Featured Vacation Rental

SPIN DRIFT COTTAGE

Q: What is the Most Important Question we should ask you?

A: "We have reviewed all the pictures for the property we are interested in renting from you that you have posted on the listing page. We have looked at the Google Earth Map that you provide to see the satellite view of the property and understand the area around the property. We have read the entire Property Description on the listing page and looked at all the photos. As a result, we have generated our own assumptions about the rental property. Should we verbalize our assumptions and ensure that we understand completely the property we are renting from you before we rent it?" - YES! One of the most popular words we get in any feedback from our guests AFTER they rent with us is the word "ASSUMED". Examples include, "We assumed we could launch a kayak easily from this property", or "we assumed it was a sandy beach, great for kids, that came with the property, that is why we rented it", or our long-time favorite, "we are here on a work-vacation and assumed we'd have great cell phone service and that the internet service was fast and reliable". If you have any assumptions to make, please let us know BEFORE you rent the property with us. We want to ensure the property and what's included with it meets your expectations, but we would rather not hear the word "assumed" after you stay.   Please call us - we love to talk to our guests!

Q: Do you allow wedding groups in your properties or is there an age limit on who can rent from you?

In 2010, we made two poor decisions after many years in the business.  The first poor decision was renting to a group of 8 college age girls that were coming to Maine to hike and relax.  They promised they were not party people.  They insisted several times they just were coming to explore the area.  We even met with the girls after they arrived and believed them after talking with them.  Later, after hearing reports of young men on the roof of the house and late night partying, we learned that the "boys" had been called.  Needless to say, the property was left in a huge mess and we now no longer allow groups of more than 4 young adults under 25 to rent any of our properties  Similarly, we worked with a nice young bride on renting one of our homes for her and 10 family members and friends.  After a year of work and promises to quietly enjoy the home after her wedding, we arrived to find the house overloaded by more guests than permitted and despite strict warnings to be quiet, received calls from neighbors about late night partying, that the bride admitted got beyond her control when she fell asleep early.  As a result, we no longer offer properties to large wedding guest groups exceeding 6 people.

Q: What does "Max Occupancy" on the listing page mean?

A: Max Occupancy means the most number of guests between the ages of 1 day and 100 years old (or more) that may occupy the property overnight.  This number must coincide with what the beds will sleep in a property.  For example, if a property only sleeps 4 people in 2 queen beds, but allows a maximum of 6 guests, it is assumed that the 5th and 6th guests will be younger than 12 years old and that they will sleep in sleeping bags on the floor or a pullout futon or sofa.  "Max Occupancy" doesn't always mean "Maximum Adults"  Many of our waterfront rentals use sensitive waste-water treatment facilities (septic systems) designed for use by a maximum number of adults daily use.  Some of our owners will relax these concerns if the guests are mix of children and adults, where the children wouldn't be expected to shower daily as most adults do. 
You are permitted to have guests visit you at the property and exceed the maximum number of guests as long as they don't spend the night (ie - you can have 6 friends over for dinner).  However, we do not permit family reunions, large gatherings, parties, or other occasions at any of our properties without prior written approval from the owner.  You may not park RV's or erect tents at any of our properties.

Q: Can we preview our rental property - we will be in the area checking out properties to rent for next season?

A: Probably not. In the real estate business or long-term rental business, it makes absolute sense to view a home before buying it or signing a long-term lease. In the vacation rental market - you simply need to accept the pictures and information we provide you regarding the home or cottage you are interested in renting. That's just how it works. The most obvious reason for this is that the property you may be interested in renting is most likely either occupied by other vacationers (who we would never interrupt) or the owners. If the owner's are in possession of their property, it is most likely that the property is not in "rental-mode". The last thing we would ever want to share is a property that is not 100% ready for a vacation renter such as yourself, which is something we can guarantee you on the day you will take possession of one of our rental homes or cottages. If you absolutely must have more information than we share with you here on our website about the property you are interested in renting - let us know. We've been known to go video tape a property for a potential renter before if it made a difference. Whatever we can do within reason to help you make your decision, we will do. Please don't visit (or pull in the driveway) of one of our rental properties without first checking in with our office. Our contracts with our owners prevent you, our guests or potential renters, from having contact with the property owners. All communication regarding rental of a property listed on our website must go through our office. Bottom line, 99.9% of our previous renters have rented our properties through information provided on our website only - and so can you. We recognize that if we fail to provide you with a great property - our image will be tarnished. As a small business that relies on building trust with it's customers, we cannot afford for that to happen.

