid in the emergency services assistance to you.
3. THE RENTERs shall maintain the premises in a good, clean, and ready to rent condition, and use the premises only in a careful and lawful manner. THE RENTERs shall leave the premises in a near ready to rent condition at the expiration of the rental agreement, defined by the Landlord as only requiring cleaning and laundry services to make habitable by the next THE RENTERs. THE RENTERs shall pay for required services, maintenance, and repairs should the premises be left in a lesser condition. THE RENTERs agree that the Landlord shall deduct costs of said services from the security deposit prior to refund if THE RENTERs cause damage to the premises or its furnishings and THE RENTER agrees to pay any amounts over the deposit as required.
4. THE RENTERs shall dispose of all waste material generated during the rental period in a lawful manner and put the trash in the bins along the driveway. Trash pickup is Tuesday for garbage and recycling. If your stay includes Monday night the city required place the bins out by the curb Monday evening and bring them in after the city picks them up (Tuesday evening or afternoon is a good time to bring them back). THE RENTER is cautioned not to leave trash outside for long periods of time because it attracts animals.
5. THE RENTERs shall pay for any damage done to the premises over and above normal wear and tear.
6. No animals or pets of any kind will be brought onto the premises without prior written permission.
7. THE RENTERs shall not sublet the property.
8. THE RENTERs shall have no more than the number of persons you stated when booking reside or sleep on the premises. If there is an increase in the number of persons staying THE RENTER must notify and gain permission of THE OWNER immediately. [this is in part due to new local regulations]
9.