contractor – Maine Terrain

Finding Local Contractors in Maine: 6 CRITICAL Things To Know 2024

Stephen — Wed, 11 May 2022 13:33:53 +0000

Find local Contractors in Maine: 6 Critical Tips 2022

May 12, 2022

Written by Stephen Ondich

Ask Friends, Relatives and Co-Workers for References. …

Interview at Least 5 Contractors. …

Be Realistic About Availability. …

Ask What Work Will Be Done by Subcontractors. …

Choose the Right Contractor for the Right Project. …

Check Licenses, Complaints and Litigation History. …

Check References. …

Sign a Detailed Contract.

source: US News

Finding local contractors in Maine for construction, renovations & home improvements is difficult. The list above is from US News & World Reports. The list is helpful for many areas of the United States. However, Maine is a bit different.

Maine’s contract laws, demographics, geography and culture present unique regional challenges for finding good help with construction projects.

There are 6 things you must know before hiring Maine contractors to do residential construction work.

These tips are mostly for people from away (not a local Maine resident). Realistically, no locals are Googling “How to do construction in Maine.” Rather, it’s more likely a person from away looking to make their dream house in the beautiful state of Maine. It’s a goal shared by many.

In many parts of the US, if you can afford the land and construction costs, you’re fine. However, Maine is a little different.

In 2019, we undertook the reconstruction of our home in Milbridge, Maine. Over the next 18 months, we learned a lot about contracting and home construction in Maine. Hopefully, these 6 tips will help you, too.

↓ Subscribe to Our YouTube channel NOW ! ↓

Maine Contractors: 6 Critical Things to Know!

1. Online Construction Cost Calculators are Mostly Useless

Typically, online cost calculators create a rough estimate of construction costs based on local contractor rates and material costs. However, they don’t take into account availability of labor to actually do the work. Thus, what good are they, really?

Maine has a small population spread out over a very large area. Therefore, local contractor in Maine statistics are misleading and not necessarily relevant to Maine’s diverse regions. 90% of the officially tracked construction projects may be in the Bar Harbor/Portland areas. Whereas, construction in Eastport and Aroostook may take place unrecorded to the trade based on a handshake between friends.

Basically, it’s a fair market price based on the faulty assumption that contractors are available to do the work. Additionally, 2022’s spiraling inflation in both labor and materials may not be reflected in the calculator.

Accordingly, use these tools cautiously for early-stage planning purposes. only.

2. Contractors in Maine are Extremely Scarce

Maine has a severe shortage of home building local contractors.

I know…good help is hard to find everywhere. However, Maine has very few local contractors to choose from.

Also, please note, I’m not referring to only good contractors in Maine. I am including home builders and home improvement specialists that you’d never want to hire in the pool of options.

During their new home construction, our neighbors gave up on their contractors and did most their construction work themselves.

This dovetails into secret #3.

3. Maine Has No Contractors Licence Board – Buyer Beware!

While there are a great many competent, ethical home contractors in Maine, it is up to you, the consumer, to find one. Home contractors are not licensed …

source: Office of the Maine Attorney General

Unlike the state you’re probably from, Maine does not require home builders to be licensed. Accordingly, anyone who wants to build a house close by is a local contractor and homebuilder.

There is no oversight board or minimum standard of qualifications. Many people from away are surprised to learn this.

Whether you think this is horrible policy or a libertarian’s free market dream, it’s important to realize that this is the reality in Maine.

In my experience, the Maine system works pretty well.

If you have a problem with a contractor, it’s treated as any other business transaction. Consumers vet potential trades people through recommendations.

Word travels quickly in small towns. Most of Maine consists of small communities. Accordingly, bad reputations follow people around and keep lousy contractors from operating unscathed.

However, many systems work well in Maine that wouldn’t work in other places. For example, in Maine, people leave canoes on their lawn all summer. Whereas in California, a decorative flag was stolen from a pole attached to our house.

4. Referrals are Still the Best Way to Find Contractors in Maine

If you’re used to using Yelp, Angie’s List, etc. to find local contractors in Maine you may be disappoint.