Q: What is your Pet Policy?  We would like to bring an animal or two with us on vacation.

A: We only allow dogs at our properties - never cats, monkeys, snakes, etc.  This is an insurance requirement.  Some of our properties will accept dogs, but that doesn't mean we allow all dogs. Generally, we've found people are very responsible with their dogs. Despite the strict way in which we present our pet policy, please understand, we want to be able to accommodate all the dogs our guests wish to bring and we have found that we can accommodate about 99% of the dogs that people wish to bring.  In fact, we've only said "no" to requests to bring a dog or dogs a few times in our six year history.  Dogs deserve a vacation too!

• Dogs under 2 years old are never allowed in any of our properties (another insurance requirement).
  

• We do charge a $150 fee for all dogs that stay in our properties. There is sometimes an exception to this. Despite the cleanest dogs, we always spend extra time cleaning a property after a dog has stayed at it, hence the extra charges.
    
• If approved by us, dogs owners must get an "Extended Liability Coverage" letter from their homeowner insurance provider to cover insurance for the pet during the time period the dog is at the rental property (we understand that there typically isn't an extra charge for this from most insurance companies and that is very easy to get.)
  

For the most part, the dogs we allow are the types that won't bark a lot. They are also the type that don't shed hair, or that don't like to get wet in the lake or ocean and come back into the property with their wet hair.

Please make sure to talk to us up front about your dog before booking a property with us. If you are thinking of getting a new dog before your rental begins, do not assume we will allow it in your rental property.  To review the Pet Addendum to our Rental Agreement, please click HERE.

Q: What other fees and taxes are involved in renting a property from you and why?

A: We take pride in not tacking many fees on to our rental property's prices although it may seem that we do. Cleaning and the use of all the utilities are included in the price of your rental.  However, there are two key "fees" we must charge:

• The 7% Maine State Lodging Tax is for any stay in Maine that is non-work / non-educational related. This is a Maine State Law. You will pay this 7% tax no matter where you pay to stay in Maine. Whether it is a hotel, resort, motel, bed & breakfast, or a vacation rental property, we all must all charge this tax. Maine has the second lowest lodging tax in New England after Massachusetts. New Hampshire charges a 8% Lodging Tax, and Vermont a 9% Lodging Tax. 

• The 7% Processing Fee, or "Service Fee" includes the Damage Waiver.  This shows up as the "Processing Fee" when you complete the booking.  We can't include this Service Fee as part of the rental price, although we'd like to "hide" it there, because it must be separately addressed as a non-taxable expense. While most vacation rental companies in Maine now charge upwards of 12.5% to 15% to process your vacation rental booking! (ouch) - here at On the Water in Maine Inc., we only charge a small 7%  fee. 

Q: What time can we check in?

Check in actually occurs by phone after 4pm on the date of your arrival. In order to allow sufficient time to prepare the property for your use, we ask that you do not request early occupancy.  You will receive 1 key to your property in the lock-box at the property.  After you have settled in and unpacked the car, we ask that you look around the property and make sure all is to your satisfaction. Then, give us a call and check-in by phone from the property.

Parking vehicles in the driveway of the property before 4pm could delay your check-in time by interfering with our cleaners and inspectors.

Q: What happens if we arrive later than 4pm?

A: That's the beauty with renting through us.  We don't make you come to an office to pick up keys, you can arrive whenever you want after 4pm on the day of check in but, only if your reservation is paid in full and the lease agreement is signed.

Q: Do you offer any of your properties for events or weddings?

A: Yes, but only those listed under the Wedding Property category on our website..

Q: We'd like to rent a property for LESS than 7 days.  Is this possible?

