ATTENTION LOVERS OF LAKESIDE VACATION RENTALS!

Hello to all our friends!

Chelsea and I have wanted to manage rentals on Toddy Pond since we first started our business. Growing up in the area, we know how amazing it is to wake up to the calls of loons, the sounds of the pond (think On Golden Pond) – it’s magical…

…. and last year it happened.  Contacted by lovely owners of a newly constructed cabin that sleeps 9, Toddy Pond Getaway is a fun in the sun vacation spot that previous guests have loved.  Check it out!  https://www.bluehillbaypropertyrentals.com/en/2952777/toddy-pond-getaway—lakeside-fun1

Well, last fall another even larger house, on the same road and in the same neighborhood, came on board.  (Are all the owners who live on that road super cool, nice people?  So far, we believe so.)  Kathy’s Lake House sleeps 16 and, like the others, is set up for family fun.  Bring food, drinks, and your personal stuff – the house has (we think) everything else you’ll need or want.  Check it out! https://www.bluehillbaypropertyrentals.com/en/2952780/kathys-lake-house—amazing-all-season-family-friendly1

Well, we received another call from another neighbor this spring.  They own The Great Escape (sleeps 6). They are offering their cabin to guests for two weeks in the fall, and they too have created – a great place to escape to – and Fall is sooo beautiful on the pond. Check it out! https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/800612885128371556?adults=4&check_in=2023-09-23&check_out=2023-09-30&federated_search_id=1a589837-faf7-4583-a7aa-1b17ff976b2e&source_impression_id=p3_1680137580_rwndHgUJA5aNpgoY

We now have number 4!  Same road, same neighborhood! Dock Holiday (get it?) is delightfully decorated in a cozy rustic Maine cabin theme.  Like the others, they have a nicely appointed interior, great kitchen, a wonderful dock, easy access for swimming, AND because this is a new listing, there’s currently plenty of availability in July and August. Check it out! https://www.bluehillbaypropertyrentals.com/en/3167207/dock-holiday-family-fun-and-relaxation-on-toddy-pond

Oh, and here’s a bonus for our Toddy Pond guests that we’re excited to pass along. Our newest owner plans to offer delivery of cooked lobsters (lobstering families know how to cook lobsters to perfection!) once or twice per week, saving the need for our guests to cook them, and allowing more time for our guests to have lots of fun in the sun!

It’s January!  Time to book your vacation rental!

Happy New Year! 

It’s quiet here on the coast of Maine (except for a few crazy wind, freezing rain, and currently, a snow storm – finally!) but the phone and email are getting busier. So we thought we’d reach out and remind all of you folks dreaming of your Maine vacation to start looking! Now’s the time to book!

The people who return each year often call dibs on their preferred rental while still on vacation, or shortly after, and other seasoned vacationers know to book in the Fall, but some of our owners don’t provide us with their availability calendars until January, so now’s a great time to check our listings for newly published availability.

We have two interesting additions to our inventory this year:

Wyandotte Rooms in the center of Blue Hill Village!

If you’re single or a couple who are fine with staying in a comfortably furnished converted dorm room with shared kitchen and laundry facilities, in the middle of Blue Hill Village, check out Wyandotte.  There are four rooms in the house, each with their own bathroom, and we’re excited to offer them.

Check out Wyandotte’s listing:  https://www.bluehillbaypropertyrentals.com/en/2952750/wyandotte-rooms—in-the-heart-of-blue-hill-village

Are you looking for a location for your Family Reunion, Wedding, or Other Event?

Hinckley House is a great choice for events, also located in Blue Hill Village. There are twelve rooms (one is especially designed for a handicapped person), each with two single beds with shared bathrooms/showers on each of the two floors, a common living area, kitchen, outside tent, seating for up to 100 people, as well as a fitness room with treadmill, weights, and stationary bike, and a ping pong and pool table.  Located conveniently across from a popular gourmet restaurant and brewery, and close to the library and all that the village offers (restaurants, town park with play ground and swimming beach, unique shops, art galleries…) we think it’s a great choice to consider when looking for a larger space. 

Contact Brenda and Chelsea for more information!  207-412-8184 or stay@bluehillbaypropertyrentals.com

So, you’re thinking of renting your property… here’s what we’ve learned so far that can help you decide…

Hi everyone!

We’re always looking for new (to us at least) rental properties to manage. If you’re thinking about renting your property, and it’s located on the Blue Hill Peninsula – yay!  We’d love to talk with you.

Here’s what we’ve been noticing:

  1. People are booking already! So if you’re thinking of renting – it’s time to contact us!
  2. Cleanliness (of course) is huge and surfaces that are easy to clean will save us a lot of time and encourage guests to also keep things clean.
  3. Guests, more and more, are combining vacation with their need to work, so reliable, high speed internet and a comfortable area are a plus. Invest in the fastest internet speed available in your area for the duration of the season.
  4. Air conditioning is more and more important nowadays. If your property gets hot inside during the summer months and can be uncomfortable for sleeping, even with fans, consider room air conditioners or a heat pump.
  5. Nice bedding and towels are really important. They don’t have to be expensive (take advantage of sales throughout the year) but comfortable bedding and newer, stain-free towels are noticed and appreciated. Three sets of bedding per bed and two sets of bath and hand towels (one wash cloth) per maximum occupant are standard.

Guests don’t want to sleep on bedding that a stranger just slept on the night before (yuck).  Bedding that can be changed out quickly, bedspreads and blankets that are lighter weight for efficient (and less expensive) laundering are the way to go.

