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How to Rent a Beach House in Maine

Contributor
By HLeviticus
eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

Renting a Maine vacation home provides you with all the amenities of your own home in a resort location. You’ll find a variety of rental properties available in beach towns, from impressive oceanfront homes to more affordable condominiums.

From Quick Guide: Your Home Away from Home
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Visit the official Maine tourism website for a list of rental properties. Click on the “Where to Stay” button and you’ll be able to select a specific region for your search. You can also order a free Maine Guide Book on the site.

  2. Step 2

    There are many online vacation rental sites that offer rentals direct from the owner. VRBO, Vacation Rental and Vacation Homes are among the most popular sites. Even Ebay offers vacation rentals.

  3. Step 3

    Contact a real estate agency in the area in which you would like to visit. Although renting through a real estate agency can sometimes cost a little more than renting directly from the owner, the agency can be reached quickly in the event that you have a problem when you arrive at your rental.

  4. Step 4

    Some company newsletters run classified ads placed by employees and you may be able to find a vacation rental this way. Check your local newspaper also. Even if you don’t live close to Maine, there may still be ads in the paper for rentals.

Tips & Warnings
  • Before you rent, make sure you are given a complete list of all the costs involved. How much is the security deposit and when will it be returned to you? When is it due? When is the remainder of the rental amount due? What forms of payment will the owner or agency accept? Will you be required to pay for beach and/or pool access? Is internet access available and is there a charge?
  • Make sure that you are sent a contract before you rent a vacation property. The contract should clearly spell out the same terms you agreed to when you first contacted the owner or agency. Having a contract prevents misunderstandings from occurring.
  • You may be able to negotiate a lower rate with an owner if you contact him a few days before you want to arrive. Some owners are willing to give discounts in order to fill open days in their rental calendars.
  • Don’t rent from anyone unless you have a positive feeling after talking to them and feel that all of your questions have been answered honestly. If warning bells are ringing in your ears when you talk to the owner, don’t agree to rent the unit.

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