A: Sure, BUT you still have to book and pay for a 7 day rental, except sometimes in the Off-Season*.   Why? There are two parts to a rental.  One is the income the owner generates from renting the home, the other is the cost of cleaning, doing laundry, utilities, insurance, and administratively coordinating the rental.  In order to make a rental "worth it" to the owners, our properties are priced at their best rates including EVERYTHING.  With all the cleaning, laundry, etc included, we need to generate the rental rate for a week in each rental.  So, if you want to come stay for one or six days, the rental rate is still the same as seven days.  Maine has too short of a rental season between June and October to let a property rent for less than 7 days.  Our owners would rather a property sat empty for a week, then be occupied on a rent for 3 days at a 3-day price.  They can't make enough money back in 3 days to cover the cleaning, laundry, and our costs to make it worth it otherwise.  * In the Off-Season, we'll allow rentals less than 7 days if it make sense to the owner.  Typically, there is an added cleaning charge for rentals less than 7 days in the Off-Season.

Q: How do we book a property?

A: Select a property that you like the most and then the dates you would like to vacation. Check the availability of those properties online. If they are available, you can proceed to book the property online, or call or e-mail us to book it! We're very quick at responding to e-mails.

Q: When is my first payment due?

A: A 50% deposit on the total rental is required to book your property with us.  Our rental season in Maine is less than 12 weeks, so we need to be sure you are committed to the time period you want to rent and not miss an opportunity to market the property to someone else if you aren't committed. The balance  is due 60 days prior to check-in . We accept all major credit cards (except AMEX), but of course prefer checks. If you want to pay by check, please write your property name and dates of stay the front of your check. Mail to: On the Water in Maine Inc. , P.O. Box 100, Rockport, ME 04856. If you want to pay by credit card, call or e-mail with the card information. We won't charge your card or cash your check until we have a signed rental agreement.

Q: Once I have paid in full, what should I expect next? 

A: After you have paid in full, and at least 2 weeks before your rental, we will send you the map, directions, and access information to your vacation rental property by e-mail. Within the week before you head to your property, we will contact you by phone or e-mail to ensure you have all the details as well as the access code to gain entry to the property. If you don't have your information within 2 weeks of the stay at your property, please contact our offices so we can re-send it to you.

Q: We will be working or doing business while on vacation and must have high speed internet access and good cell phone coverage. Can that be guaranteed?

A: Unfortunately no. Some guests must work while on vacation. 90% of our rental properties offer High-Speed Internet access. Some of the properties even offer wireless access. Internet service in the villages and towns is generally pretty reliable. However, outside of town in the more rural areas - it is not. If the Internet goes down, it can often take days or weeks to get repaired, especially in the busy summer season. If you MUST have internet access during your stay - let us know. We will tell you if the property you are renting has better service than most. We do not guarantee working internet access at any of our properties and do not offer refunds if it is not working. There are many public WiFi Hot Spots in Maine that can be used alternatively.

Q:  Will our vacation property have air conditioning?

A: No.  Usually, Maine has "natural" air conditioning.  This summer so far has been hotter than most.   Most of our homes are on the water and have fans and that is enough to help on the hotter days.  That said, we know some of our southern guests that are used to living in air conditioned houses year-round at 68 degrees may be bothered by having 75 degree days in our rental properties. Again, this is Maine, and this is how it is. Fans can take the edge off - or take a dip in the water on those few hot nights. If for some reason there are no working fans in your bedroom when you arrive - call us right away and we'll show up to remedy the situation.  We want you to sleep well on vacation.

Q: We rented from you last year or in the past - should we expect everything to be the same at the property or in regards to your terms?

A: No. This has been a big problem in the past for us, which is why we felt it important to share it here.  Our property owners are constantly updating and changing things to their properties - usually for the better. However, sometimes their changes may affect something that you are counting on. For example, they may have changed from twin bunk beds in one room, to a king sized bed instead. If you have certain expectations about a property you have rented from us before, please be sure to tell us up front - we don't want you to be disappointed. Additionally, we keep our listings 100% up-to-date with the most accurate information. Please be sure to re-read the property listing for any changes.  Check our terms each year as well.  We try and post new terms in October each year for the upcoming year, and of course every year – they do change.  Most of the time the changes are for the better.  Between 2008 & 2009, we switched from taking security deposits, to offering a damage waiver, which offered better security to our guests.  Between 2009 and 2010, we added the damage waiver into our processing fee to reduce the number of fees our guests had to pay.

QUESTIONS MOST OFTEN ASKED AFTER RENTERS BOOK WITH US

Q: Where is your office if I need to mail you something? Will we meet you or your staff during our stay? 

