What is a Maine Vacation Rental Property?

Vacation Rental Properties are privately owned homes, chalets, condos, or camps that come with most, if not all of the luxeries and amenities that each home owner expects for themselves. The properties are furnished in the taste of the individual home owners and landscaped to their desires.

How Do We Offer Our Vacation Rentals?

At On The Water In Maine Inc. we offer vacation rental properties for Saturday to Saturday rental periods. Check-in is at 4pm and check-out is at 10am. In some instances off-season, we may offer shortened-term rentals by the day. Our peak-season is the months of July & August. No smoking is permitted anywhere inside of the properties we list.

Please review all the information on this page if your are intending to rent a property with us. Our Cancellation Policy is noted here as well.

First, after you have found a property you are interested in - contact us and let us know that you are interested. We are constantly monitoring our incoming e-mail and are available to answer your phone inquiries between 8:30am and 9pm EST daily - 7 days a week. Be prepared to let us know the number of people and age groups in your party. Also, let us know if you are looking to bring a dog. Dogs are the only type of pet we may allow - but we don't always allow all dogs. We never allow puppies, so do not even bother to ask to bring a dog that is under 2 years old. While some of our properties do allow dogs, a pet fee or deposit will most likely be required depending on the property. Please talk to us about your dog(s) when making preperations to book a property with us to see if your dog is one that we will allow..

Once you have decided on your property and the week you desire, let us know of your interest in it. After we have answered any questions you may have - BOOK IT. You are not always the only person negotiating for the same property for the same week. We have encountered many situations where one party has spent a week asking us questions about a property and trying to decide whether they want it or not while another person has swooped in and booked the property they wanted. The first person to give us a 50% deposit on the property gets it.

After you have booked your property with us we require a 50% deposit plus a $35 processing fee. You can pay this by credit card, check, cash, or money order. Once we have received your deposit, we will send you a rental agreement. Later, in the late spring, a "Welcome Package" with all the information you need to know about your rental property, including directions, what to bring and fun facts about the area around your property will be sent.. (Any checks returned for insufficient funds will require replacement funds by cash, certified bank check, or postal money order, plus a $25 fee.)

60 Days prior to your rental, payment in full is due along with the full security deposit and any amenity charges such as boat rentals or vacation grocery services etc. You will also need to pay a 7% Maine State Lodging Tax that is based on the total amount of your rental minus the security deposit and any amenities (stays longer than 28 days may not require sales tax).. You can set up this payment to be deducted from your credit card in advance, or be sure to mark your calendar to send us this payment.

At the beginning of your vacation, you will arrive at your property to find, in most cases, a lock box containing a key to access your property. At that time, you will be able to call and check-in with us and receive your lock-box code to get the key so you may move into your vacation property. Since your property is professionally cleaned before you arrive, you will be able to comfortably check right in. We do offer housekeeping during your stay at an addtional fee. With advance notice, we can arrange for this service.

Once you are in your property, you will be greeted with a welcome gift from us as well as a "House Information" package that explains all the ins and outs of the property you are staying in including where to put your trash, how the TV works, etc. Checking out is just as easy, just lock the property and put the key back in the lock box.

In Review:

• 50% of rent plus a $35 processing fee is due immediately to book property
• Trip cancelation insurance premium (6.5% of rental amount) due at booking (if chosen)
• Remaining balance, plus 7% Maine Lodging Tax, plus $300 refundable security deposit, plus any pet fees are due 60 Days prior to rental start date
• Welcome Package mailed in late Spring with directions to and details on the property

Cancellations:
While we look out for the interest of our Customers when it comes to rentals - we must also pay special attention to our property owners, who are also our Customers. Many of our property owners count on the income generated by renting their vacation properties, and when a week is canceled, they must contend with lost revenue and the possibility of the unexpected situation of a property not re-renting for the week they had intended to see rented by you. If you book with us prior to 60 days from your rental start day, we do offer Vacation Trip Cancellation Insurance because even the best planned trip can be impacted by the unexpected. This plan also provides other insurance coverage an assistance services to take care of you while you are traveling. We anticipate the unexpected so you do not have to.

If you cancel and we are able to re-rent the week(s) of your planned state, we will return all your money minus a 10% (of the full rental price) administration fee.

Cancellations without a rental agreement signed - If you have paid for you rental deposit by credit card - we will either immediately mail you your lease, or e-mail it to you. Regardless of whether you sign the lease and return it immediately or not, you are bound to the terms of our cancellation policy noted above.

Homes For Sale:
Sometimes some of the properties we offer are listed on the market for sale and may be shown to prospective buyers. We will indicate this to you at time of booking, or if the property goes on the market after you book it. Once you are in the vacation property, every attempt will be made to give 24-hours notice and to not interrupt your vacation if a potential buyer requests to view the property during your vacation.

Our only business is renting waterfront vacation properties in Maine. We are not a real estate agency and have no affiliation with any real estate brokerage firm. We are proud that one of our goals is to make sure we offer a great match for both the homeowner and for those visitors who are looking for spectacular vacation retreat for family and guests. It is important that you know that we have a contractual relationship and serve as representatives for our property owners. We treat all parties (owners and guests) honestly, fairly and in good faith.