(1) If this is your first time renting, you'll find it helpful to read the FAQ's.
(2) Check the Calendar to find your week numbers.
(3) Submit an on-line Rental Request.
(unless you're previously registered - please don't file duplicate requests)
(4) We will send you a list of Possibilities. Call 1-800-332-1806 if time is getting short.
(5) When you receive your Possibilities, go to Links to Cottage Photos and view the properties.
(6) Make your first and alternate choices. Review our Rental Contract, and call us at 1-800-332-1806 when you are ready to make a reservation.
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What area comprises the Sebago Lake Region? It roughly consists of Maine's western lakes and mountains, about 25 miles northwest of Portland; an hour inland from the coast; 2-3 hours' drive from Boston by major roads; about 6 hours from New York and 6 hours from Montreal. Sebago is the second largest lake in Maine, and there are about 30 other lakes of varying size around it. (top) | |||||||||||||
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What types of property are available for rent? Krainin Real Estate offers over 300 privately-owned cottages on 30 lakes and ponds within 15-20 miles of our office -- the largest and most complete service in the region. Styles range from rustic camps and log cabins to cottages, fully finished summer homes, and a few condo's. (top) | |||||||||||||
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What time of year are properties available? Peak Season is for 10 weeks in summer, and during that time (late June, July and August) and some of the Low Season weeks, all rentals are for a 1-week minimum, Saturday to Saturday (see Calendars). A few properties have a 2-week minimum, and some condo associations require four weeks. The rest of the year, rental properties are available through the spring and fall, and through the winter holidays. Availability varies with each owner's personal schedule. (top) | |||||||||||||
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How much do rentals usually cost? Our average Peak weekly rate is $1550 ($34/night), over a range from $600 to $6,000. Rates vary depending on lake and location, type of waterfront, cottage capacity, time period, and amenities. Which weeks are Peak, Low and Off-Season is indicated on the Calendars. If you rent 2 or 3 weeks, there is usually a $25/week reduction, and for 4 or more weeks, $25 off again. 7% state lodging tax applies to all rentals, of whatever length, plus a $35 booking fee. If the rates for private-waterfront cottages are a stretch for your budget, consider that many nice cottages and condo's with shared beaches are also available. Shared beaches are usually larger, rarely crowded, and often even sandier! See the 3 lake-group tables for which properties have "n" for "Wft." (top) | |||||||||||||
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How are the rental units furnished? All are completely furnished, including pillows and blankets, dishes, pots and pans, cutlery and gadgets. Most have a charcoal or gas barbecue, and most have tv's. A few have cable. One or two have air conditioning, which is to say an air conditioner in one of the rooms, not central air. The style of furnishings varies widely, as each property is individually owned. Some properties are very old fashioned, some very contemporary; many have a miscellaneous collection of furnishings from the owners' past. (top) | |||||||||||||
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Are boats ever included? Boats are not usually included in rentals, although some may have a canoe or rowboat. If registered with the state, the boat can have a motor attached, which you can rent at a local marina. You can also rent all sizes of boats for paddling, fishing, waterskiing at local marinas; rates are available. If you rent or bring your own boat, be aware of Docks & Moorings: We do not check or guarantee that they will hold your boat, especially if the weather gets rough on a large lake. Check it out, and bring an extra anchor and bumpers, just in case! (top) | |||||||||||||
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What is expected of us as Guests? Your part in the arrangement is to be a careful, considerate guest and abide by the owners' house rules (and the rules of the property owner's association if there is one), so happy owners will continue to give us their cottages to rent to you again! (top) | |||||||||||||