Although Maine contractors are starting to warm up to online services, they’ve been slow to do so. Additionally, low participation on these sites by both contractors & consumers means the data may be statistically insignificant.

For example, a contractor with no experience may appear at the top of the Yelp results by virtue of one good review posted by a family member. Whereas, the best contractor in the area may not even be in the directory!

Why Don’t Maine Contractors Care About Yelp/Angie’s List/ Etc?

There are several reasons why online construction directories have low participation rates in Maine.

Older population. 21.2% of Maine’s population is over 65 years of age . That includes both customers and service providers. Younger people are the first embrace new technologies. Sure, maybe your Grandpa loves writing scathing Yelp reviews now but how long did that take?
Additional Work Not Needed. If you have 12-18 months of work booked, how much time do you spend promoting yourself for more work? If you’re a contractor in Maine…not much. Many Maine contractors are in this situation and aren’t actively looking for new clients.
Reliance on Local. Often, local contractors in Maine prefer dealing with someone they know either directly or indirectly, over someone new. This way, the client is unlikely to stiff them and disappear. Also, the contractor is dealing with a real person onsite rather than a voice on the end of a cell-phone. Additionally, the person is easy to find in the event of a financial dispute. The person searching Yelp is likely not local. She’s the client in New York who needs a carpenter in Downeast Maine. However, local jobs for local clients occur mostly through work of mouth.

5. Maine Geography is Significant for Contractors

Maine is low density. It has lots of land and its people are spread out thinly per square mile.

A common sentiment in Maine is, you can’t get there from here. That means places look a lot closer than they are.

When looking at a map of Maine, you tend to judge distance as the crow flies, rather than reality. Unless you’re travelling by chopper, you’re going to need to stick to the roads. Construction companies in Maine know this. People from away often gloss over this fact.

Maine roads can be slow, winding and often not very direct. Sure, you can make great time on I-95 but you’re still using side-streets and rural roads once you exit.

Basically, don’t assume that a contractor will consider your project just because it looks pretty close on a map. Soaring 2022 gas prices have Maine drivers on edge. Contractors are no different.

6. The Maine Mindset

Maine contractors think differently than those from other areas of the US. This is perhaps the most puzzling challenge for people from away looking for local help.

It’s not necessarily better or worse, just different. Keep in mind, I, too, am from away (Southern California). Here are my observations:

Money Doesn’t Talk. Most people from out of state looking to build in Maine have significant equity. Generally speaking, full time Maine residents are working class, not overly wealthy and not enamored of wealth building. They are used to seeing people with lots of money. If they don’t blink when the Rockefellers come to town, don’t expect them to jump at attention for your $250,000 project. In fact, assuming money is a sufficient incentive may be a turn off.
Workload Capacity. Often, those in Maine’s construction trade stop accepting work once their season schedule is full. Accordingly, once they’re booked, they have little interest in trying to squeeze in another job. Whereas, faced with the same dilemma, California, contractors scramble to hire, subcontract, or outright lie in order to lock in one more project.
Project Estimates. Maine builders often operate under a very fixed cost structure. Whereas, in other parts of the country, supply & demand makes pricing more dynamic. Mainer’s like to charge a fair price. They don’t want a reputation for gauging. While admirable, this trait can be frustrating for consumers unaccustomed to it. For example, you may receive fair estimate for a kitchen remodel. After calling the contractor to proceed, he tells you he can’t get to it for at least 2 years. You’re left wondering: 1) Why do the estimate at all? 2) Maybe he should charge more? Basically, he is mentally locked into a dated price structure which keeps him very busy but leaves money on the table. Many Mainers are fine with that. Outside projects come & go with the ebb and flow of the US economy. Their local reputation is significantly more important to their long term commercial viability.

7. Decide Where to Watch the Sunrise

Pick your preferred sunrise viewing location ahead of time. Most people do one of two things.

Watch from the Summit Marker. Understandably, most people watch close to the Summit Marker. It is an iconic location. However, it is also crowded. To get there, follow the gravel path along side the restrooms. The marker is on the right hand side at the end of the path. Look for the highest ledge.
Cadillac Summit Loop Trail. If you’re looking for solitude at sunrise, head down the trail just a bit. You don’t have to go very far. Again, most hikers congregate around the Summit Marker like moths on a light.