A: Our physical office is located on Route 1 in Rockport just south of where Route 90 meets Route 1.  (243 Commercial Street). Because we are on the road so often servicing our properties and guests, you will find it difficult to catch up with us at our office. However, if you would like to arrange to meet us, we can stop by your vacation property during your stay. Our business and contact information is:

   Spring Mountain Developments Inc.
   DBA: On the Water in Maine Inc., and Waterfront Village Rentals Inc.
   Justin Ford - Co-Owner and President, Tiffany Ford- Co-Owner and Vice President
   Physical Address for mailing packages - 243 Commercial St - Rockport, Maine 04856
   Mailing Address for sending checks and agreements - PO Box 100 Rockport, Maine 04856

Q: Are linens and towels included with our rental?

A: We get this question all the time and don't know why?  OF COURSE we include linens with the rental of the property - they are included with all our rentals - we are a professional company that wants to ensure that our guests don't have to work while on vacation.  The last thing you want to do is make beds when you've arrived at an unfamiliar property late in the evening after a long drive.  When we say linens and towels are included - what we mean is that all beds are made with clean sheets as well as at least one bath towel for each guest (if you require wash cloths, you'll want to bring your owner - we supply one hand towel per bathroom).  You may re-launder your linens and towels on your own during your stay if you desire.  We DO NOT provide beach towels.

Q: Do we have to clean our rental at the end of the stay?

A: Not really.  We can't imagine having a guest show up a property that was cleaned by the previous guest - that's not the kind of company that we are.  Our properties are all professionally cleaned by a third-party before and after each rental.  However, guests are requested to follow a Departure Check List that is located in each properties' "Property Information Book".  Some examples on this list includes putting out the trash, loading and starting the dishwasher / washing all dishes, replacing any moved furniture, and returning the property to a 'tidy' condition similar to how it was found.  It is important that guests understand that there is a limit to the amount of cleaning a property should require after each rental.  If a 2 bedroom cottage takes more than 2 hours, a 3 bedroom cottage more than 3 hours, or a 4 bedroom cottage takes more than 4 hours after the rental to clean - we may charge additional cleaning charges per your rental contract with the owner.

Q: Keys to the property?  How do we know how to get to our vacation rental property and what to do once we arrive?

A: Two weeks prior to your arrival, and after you are paid in full, the Property Manager for the property you are renting (Justin Ford or Bed Ford) will e-mail you in a PDF format, the map and directions for your property including the key instructions.  These directions include turn-by-turn instructions from the New Hampshire/Maine border on I-95.  We do not recommend the use of a GPS as primary navigation source to your property.  Our directions will include stops at the closest major grocery shopping store to your property and will help you avoid roads that are not in great shape or frequently congested.  The directions will take you right to the driveway of the property.  Then, the directions go one step further and instruct you on how to gain access to the property either through a lock box containing a key, by finding a hidden key, or in some houses, right through an unlocked door to find a key on the kitchen counter.

Q: What happens if we arrive later than 4pm?

A: That's the beauty with renting through us.  We don't make you come to an office to pick up keys, you can arrive whenever you want after 4pm on the day of check in but, only if your reservation is paid in full and the lease agreement is signed.

Q: You approved me bring a dog(s) to the property on vacation, please remind me what I need to do in regards to my pet before arriving at the property.

A: Please ensure your dog is on a flea/tick preventative - we've had a problem already early this year with fleas, and Lyme disease carrying ticks are quite common in coastal Maine.  Also, please have your dogs nails trimmed.  If possible, we appreciate you grooming your dog before you arrive.  Finally,  all dogs owners bringing a dog must contact their homeowner's (renters) insurance company and get an "Extended Liability Coverage" letter to cover insurance for the pet during the time period the dog is at the rental property (we understand that there typically isn't an extra charge for this from most insurance companies and that is very easy to get.)  The coverage must be for the address of the rental property and protects the vacation home owner from any liability as a result of the presence of your dog on their property.  We don't need proof that you have done this - but hope all guests will agree to do it "on the honor system". 

Q: What should we know about the beaches around the property if there are any?

A: Maine is unusual when it comes to beach and waterfront access. According to Maine law, private landowners can and often do hold private property rights to the low water mark. These private property rights are subject to a public easement for fishing, fowling, and navigation up to the mean high tide line. What does this mean? It means that unlike other places you have rented a vacation property before, such as North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, or Delaware, in Maine, you may not be able to walk the beach except in front of the home you are renting. Neighboring landowners are completely within their rights to post signs saying "No Trespassing" on their beaches and may ask you not to walk on or access their beach. We just don't want you to be surprised if this happens to you.