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How do we know you're a reputable firm? Krainin Real Estate has been renting and selling property in the Sebago Lake Region for 30 years. We are members of the local, Maine and National Associations of Realtors®, Bridgton Chamber of Commerce, Naples Business Association, Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Maine Bureau of Tourism, Lakes Environmental Association, Thompson Lake Association, and the Better Business Bureau. Each year our rental program has grown, and we now manage more than 1,500 vacation rentals every summer. We work hard to match you with a cottage that meets your requirements, and to help you with anything you need while you are here. We're not mindreaders, and we can't promise that you'll like your cottage if you book it sight-unseen, but we can promise you we'll try our best to make your vacation a happy one! We have 30% repeat renters every year, and some of our families have been renting through Krainin for more than 20 years. Realistically, you can expect a few minor problems -- they're part of life, property and the woods -- and we work together to overcome them, but our "serious problem" rentals are fewer than 1% each year. Our staff and our property owners are all dedicated to making this your greatest vacation ever! You might want to read some comments from last year's renters. (top) | |||||||||||||
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What size groups can you accommodate? Most vacation properties are built to hold about 6 people, some as many as 8. A very few properties can take much larger groups, but these book very quickly. If your group is larger than 8, start early and be prepared to rent several smaller cottages. We try to find you ones that are close to each other. (top) | |||||||||||||
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May we have guests, a party or a family reunion? It is extremely important that we know exactly how many will be in your group. Too many people and vehicles at a property can result in problems with water and septic systems, damage to house and yard, upsetting the neighbors, and the potential loss of the cottage from our service, if the owner blames us for your excessive use! So please be sure to tell us about all the people (including dayguests and overnight guests) who wish to come, so we can accommodate your group comfortably without exceeding the owner's occupancy limit. Some owners with larger lots (acreage) may agree to weddings with the appropriate additional security deposits and insurance. We do not book graduation parties, prom parties or similar events. Overnight Guests: Most owners allow you one or two overnight guests for a couple of nights, and those numbers are provided with the Occupancy information: i.e., 8+2 means that 8 people can stay at the cottage for the entire rental period, and an additional 2 people would be allowed to stay for a couple of nights (usually there are not beds for them, just futons or a pullout sofa). Day Guests: Most cottages, but not all, allow you to have a few (4 is a good number) guests during the daytime if it is not every single day. Any number more than that constitutes a Gathering. Gatherings, Parties and reunions are by special permission only. (top) | |||||||||||||
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May we bring pets? Some properties accept pets; additional rent or security deposit may be required. You are expected to keep them under your personal control within the boundaries of the property (following Maine leash law), and to clean up after them and to make sure they do no damage to the property or grounds. If a property is a "no pet" rental, that may not necessarily mean there have never been animals there. If someone in your party has severe allergies, please so note on your Request form or tell your Rental Agent. Please also be aware that neighbors of the property owner may have pets; we cannot be responsible for your pet's social interactions!(top) | |||||||||||||
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Mind if we smoke? Many owners do not permit smoking inside the cottage, but you may smoke outside if careful and considerate. A very few owners do not permit smoking anywhere on the property. If smoking indoors is important to you, be sure to specify that on your Request form. (top) | |||||||||||||
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Is there a telephone? Most cottages have phones, and most have modular jacks. If there's a phone, either (1) there's a block on the phone - which lets you receive all incoming calls except collect, and make outgoing local calls, but all outgoing long-distance calls must be made with a telephone company card, collect, or through the blocking service's carrier, or (2) you pay a $25/week deposit. Then you can direct-dial long-distance. When the owners get the bill (could be 3-4 months after you leave), we deduct your calls and tax, and send you the balance. (top) | |||||||||||||
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Can we have internet access? If you use an ISP such as AOL, CompuServe, Earthlink, etc., you should check to see if they provide a local dial-up number for this area. If you don't have a local number, it will be very expensive to go online. Even if they offer an 800 number, as in AOL, you can ring up a hefty bill. Also, there are several small phone companies in the Region, and the free-calling areas have been changing recently. Maine has "no-dial-1" for instate long distance, so you could be making a long-distance call without realizing it. To help with this, we are now able to make Internet access available to you through our own ISP just for the length of your vacation. This means you can get service even if your cottage phone has a long-distance block. The cost is $20 a week. Please arrange for ISP service well in advance of your arrival -- we can't obtain new passwords on weekends. Contact our bookkeeper, Sheree Stuart, to make arrangements. (top) | |||||||||||||