  1. Mattresses are equally important.  Newer mattresses that are clean and comfortable are expected, even in cabins.  Good quality mattress pads and pillow protectors offer good protection. Well-rested guests are happy guests!
  2. Comfortable furniture that makes sense for your property’s style and maximum occupancy is important.  Think about fabrics that are stain resistant and as easy as possible to keep clean and nice looking. Avoid shabby, tired, uncomfortable, and ugly.
  3. Nice pots and pans, cookware, dishes and silverware don’t have to be expensive and are appreciated by guests.  Part of the reason people choose a vacation rental is to have a full kitchen to cook meals.  Stocking it thoughtfully is appreciated and noticed.
  4. Board games for adults and children are appreciated and encourage family time, especially for rainy day activities.  A little collection of thoughtfully chosen books is also appreciated.
  5. While most of our guests love having cable or satellite TV available (even if they don’t admit it) a smart Roku TV is more and more the norm and less expensive for the property owner. However, if you don’t want to go that route consider offering a TV with a DVD player and a few movies.

Think about what you would want to find when you arrive…

Guests have often booked several months in advance and paid significant money.  First impressions from the moment guests arrive and park their vehicle are critical, so do everything you can to remove reasons for complaints and disappointment, and, with plenty of help from us, you’ll enjoy the rental season and the earnings you receive.

So, if you’re an owner who likes the idea of creating an environment that guests will love, and want to make significant earnings in the process, we’d like to talk with you.  Call us at 207-412-8184, or email us at stay@bluehillbaypropertyrentals.com. It’s a really enjoyable process when we work together and do it well.

“The house was great and interior is nicely done. Most importantly Brenda and Chelsea from Blue Hill Bay Property Rentals were excellent. They got back to us quickly via text with any questions we had. We couldn’t ask for more.”

Sharon, Basking Ridge, NJ

Linda’s Lookout – Available Year-Round for Short-term Rentals

“I would really rather feel bad in Maine than feel good anywhere else.” ~ E.B. White

Chelsea and I are pleased to be selected to manage rentals for this year-round house in a quiet area of Sedgwick.

The owner has done a tremendous job of fully and thoughtfully remodeling, making this a great choice for families and friends to easily settle in, needing only groceries and personal items, and begin enjoying this beautiful area of Maine. Centrally located and just minutes to Blue Hill Village with an excellent grocery store and new fitness center, Linda’s Lookout, while not on the water, has beautiful distant views of the ocean and Cadillac Mountain, and is minutes to Walker Pond public swimming, ocean beaches, and well-maintained hiking trails. With so many owners uncomfortable with allowing dogs (perhaps having had bad experiences in the past), this owner allows dogs and installed a large fenced-in area for them to play outside safely.

You can check out more photos and information on our website:

https://www.bluehillbaypropertyrentals.com/en/2132621/lindas-lookout—fenced-in-area

Linda’s Lookout is all on one level and includes a roomy master bedroom with bath and two more bedrooms and bath, and can accommodate up to 6 people. Appliances are new and a washer, dryer and generator are included.

We encourage folks coming to the area to check availability for this comfortable rental property. Now is the time to book to assure you have your choice of properties and dates desired.

Introducing Gull’s View in Harborside Maine!

“There’s a quality of life in Maine which is this singular and unique. I think. It’s absolutely a world onto itself.” ~ Jamie Wyeth

Chelsea and I are pleased to be chosen to manage our first rental property in the Brooksville village of Harborside, close to Holbrook Island Sanctuary.  Formerly known as Billabong, Gull’s View is about as authentic a Maine seasonal cabin as anyone will find, well-loved for many years by family and guests.  Technically a log cabin built in 1912, like most sought-after Maine seasonal rentals, it sits right on the water, specifically Smith’s Cove on Penobscot Bay.

Take a look at the beach and view!

And the view from the screened-in porch!

Not pretentious, fancy, or stuffy, Gull’s View is 2000 square feet, charmingly rustic with tastefully decorated interior and modern, comfortable furniture, ready for guests to relax and get away from it all, and with satellite TV and Wifi, guests can still stay connected. There are two bedrooms, one queen bed, 2 twin beds, one queen pull-out sofa (new!) and two baths and has a max occupancy of 6 people.

And, what puts it over the top in guest comfort, especially for an antique cabin, is a newly installed heat pump, providing cooling air in the heat of the summer and warmth through mid-October.

Holbrook Island Sanctuary, located close by, is a special, not-well-known state park and a favorite place for bird lovers and botany enthusiasts. Visitors are free to explore its diverse ecosystems, hike and bike the old roads and paths, swim, kayak and explore the shoreline.

Its benefactor, Anita Harris, began acquiring land in Brooksville for a sanctuary in the 1960s.  In 1971, wishing to preserve this special environment and encourage its use by other nature lovers, she donated 1230 acres to the State of Maine, “in order to preserve for the future a piece of the unspoiled Maine that I used to know.”

There is an excellent book written by Reta Farnsworth Hunter, who grew up in Harborside, called Anita’s Island.  It’s not in print any longer but is available through libraries and is a fascinating account of what it was like for the Harris family to live and raise their family on Holbrook Island.

Check out this Google Earth map of the area:

https://earth.google.com/web/@44.35783467,-68.76541894,1.71956679a,3289.87592085d,34.99997565y,360h,0t,0r?pli=1

As you’ve probably gathered, we’re really looking forward to welcoming our guests to this wonderful rental.

This is the time to book your rental property!  We hope you’ll check it out!