I want to own an Inn in Midcoast Maine: The White Gates Inn

We've heard the dream before. "I want to live in Midcoast Maine, enjoy quality of life, be my own boss and run an Inn (or Bed and Breakfast)....

This is a new listing from Martin Cates in our Rockland Office.

The White Gates Inn has been operating along Route 1 for years, welcoming guests to the motel with fine Mid-Coast hospitality. Featuring 5.12 acres, with 4 free-standing buildings.

Opportunity awaits for the entrepreneur looking for an adventure. Imagine the joy in flipping the NO Vacancy switch for your first time.

700 Commercial Street, Rockport
Main building built in 1920
Other structures built 1950-1970
5.12 acres along busy Route 1
$325,000 - in MLS Soon!

FMI - Contact Martin Cates at 207-596-0352 or mcates@jaretcohn.com

November

November in Maine. Leaf season is pretty much over. Snow? It could come any day - or not. There is a lull between the leaf peepers and our holiday guests. The merchants are preparing their store fronts for the holiday shopping season. You see people in trucks wearing blaze orange. The community starts to think about basketball, frozen ponds and skiing. Night comes early. There is a sense of quiet.

Not so widely known is that late November is often a busy real estate month. Traditionally Jaret and Cohn's brokers are busy showing homes to real estate buyers during Fall. Why? Buyers and Sellers do not want to bother with moving when it is icy and snowy. If they put a property under contract in the Fall months then there is a great possibility that they can close and move into their property before the coldest of Maine's months.

Maine Rebates

We recently wrote about Federal Energy Star Tax Credits. Did you know that in addition to the tax credits, the State of Maine offers a rebate on certain Energy Star appliances? The appliances include certain Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps (Air Sourced), Water Heaters, Furnances and Boilers.

In order to receive the rebate the home owner must be a Maine resident, own a single family residence year around and must be replacing an older less-efficent system.

For more information and full details check out the US Department of Energy and Efficiency Maine's Fact Sheet

Do you have oil stains on your garage floor?

Part of preparing your home for sale includes a good cleaning of your garage. We are often surprised at a few homeowners actually use their garages for vehicles....really! Most of the time they are filled with the toys that allow us to enjoy and recreate in Midcoast Maine - bikes, skis, power boats, muck boots, camping gear, fishing gear, kids toys...etc. If this sounds like you and all of these "toys" are located in the center of your garage floor, then its time to organize these items against the outer walls of the garage.

House construction supplies? Half used paint cans, extra lumber, extra building materials? Dispose of all the chemicals properly and remove any building materials that are not essential to the maintenance and/or competition of the property.

And if you are one of those lucky Mainers who can actually fit their car inside the garage and therefore never have to shovel snow of their car.... then back your car out and look at the garage floor. Is there an oil stain? If so it is time to try to clean it up. Here are a few tips for cleaning oil stains off a garage floor:

Make a paste out of dry laundry detergent and hot water and spread onto the stain. Scrub aggressively with stiff bristle brush. Hose off and let dry. Repeat if necessary.

• Apply kitty litter to the oil spill to soak up any puddles. Scoop up and dispose of.
• Make a paste out of dry laundry detergent and hot water. Spread onto stain. Scrub with bristle brush, hose off and repeat if necessary.
• Another option, try soaking with Spray and Wash and then covering with dry laundry detergent. Leave on for ten minutes, scrub and hose off.
• And if that does not work try oven cleaner.

It may sound like quite a bit of work to get your home ready to sell however it will pay off in the end. Not only will it make the property more appealing to buyers it will make your moving day more organized and easier!

Oil stain tips adapted for The Homeowner's Manual (Que Publishing 2006)

Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

The Energy Star - you see it on large and small appliances, building materials, heaters, air conditioners, electronics, light bulbs...the list of items goes on and on.

There is a Federal Tax Credit that you can take if you install certain items into your property. Eligibility of the product and amount of tax credit is dependent upon if you install the item into a primary home, second home, rental or new construction property.

Here in Maine we are aware of the efficiency of our homes and the cost to heat. There are many resources located here in the Midcoast and throughout Maine for more efficient systems, building products and alternative energy. If you need help finding resources ask your Jaret and Cohn broker.

This tax credit might make it a good time to update your property, increase the value of your real estate, make it more efficient and enjoyable.

For more information, product eligibility and amount of tax credit visit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

image from: energystar.gov

Maine - Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Effective March 25th of 2010 the Maine laws regarding Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors changed. These changes do effect real estate transactions. Buyers should be aware of the location and existence of these detectors while previewing and/or inspecting homes. As the buyers will be responsible for the correct installation.

The fact sheet from the Maine State Fire Marshall states:

"The purchaser of a single-family or multi-family dwelling(s) must certify that they shall properly install smoke detectors in the building, if not already present, within 30 days of acquisition or occupancy of the dwelling(s), which ever is later."

and

"The purchaser of a single-family or multi-family dwelling(s) must certify that they shall properly install carbon monoxide detectors in the building, if not already present, within 30days of acquisition or occupancy of the dwelling(s), which ever is later. This includes single-family dwellings in which the previous owner did not have to, by law, install a carbon monoxide detector."

As you see the responsibility of installing the detectors has been placed on the buyer of the property. For more information and additional details, view the Fact Sheet provided by the State Fire Marshall, review the Maine Association of REALTORS Residential Property Transaction Booklet or ask your Jaret and Cohn agent.