Why Watch the Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain?

Watching the sunrise anywhere within Acadia National Park is exciting. However, Cadillac Mountain is the optimal location for several reasons.

Cadillac Mountain is the highest viewing location along the Northern Atlantic Coast. If you go between October and March you get bragging rights for seeing first daylight in the United States.
Cadillac Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in Acadia National Park. It is busy almost all of the time. Yet, you know you’re going to go. Therefore, why not see it at its most spectacular?
It is a communal experience, kind of like going to church or a Grateful Dead show. Cadillac Mountain is where the faithful gather to witness first light.

Building a Home in Maine: Coastal Waterfront! 2022

Stephen — Tue, 10 May 2022 02:00:54 +0000

Building a home In Maine

July 24, 2021

Written by Stephen Ondich

Building a home in Maine is a fantasy for many. Should you buy verses build? Beautiful waterfront homes for sale exist but there are also plenty of waterfront camps for sale in Maine. Our friends, Tim and Terri G searched for a homebuilder in Maine and built their coastal dream home on 4 picturesque acres in the coastal community of Milbridge, Maine. Construction took place from 2017-2019. They answer questions about homebuilding in Maine and finding the perfect home site.

Milbridge, Maine

Location

The G-Spot Maine is 43 miles from Acadia National Park.

It is Acadia Adjacent.↵

Building A Coastal Maine House: How Terri & Tim G Did It

Homesite Search

MaineTerrain: You and Tim are from Virginia. How did you pick Milbridge as the location to build your dream home?

Terri G: The shortest long version is that we traveled to Ogunquit Maine in 2016 because of an invitation to my Aunt’s surprise birthday party. We had never been to coastal Maine before.

In searching for a nearby hotel, prior to the trip, I began looking at the Maine coastline and was utterly enthralled. That led to searching-out real estate listings, for s__’s & giggles, in order to gauge the real estate prices up there. Then, that led to a genuine interest in finding a place for us, our “Summer Camp,” in essence.

MaineTerrain: Significantly, Ogunquit means “Beautiful place by the sea,” in Abenaki. When inspecting potential build sites, what things were you looking for?

Terri G: Our only true prerequisite was that it had to be on the ocean. If we travel regularly 12-14 hours to our Maine summer home, then it makes logical sense to travel to a place completely unavailable to us here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Meaning, the Shenandoah Valley offers numerous gorgeous lakes and picturesque rivers. However, we simply do not have access to the Atlantic Ocean. Boom, decision made. 🙂

MaineTerrain: That sounds familiar. We are about 45 minutes away from Newport Beach. Yet, we travel 2000 miles to come to Milbridge! When you first saw your Milbridge parcel did you immediately know it was the one?

Terri G: Ha ha! Tim & I talk about this often because it really, truly was just like that. Immediate and mutual. We began our property search up in Eastport, Maine and worked our way down the coast, ending in Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine.

When we first viewed our property, it was so densely wooded that we got turned around. We had to get our bearings and start over again. As soon as we finally stood on the shoreline, we looked at one another and both said, “This is it,” and it was. We’ve never regretted the decision.

Homebuilders in Maine: Downeast

Maine Terrain: Whose idea was it to build your own coastal home?

Terri G: As in building the home? Or the style that we chose?
As for building it, as soon as we saw the coastline of Maine via Google Earth, we knew that we would have a house there. Therefore, I would say that it was definitely a mutual decision. Interestingly, we officially purchased our four-acre property just one month after my Aunt’s surprise birthday party.

As for style, I’m the design person, so I knew that we’d most likely have a chalet-style home, if only for the prominence of so many over-sized windows on the main wall. With oceanfront property, that’s a given!

Maine Terrain: Although we bought an existing home in Milbridge, we also relied heavily on Google Maps and Google Earth when scouting locations. Do you or Tim have a background in construction or was your custom home design a completely new endeavor?

Terri G: No, we have no formal training. However, we both have worked hard on our previous older homes for years. We are quite adept at many aspects of general handyman work and construction.