Q:  Will our vacation property have air conditioning?

A: No.  Usually, Maine has "natural" air conditioning.  This summer so far has been hotter than most.   Most of our homes are on the water and have fans and that is enough to help on the hotter days.  That said, we know some of our southern guests that are used to living in air-conditioned houses year-round at 68 degrees may be bothered by having 75 degree days in our rental properties. Again, this is Maine, and this is how it is. Fans can take the edge off - or take a dip in the water on those few hot nights. If for some reason there are no working fans in your bedroom when you arrive - call us right away and we'll show up to remedy the situation.  We want you to sleep well on vacation.

Q: If our rental property has a fireplace or wood stove, can we use it?

A: Unfortunately - probably not. (Elite Properties that we offer do allow fireplace usage).  The straight truth why: INSURANCE. The average home owner's insurance policy in Maine runs about $400 per year. The average "casual home rental" insurance policy that allows our home owner's to rent their homes to you for up to 8 weeks a year runs around $800 per year. The next step up is "commercial rental insurance". These commercial policies are the only policies that cover allowing renters (you) to use indoor wood burning stoves and fireplaces. These police average $3 to $4 thousand per year. So, as you can imagine, our owner's aren't willing to spend an additional amount of money needed to upgrade to commercial renters insurance to allow our guests to burn wood a few nights each summer. SOLUTION - Some of our properties have outdoor fire pits, or - we rent them. Ask one of our representatives about renting a fire pit - or have a fire on the beach below the high-water mark if you have a beach-front property.

Q: How is Cell Phone Coverage in Maine?

A: Improving - each year is better than the last.  The southern part of the state, from Brunswick south to New Hampshire has good coverage for all major carriers.  North of Brunswick (98% of our properties), the best service is with Verizon and US Cellular.  (On the Water in Maine employees carry Blackberries with US Cellular Service and are able to get a signal at all the properties we offer for rent).  AT&T provides a little coverage in some larger town, but in general - you may as well leave your iPhone behind if you are staying in the Boothbay, Penobscot Bay, or Acadia regions.  Sprint, Nextel, and T-Mobile service is also poor in these areas.  If you need a cell phone in Maine, and don't think your's will work, we can arrange to get a pay-by-use phone for you with a local Maine number.

Q: Will there be a land-line at our Property?

A: Most likely.  Only about 20% of our rental properties  don't have a telephone "land-line".  With such a short rental season in Maine, it's too costly to install a phone each summer for some owners.  The properties that have phone lines are most likely our year-round rental properties.  If having phone service at the property is important to you, please let us know.

Q: I have allergies to certain things - should I tell you if I do in advance so I am not surprised when I arrive at my vacation property to find that something that I am allergic to is there?

A: We have had guests with allergies to down-pillows, cleaning products; air fresheners, etc arrive and contact us at 10pm on a Saturday night to asking us to address these issues. . Had we known in advance, we could have tried to accommodate them or been able to quickly resolve the issue before their arrival. If you have an allergy, don't assume we will know it - tell us up front. Cats - we never rent to cats - but, some of our owners have cats in the homes during the off-season. If you are allergic to bees, please let us know! We'll be diligent before your arrival to check around the property and ensure no nests are evident. Again - if you have allergies to anything - please tell us when you book the property - we want you to have an allergy-free vacation.

Q: What is expected of me in regards to cleaning of the property after my stay?

A: Your property should be cleaned to your satisfaction when you arrive. We have 4 rating scales that we use to ask you about the cleanliness of your property in a survey you can complete at the end of your stay. "Excellent" is the highest rating, and we hope that you find your property that way when you arrive. Cleaning is is included in your rental price. However, should the cleaning of the property exceed the hours expected, you will be charged $25 per hour from your credit card on file for any extra time it took to clean the property. This rarely happens, when it does, there will certainly be a discussion with the renter.

