The House Is       The House Is Not       Costs       Next Steps       Contact

 

The House Is:

Set in a Beautiful Location in Downeast Maine: Sorrento is one of the most beautiful Maine costal communities. It is set at the end of a small peninsula, on Frenchman's Bay, with Cadillac Mt. in Acadia National Park rising out of the water in the distance. Sorrento's harbor is dotted with pine-tree islands and lobster boats mixed among the yachts. There are tennis courts within walking distance and a 9 hole golf course on the cliffs overlooking the bay a mile or so from our house. There are many activities for children in the town, including a summer sailing camp. There is a natural ocean-fed swimming pool with a sandy beach. Golf, pool, tennis, etc., are not part of the house/rental agreement and require a separate fee to Village Improvement Association (VIA). We have a kayak for your use at your own risk. Two minutes across the harbor is a Nature Conservancy island with hiking trails and glorious rocks for sunbathing. We have seen porpoises playing off shore.

Organic vegetables and blueberries for sale nearby, and Bartlett Maine Winery with award winning red wine a few miles away. Other activities nearby include: Hiking, Rock Climbing, Biking, Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing, Horseback Riding, Restaurants, Sightseeing, Swimming, Boating, Sailing, Shelling, Rafting, Vineyard, Used Books, Arts and Crafts, Islands, Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, etc. all nearby and not related to the property and/or rental agreement.

Ready to Move Into: When we go on vacation we don't want to bring along towels, linens, toilet paper, dishwashing liquid, soap etc. So we have purchased toilet paper, paper towels, soap for the dishwasher and laundry soap, trash bags, etc. The house is ready to move into. You only need to bring your personal things. The kitchen, too, is fully equipped. There is even a new hairdryer in the bathroom. Amenities include: dishwasher, microwave, toaster, blender, juicer, TV (PBS only but long-term renters can opt to pay for cable), VCR, washer/dryer, fax, printer (you supply the paper & ink cartridges HP desk jet 845c), lobster pot and lobster crackers, pots and pans, full service silverware, glasses, and lots of dishes and bowls, mugs, etc. and fully furnished. No toxic cleaning agents used. Seventh Generation products only and these cleaning products are provided for you. It is winterized so is also available year round for writers, artists, etc. There is oil heat and the tank is full so you won't be cold on a rainy summer evening. It is the perfect place for a family or anyone in the summer or for a sabbatical in the winter, spring, or fall.

Comfortable: Roomy and relaxed, filled with sunlight and air, with a large shady yard, and in the heart of a quiet, beautiful small Maine coastal community filled with activities for children and adults. There are ocean breezes from nearly every window. We put up cotton gauze curtains that billow in the wind. We love the house very much and feel there is something quite special about it. We found it one day, quite by chance, and bought it a few weeks later. In general the house feels very Maine; more like a traditional Maine camp than a cottage. Camp in Maine means casual, comfortable and easy.

We think the house has charm and character that only an old house can have. It has three floors, with one double bedroom and bath on the first floor, the kitchen/dining room, living room, sitting room, and master bedroom on the second floor, and two bedrooms (double and single) and a bath on the third floor. Both baths have claw foot tubs. We have bought inexpensive antiques from local stores and dealers; including tubs, dressers, brass bed frames, and old sea captain's chest, etc and filled the house with books. There are desks and chairs for work space or writing.

We splurged on three very comfortable new couches so one can be cozy on a rainy day. We also invested in excellent beds, linens, feather duvets and feather pillows because sleeping comfortably is important. The bedroom downstairs is feather-free for those who are allergic. All the mattresses are new and very good. The bed frames are old antiques and one LL Bean replica. Bedside tables and reading lamps are important to us so each bed has one per side. My mother made a quilt for one bed and we received another handmade quilt as a gift.

There are plenty of fluffy, all-cotton towels, washcloths and bath sheets.

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The House Is Not:

Private: In a remote, private place by Maine standards. We are at the heart of our tiny town, for whatever "town" is worth. On the positive side, being "downtown" also means the house is in easy walking distance from the tennis courts, sailing camp for kids, both harbors, the town library, the town community suppers, etc. The Post Office (PO) is the heart of the town which does not have any shops or restaurants. The PO occupies the first half of the first floor of our house, with a separate entrance and separated with an internal wall so you will not have people coming and going in the house, itself, but there will be people around the front of the house coming and going into the PO.

At 7:00 am when Rusty brings the mail you might hear the door on the PO open and shut and you might hear him bump around a bit. The master bedroom, with the king bed, is right above the PO. If you are a light sleeper and want to sleep late in the king bed this might be a problem for you. It doesn’t bother us at all.

Right On the Ocean: You can see the ocean from the house but it is a partial or obstructed view. There is one house and their trees between our house and the harbor. It is close enough that you get lovely ocean breezes all day long, you can smell the salt water (or at least I can) and you can hear the harbor bell. You can also hear the water. The house is located at the neck of a small peninsula, about as long across as a football field. The house is in the middle and less than a hundred yards away on either side from the two town harbors. So you have easy access to the ocean. Our tandem kayak, including life jackets and paddles, does come with the rental—for use at your own risk—so you can get out on the water if you like.

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The Costs:

Weekly: $1200 per week May 31-July 31. $1,400 per week August 1-September 1. Plus $300 security deposit and 7% Maine state sales tax on your total rental fee. I am required to collect this from all renters due to a new Maine tax law. You pay cleaning fee ($18 per hour — normal cleaning time is 4-5 hours). We take the cleaning fee out of your security and the house is checked after your check-out. The house is non-smoking. The entire security deposit will be retained if any smoking occurs inside the house.

Monthly: Rates during the summer season are: May 31-July 31, $4,500 per month with the month of August at $5,000 for the month. A $1,000 security deposit and the same 7% sales tax on your total amount are also required. The rental fee is fully refundable if cancellation is provided for BEFORE the summer season begins, (before May 30th of that renting year). Otherwise, $1,000 cancellation fee will be retained.

Off Season: September and October: $1,200 for the month or $400 per week. Rest of the off-season: Monthly rates are $500 per month. Only available for weekly rentals during off-season if you pay opening and closing (of the house) fee of $200 per opening or closing, so $400 total.

No daily rates.

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The Next Steps:

Please let us know if you are interested. The house will be reserved for you once we receive:

(1) The security deposit;

(2) The exact entire rent up front, including the additional 7% Maine state sales tax on your total rental fee;

(3) A signed copy of the lease, which we will send to you once you let me know you are interested and we have confirmed dates.

Please feel free to call or e-mail me with any questions. We can also call you, if you prefer. Just let us know.

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How to Contact us:

Lori Handrahan. Email L.M.Handrahan@alumni.lse.ac.uk or Phone: 1.207.221.5260

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