We each have our own specialties. For example, Tim is the only one who handles anything electrical. I am absolutely NOT a fan of being zapped. He hangs the sheet rock while I’m the mud-n-taper. I have pretty darn impressive mudding/taping skills, if I do say so myself.

I’m the wallpaper hanger. We both do tile work. And we both share a love of power tools!

Maine Terrain: One comment I hear often about construction in Maine is that there is a limited pool of qualified contractors. Thus, delays are almost inevitable. How close did you come to hitting your projected timetable?

Terri G: Our home is a modular, not to be confused with a mobile home. I have always been an avid believer in modular construction. Therefore, I knew that that was the direction that we’d take.

We chatted with a couple of local modular home retailers and settled on one in Bangor. All of our contractors were employed by and affiliated with that particular modular home retailer. So that simplified the process compared to hiring our own contractors and subcontractors.

The delays, however, as with all construction projects, were frequent.
Our home was to be set in early June but it wasn’t set until July. Accordingly, that threw off the remaining timetable.

Footnote, if I may, we don’t ever want to build again. However, if we did, it would absolutely be another modular home. We are so pleased with the structure itself. It’s incredibly solid!

Maine Terrain: How much consideration did you give to buying an existing coastal home?

Terri G: When we began looking at properties in earnest, we looked at both raw land and ready-built homes.

Initially, we had no preference whatsoever. However, we found that Maine, Down East Maine in particular, seemed to have an over-abundance of breathtakingly beautiful oceanfront raw land properties. All at remarkably low prices compared to Virginia and the D.C. area. So those two factors really made that decision to purchase raw land and build on it.

Maine Terrain: Did you run into any unexpected surprises during construction? Anything just come way out of left field?

Terri G: Ha ha, staahhp! Seriously? Yes. Emphatically, yes. I think that the one thing that completely threw us off-base was the need to blast ledge, i.e., granite. Mainly because of the cost. Holy smokes!

We had heard that blasting might be necessary because Maine is the bold rocky coast after all, but we were unprepared for the actual cost and the need to find someone who could do it immediately to avoid any additional delays.

Maine Terrain: Do you have any advice for someone looking at a lot now? Perhaps someone thinking about building their own dream house?

Terri G: Do it. Be prepared for months of migraine headaches and numerous sleepless nights. Take vitamins & drink caffeine for extra stamina, but do it. It’s soooo worth it. 😉

The G Spot House

MaineTerrain: What room do you find yourself spending the most time in? Why?

Terri G: Our Great Room. It’s huge and features a two-story wall full of windows that overlook the ocean/bay. It also faces east, so we can grab a cup of coffee and watch the sun greet us. Not to mention that the Great Room features our red Vermont Castings propane stove, which we often light on chilly mornings or evenings. Nothing like it for the relaxing atmosphere.

MaineTerrain: When you were in the planning stages, what were some of the must-have features you wanted to include?

Terri G: Tim & I have eight adult children between us, so we HAD to have a place that could accommodate everyone, including spouses, grandchildren, etc. As previously mentioned, oceanfront was an absolute must. A full basement with more room to spread out. Plus Tim’s man cave. Acreage, for privacy’s sake. Oh, and a guest cottage!

MaineTerrain: If someone is interested in staying at your home, how should they contact you?

Terri G: Thank you for that, Steve. How nice of you. Any number of ways.

Preferably via our Airbnb listing.
Or via our website .
Or even our Facebook page.

Also, we can be reached directly by email.

Terri & Tim ‘G’ .

Thanks Steve!

Terri and Tim’s Coastal Maine Home is on AirBnB Below

View On Airbnb NEW! The 'G' Spot Maine on 4 ocean/bayfront acres!

Work Remotely In Maine: 13 Tips for Digital Nomads 2022

Stephen — Tue, 10 May 2022 01:51:52 +0000

How I work remotely and 14 tips for you

May 14, 2019

Written by Stephen Ondich

We live in Southern California and run our own hardwood lumber business. However, we love Maine. As a result, we often take the entire family to New England and do the digital nomad thing. Despite being in rural Down East Maine, business goes on. In this article, I explain how we do business remotely from Maine. Also, based on my own personal experience, I give you 13 tips for your own successful Maine work-cation.