95% of the time, we find that guests have left a property just as they found it minus some basic cleaning when they checked-in, which is expected. Our cleaners are most likely to disinfect, vacuum, dust, and make beds when a guest departs a property in order to prepare it for the next guest. Re-emphasizing our membership with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), it is not our goal to generate income off of cleaning, nor do we or the owner generate income from cleaning charges. Cleaning is a challenging part of the seasonal vacation rental business. 
It is not expected that cleaners should need to clean up new carpet stains, wash dishes, scrub clean barbecue grills, pick-up excess human or pet hair, and replace furniture to its original location, etc. after a guest departs. Our cleaners only have a 6 hour window in which to clean multiple properties each turnover day (Saturday). The last thing we want them to do is spend extra time at a property cleaning it because it was left excessively dirty or displaced as it will set back their schedule. We only ask that our guests will ensure they will do their best to leave the property as they found it when they arrived. 

We do not review properties with our guests at Check-In to confirm condition of the property, but guests can let us know of any concerns about a property when they Check-In. 

In summary, we like you to think of the vacation house you are renting from us as your "Aunt Sylvia's Maine Cottage" and treat it the same way you treat a family members house if they let you go use it for a week.

Q: What do we need to bring with us to our vacation property?

A: All the food, condiments, and things you need to feel at home. We take pride that a majority of our properties are fully stocked with all the tools necessary to have a great vacation. We have "pump" soap in all the bathrooms and in the kitchen for basic cleaning, so if you want your favorite soap for washing, you'll need to bring that. Definitely bring beach towels if you plan on swimming.

Q: What does the Owner provide as part of the rental?

A: Our owners have contractually agreed to provide the following for each rental:

• 2 rolls of toilet paper for each bathroom

• 1 roll of paper towels for each kitchen

• 2 full tanks of propane (for properties with gas grills) at the beginning of the rental season (renters are responsible for refilling the tanks throughout the season.)

• Enough laundry soap to do a few loads of laundry (if the property has a washer)
  

• 1 new scrubby sponge for each kitchen sink

• 1 pump soap container at each sink filled with anti-bacterial hand soap

• Basic cleaning supplies (which we hope you don't have to use)

• 1 set of clean bed linens (pillow case, top and bottom sheet, blanket and bed cover) and one bath for each bed spot in the house (renters are responsible for beach towels and wash cloths). * Some of our Bayside properties do not come with towels, linens, or basic cleaning supplies. We will let you know at the time of booking if you will need these items for your property. On the Water in Maine Inc. also offers the option to rent your sheets and towels.

• Some Misc. dry food goods such as spices, flour, salt, sugar, etc.

Additionally, although they may offer more, all our owners have all contractually agreed with us to have at a minimum, the following items in their properties:

• A Lobster Pot
• An Outdoor Grill (some are gas, others are charcoal - ask if you are not sure which your property offers)
• A Dining Room table and chairs to accommodate the maximum occupancy of guests at one setting.
• Outdoor furniture to accommodate the maximum number of guests to eat outside.
• Outdoor sitting chairs to accommodate the maximum number of guests
• Games – at least two decks of cards and then at least one board game
• Music player – Boom box or other radio device (not necessarily with a CD player)
• A Coffee Maker
• A Muffin pan
• A Cookie Sheet
• A Brownie Pan
• An Electric Mixer
• A Blender (for mixing drinks)
• Ice Cube Trays (2)
• Frying Pans (large & small)
• Pots and Pans
• Wine glasses for maximum guests
• Outdoor plastic cups for maximum guests
• Indoor glass cups for maximum guests
• Dinner plates for maximum guests
• Desert plates for maximum guests
• Salad bowls for maximum guests
• Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in all living spaces and in each bedroom (this is now a Maine Law as of Oct 2009 for all properties occupied under the terms of a rental agreement)
  
• Fire extinguishers in appropriate locations
• Grill utensils and a grill cleaning brush
• Serving utensils and full eating sets for each person
• Serving/Mixing/Colander bowls
• A Flashlight
• One set of sheets for each bed and pullout couch
• One bath towel for each guest to maximum occupancy (some properties have wash cloths - some don't - if these are important to you - you'll want to bring your own)
• One cloth hand towel for each bathroom
• Two dish towels 
• A vacuum cleaner
• Household cleaners, a broom, and a dust pan
• Salt & pepper, sugar, vanilla, spices
• Trash bags for all trash receptacles
• Iron & Iron Board
• A Hair Dryer
• A Heat source (furnace, monitor, wood stove)
• Fans in every bedroom
• Screens on all working windows

IF ANY OF THESE ITEMS ARE MISSING FROM THE PROPERTY AFTER YOU ARRIVE, PLEASE LET US KNOW RIGHT AWAY SO WE CAN ADDRESS IT

Q: Will there be beach chairs at my vacation property?