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Will we need to carry in drinking water? Most properties have wells nowadays, but some cottages use water pumped directly from the lake. That is not recommended for drinking unless you boil it first. Drinking water is available from faucets and pumps at various locations in the area, and owners usually provide several empty containers for the purpose. Well water is usually safe to drink, and of course bottled water is now available at every supermarket. (top) | |||||||||||||
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What do we need to bring? You need to bring your own sheets and pillowcases, towels and bathmats, kitchen towels, toilet tissue, trash bags, etc. We stock a limited supply of linens and towels for emergencies and for those who are unable to bring their own (because they are arriving by plane, for example). These are available in sets for $13 per person. Please tell your Rental Agent if you will need linens. (top) | |||||||||||||
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Is there curbside trash pick-up? No - no curbs! (or kerbs, as we used to spell it!) We try to make the best of a difficult situation: In most towns there is no municipal pick-up, and very few private ones. Some owners have private pick-up, but not on Saturdays. Some owners do arrange for someone to pick up the trash on Saturdays. Some owners do arrange for someone to pick up the trash on Saturdays. Some owners provide a dump sticker and ask you to go to the dump (oops -- that's 'Recycling Center'!) yourself. We also keep a couple of dumpsters at the Krainin office, and many owners support the cost of that and ask you to bring your trash to the office when you check out (or additional times, if you need to). We know it's not fun to share a car-ride with a few bags of smelly garbage, but it's the best way of making sure you don't inherit the last family's empty lobster shells, and that nobody inherits yours. Please cooperate with us on this. We've worked it out over a period of time, and for now it's the best solution. An additional point is that if you don't cooperate, and we have to send someone for your trash, we deduct a minimum of $60 from your security deposit (more if it's messy or a large quantity). You can also call and pay $30 to have your trash picked up -- any day except late Friday or on Saturday. (top) | |||||||||||||
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How can we find out what's available for our timeframe? The Rental Request Form gathers the information we need to have in order to tell you what's available. If you email or print and fax it to us, we will send you a list of Possibilities for your timeframe. Please answer all the questions and return the form as soon as possible, because properties rent quickly. If you prefer, you can call 1-800-332-1806 and we'll take your specs over the phone. When you receive your list of Possibilties, go to Links to Cottage Photos and click on the 6-character links. These will show you a set of photos and data on each property. You can also get an overview of the properties from the tables, and link to the brochures from there:
Can we go to see the cottages before we choose one? | We emphatically encourage you (or a friend or relative) to visit our office and go out to see your best Possibilities. Easy-to-follow driving directions are available, so you can see the waterfront, neighborhood, etc. We try to make sure window shades are up, so you can see as much of the cottage as possible, and if the owners happen to be there, they will in most cases invite you in. However, we ask you to be considerate of winter tenants who may still be in residence, and not ask them to show you inside the cottage. If you are renting 3 weeks or more, we will make arrangements (with sufficient advance notice) to show you the inside, but we cannot show cottages personally for rentals of less than 3 weeks, or give you keys to go in by yourself. (top)
Once we've chosen a cottage, how do we reserve it? | Please check with us by phone 1-800-332-1806 to be sure that the property you want is still available. It's a good idea to have two or three second choices, also. Rental Department phone hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday, Eastern time. We are open Sundays, 10-4, from Valentine's Day through Labor Day. When you have told us which cottage you want, we mail or email you a Rental Agreement to sign and return with your deposit. When we receive your deposit, we send you a Confirmation, showing the balance due, outlining arrival procedures, and providing additional cottage information (telephone number, etc.). (top)
