On the contrary, this is a lovely place for annual gathering of friends and family...

Guest: Moti (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 03/18/11

I wanted to comment on the previous review of the Maine House. I personally have rented the Maine House every year for the past 15 years, and have found it to be a wonderful place for our annual gathering of friends. In all those years, I have brought a great variety of folks there, and NOT ONE has ever complained about the house. While there are some areas of the house needing some replacement, i.e. carpeting in the aforementioned, the owner does his best to make sure that all complaints are dealt with as quickly as possible. Even though the house sleeps up to 35, I personally have never had more than 32 at the most in the house. IF you include children, then the house may seem a bit crowded with little ones running under foot. I may add, that I have rented the house during the summer for a family reunion, as well as in the late fall, and we find that most love being near the fireplace, regardless of the season. That leaves plenty of room throughout the rest of the house. The Maine house is cleaned prior to each rental, and we have found that to be satisfactory. We can count on one hand during those 15 years when we thought the cleaning could have been better, but then we have our own cleaning crew to keep up with a very busy house during our stay there. We use this time to relax, and enjoy each other's company, indulging in some board games, and enjoying shared meals. The owner is very conscientious about resolving ALL concerns of the guests, and leaves not only a contact number for the house manager, but his own as well to make sure any and all problems are dealt with promptly. I can always count on him to send his follow-up letter to see if there are areas that need improvement, or if we have any suggestions..he LISTENS and ACTS on the suggestions. Yes, the house has aged over the years, and the cost to make repairs is a conscientious task the owner is committed to, while at the same time, making it affordable for his guests to continue to rent. All in all, it is the GROUP and their HOST who add to the pleasure of the vacation. Just the mere fact that the owner responded to the previous review is a testament to his character. I have recommended the Maine Houses to other friends, and they have also rented it, with NO complaints. If you are looking for pristine conditions to a rental, I dear say you would spend "an arm and a leg" elsewhere. We'll keep our gatherings at the Maine House, thank-you very much!"

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Don't be fooled by photography.... House is old and in bad disrepair.

Guest: Anon (New York)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/14/10

We were terribly disapointed by this house, and felt we'd been deceived by the photos. Part of the house seems to have been renovated, and those parts are what appears in the photos. But most of the house is old, dark and dirty. Most of the floors (except the ones shown in photographs) are carpeted in filthy old dark carpeting that should have been replaced decades ago. Wallpaper was peeling off the walls in a dozen places, and in at least one place, taped back on with blue construction tape. Most of the ceilings are dilapidated old drop-ceilings with damp tiles hanging down. The house is not really big enough for the number of people advertised, although technically the number of beds was correct. The house felt cramped with 27 people. There were not enough pots and pans to cook dinner for everyone comfortably, and not enough counter space for food prep. Overhead light fixtures not sufficient, tiny old bulbs. As for the lake, it was nice and clear. But there were not enough boats for the number of people we had, not enough outside seating, no deck or patio. Everything inside and out, including boats, seemed to be in a sad state of disrepair. The Maine House photos and website were clean and clear and modern, and we expected the house to be. We were sorely disappointed and are writing this review to protect other renters from similar disappointment.

Owner response:This review came as a surprise to me. I had no phone calls or e-mails that there were problems or dissatisfactions. I did receive a courteous email that a bed had inadvertently been broken; and an e-mail that an item had been left behind, but nothing indicating they were dissatisfied. I stand by the photos of themainehouses appearing on this web site. The house is thoroughly cleaned after each group leaves. We have never had a complaint about cleanliness in our 19 years. As for the carpets, some are new and some are older. They are certainly not dirty or worn or torn to excess. This year due to the excessive humidity we have had a problem with wallpaper coming loose in the rear-staircase. It was in the process of repair during this guests’ stay. Their description of the ceilings as being damp, dilapidated and hanging down is completely unwarranted. A single ceiling tile that was slightly warped, none were hanging down and none were damp. Saying that the house was cramped with 27 people is shocking. This house comfortably accommodates much larger groups. A shortage of kitchen tools and space has not been an issue in the past. Why didn’t they call? The pictures of the kitchen area show there is sufficient counter space - even for a caterer to prepare for a wedding reception. Lack of lighting? The kitchen has rows of recessed lights in the ceiling. My web site has a page in the Guidebook that shows exactly how many picnic tables and chairs there are for outside seating. There is a wrap-around porch in the house, with windows overlooking the lake, there is seating for 50. The complaint that the boats were inadequate in number and in disrepair is entirely untrue. There are six fiberglass Old Town canoes by the docks, with 3 more available near the front driveway (shared by other houses). In closing, if a guest calls during their stay with a problem, I try to solve it immediately. I’ve been in the hospitality business for over 35 years and I understand the value of a happy guest. To make such a bold a complaint, after the fact, without speaking to me about these issues, is questionable; especially when most of these complaints were investigated and found not to be valid. Sincerely, Timothy Salvesen 8/25/10

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