A: Maybe - Maybe not.  Some owners supply them - some don't.  We don't inventory these items.  If having folding beach chairs to take to the beach is important to you - you'll want to bring them with you to the property.

Q: How will the drinking water be at my vacation property?

A: If you are renting a lake cottage, the water on tap in the property may very well come from the lake or pond, which means it isn't drinkable (but it's fine for cooking/bathing).  We try and supply a few gallons of drinking water in the refrigerator at these properties to get you started after you arrive.  Very few of our properties except a some in-town ones are on city water.  Well water is the primary source for most of our properties.  Taste varies from property to property, but in Maine, much of our well water is "hard" and treated by water-softeners.  Bottom line, if the taste of the water is important to you - we suggest you bring bottled water.

Q: Do you include boats with any of your property rentals?

A: We do not include boats such as canoes or kayaks with any of our property rentals unless a listing specifically states that a boat is included.   Individual owners may have boats at their properties, but insurance requirements prohibit them from sharing the boats with you. Fortunately, Maine Watercraft Rentals Inc., our other business, offers boats for rent and we can deliver them right to the property before you arrive in most situations with life jackets, fuel, and all you need to get out on the water. Click HERE to see our boat rentals.

Q: Are there any wild or poisonous animals in Maine that I should be concerned about at our rental property?  What about bugs?

A: Maine is one of the few states with no poisonous snakes or other dangerous animals. The most common wild animals of concern that you will see on your vacation are raccoons and skunks. If you don’t keep your trash stored in tight containers, they will come around in the night and make a mess for you to clean-up. In Maine, you can go lay in the remote woods for hours and the only souvenir you may leave with is some mosquito and black fly bites.  Black fly season traditionally runs from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day (before the rental season). Village and Oceanfront properties typically don’t have issues with bugs.  Lakefront properties can have mosquitoes, particularly earlier in the season.   We’ve never seen anyone carried away by bugs, so just be sure to stop in at LL Bean on your way into the state and pick up a little bug spray or lotion – over 1.3 million Mainer's live with em’ and so can you.

Q: I am concerned about emergency medical services in Maine while we are there - what can you tell me?

A: In Maine, we have the best emergency services.  Actually, some of our island properties have the best service because Maine operates a great air ambulance service that is within 15 minutes flying time of any of our properties called Life Flight of Maine.  Additionally, all the towns where we rent properties have reliable ambulance service and access to great hospitals.  We'll provide emergency care information for you in the property you are staying in.

Q: What about making a reservation for 2011 or in 2012?

A: Our annual contracts with our owners are not renewed until the end of each year. We never know what properties we will have to list the following year until then. As a result, we don't even start to set pricing or availability for our properties until December of each year. If you would like to be put on a waiting list for a certain property - you can let us know and we will try and help you.

Q: How do we get more information on Maine?

A: If you are unable to find the information you need on our website, please call us. We can arrange to have all the literature on making your vacation in Maine complete sent to you free of charge.

Q: How do we get to Maine?

A: Click here for a special section of our website on this topic.

Q: What happens if you reduce the advertised price on the rental property AFTER we rent it?

A: Nothing. Fortunately this doesn't happen often.  It's called "Yield Management".  We know it can be upsetting if you rent a property at one price then see it advertised at a lower price several months later. We operate like any other travel related business and from time to time need to reduce rates to fill vacancies.  Once you sign a rental agreement with us on a property - your price is locked in. Like the airlines or other resorts, if the advertised price on a rental property drops AFTER you book it and sign a rental agreement - there is nothing we can do to lower the price or credit you back the difference. We have a short rental season in Maine - on average only 6 weeks - and we need to be creative at times to ensure all our properties are rented each week. You were guaranteed the week you booked at the time you booked it. Other later rentals that may pay a lower price are not necessarily getting that same guarantee that you did. We try to employ this practice when there are only 2 or 3 weeks remaining in a summer to rent a property and we want to fill them up.

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