How much time do we have to pay for our rental? | After availability is confirmed, you must send 50% of the rent and the $35 booking fee within 10 days* to hold your reservation. The remaining rent, the 7% State of Maine lodging tax, and any security or phone deposits are all due no later than 21 days before you arrive. *If you book with fewer than 21 days to arrival, the total rental amount must be sent, with all taxes and security deposits, in certified check or money order, by express mail (or PayPal -- see below). (top)
Can we pay by credit card? | Personal checks are acceptable if received at least 21 days before arrival. We regret that we cannot accept credit cards directly, but you can charge your vacation rental on VISA or MC at PayPal.com. If you choose this method of payment, please complete your booking arrangements with a Rental Agent first. Your payment email should be directed to our Bookkeeper, Sheree Stuart. Alternately, you could pay with a credit card convenience check. (top)
Do we have to sign a rental contract? | Yes, we have a Rental Contract. The person who signs the contract must be one of the people staying at the property. Since the contract is a legal document, the person who signs it must be at least 18 years of age. That said, please note: We do not book graduation parties, prom parties or similar events. (top)
What is the new "Peace of Mind" damage plan? | With the "Peace of Mind" damage waiver plan you pay only $200. $150 of that will be returned, assuming there are no issues with trash disposal, cleaning, late departure, deliberate abuse of the property, or unreturned keys. The remaining $50, which is non-refundable, will automatically cover any unintentional damage up to a maximum of $1,500. Find more details in the Rental Contract, item 10. (top)
What if we need to cancel? | After Confirmation, if you need to cancel, your payment can only be returned if the cottage is re-rented, and then less a 20% service charge and the $35 booking fee. Tell us if you even think you may need to cancel, because the sooner we know, the more likely we can re-rent it. (top)
Are any of these rental cottages for sale? | Yes, some properties are on the sales market. This has implications not only because we hope you're interested in buying one! Renting a for-sale property means you agree to allow occasional showings by brokers from our office and other agencies, with reasonable advance notice. (top)
What if our cottage gets sold? | If the property is sold before your vacation begins, and the new owner does not want the rental, we will help you find another cottage or give you a 100% refund. Don't worry too much about this possibility; many buyers want to keep the rentals -- we just can't guarantee that they will, and in seasons with high demand for waterfront property, such as the last few, frankly it is not unusual for us to have to move renters to different cottages. It is unusual for us not to be able to find a replacement cottage, however; but if the idea makes you nervous, we recommend that you don't rent a cottage that is on the market. ...and if you are interested in buying lake region property, we'll be happy to help! Just ask your Rental Agent to have a Sales Associate contact you. (top)
Where do we pick up our keys? | All keys must be picked up at, and returned to our Raymond office. (top)
What times are Check-in and Check-out? | Summer Rental check-in time is from 2 pm (no earlier!) to 5 pm Saturday, at our Raymond office, and check-out must be by 10 am. For other seasons, rental periods and check-in/out times can vary. (top)
What if there are problems with our cottage? | Sometimes equipment fails and we are not told about it. You should check the cottage when you arrive and let us know immediately of any problems. If there are any (cleaning, plumbing, appliances, etc.), we will fix them for you as quickly as possible. We have a fulltime Property Manager on duty all summer, with cellphone for overnight. If problems are unfixable, we will move you or work out some other solution. (top)
What if we just don't like our cottage when we arrive? | We describe our rental properties to the best of our ability and in great detail, but it is your responsibility to view the cottage, or send someone who knows your taste to check it out, because the nature of the service is such that we cannot refund your payment if you do not like your cottage when you arrive. We are sorry to have to be firm on this, but there is no other way to protect the owner's interest after keeping the property off the market on your behalf. If you want to be moved to a different property, we will move you if one is available, but you will have to pay for both cottages. We would not be able to refund any rent for the first cottage unless we could re-rent it quickly. Also, we cannot be responsible for the height of the water in the lake, the relative size of the beach, or the weather! (top) |