↓ Subscribe to Our YouTube channel NOW ! ↓

How I Work Remotely in Maine

Our hardwood lumber company is located in Fontana, California. Accordingly, our business involves the production and distribution of wood products.

The reason I bring this up is to let you know our work involves products, not services. I am not a consultant, life coach, or lifestyle blogger. Therefore, much of the daily remote work I do is time sensitive.

Additionally, digital nomad jobs are increasingly common in 2019.

Digital Nomad or Remote Worker?

However, I am not a digital nomad in the strict sense of the term. According to Wikipedia, digital nomads do not really have a home base. Thus, I am not really part of the digital nomad community on reddit or otherwise.

My work environment changes occasionally but it’s more predictable than a true digital nomad.

Since I’ve done working Maine vacations (work-cations) a few times, I have a set routine. Here is how I do it.

Planning My Working Trips to Maine

First, I decide where, when and how long I want to work remotely. I take into consideration the scope of work that needs to get done in my physical absence.

Next, I decide where to go in Maine.

Most of the time, my destination is our cottage in Milbridge. However, we may opt to stay at another location if we visit another part of the state. Maine is huge, after all.

Before I consider traveling to a new area in Maine, I check Internet availability and cell phone coverage. I use sites like Dead Cell Zones and Broadband Now to get information online. However, it’s often best to call ahead to the place you’re staying at to get feedback from people. Internet access is vague. If you need high speed for streaming and the Internet speed only supports email you want to know that ahead of time.

Then, I make a list of all the potential travel dates and look for competitive airfares. Once I find a good rate, I book quickly.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

I am loyal Southwest Rapid Rewards member. In addition to competitive rates from Los Angeles, CA to Portland, ME Southwest offers two incredible work travel benefits.

No cancellation charges. Thus, if you book a Southwest flight and need to cancel or reschedule at the last minute, you receive 100% of your money back.
Rapid Rewards Companion Pass. Regular travel and/or credit card purchases can qualify you for a Southwest Companion Pass. This perk allows you to bring someone along on your flight free of charge for a full year. Additionally, you can switch companions a few times within the year. This is a great way to bring family or friends along on work vacations.

Next, I print a hard copy of a travel packing list. I keep the list on my iPhone. However, I like to review and modify the list on paper. I’m old school that way!

My travel list includes all the items I bring. For example, laptop, laptop cord, iPhone, Phone cord, camera bag, toiletry kit, cell, portable charger, etc. The list is comprehensive and many items are obvious. However, there is a lot to remember and keeping a list that can be checked off helps ensure everything gets on the plane.

Then, I check the weather forecast and pack appropriate clothes.

Maine receives snow as late as May. Checking weather conditions is a worthwhile 30 second smartphone endeavor.

Prior to departure, I update all of my iPhone apps and make sure all of my cords are in good working order.

Next, I alert all of my work contacts that I will be away. Typically, I say that I’m out of the office but working and reachable. Also, I record a voicemail greeting message that conveys the same thing.

Finally, the last step is to back up my company files to a USB flash drive. I prefer a flash drive backup rather than a cloud-based backup.

In the event that I cannot access the Internet I still need access to my business data. This is a concern when travelling to rural Maine.

14 Tips For Planning Your Maine Working Vacation

Although, my work-cations mostly take place in Maine, these tips also apply to other work travel destinations.

Forward Your Mail. Find a place to forward your mail before you leave if you are working for an extended period of time. Don’t rely on family and friend to collect your mail. Have it forwarded.
Sign up for the US Postal Service’s Informed Delivery program. This is handy to have if you’re working remotely for a limited time and don’t need your mail but still want to monitor the mail you receive.
Set up as many online bill pay options as you can. This saves time and hassle. Admit it, you’ve been meaning to do this anyway.
Pick a fun location. For me, working from a cool/unusual/alternative location is empowering. What is the point of going to a unique location if you do the chain hotel thing? If you have the option of picking your venue, pick somewhere memorable.
Be prepared with more than your smartphone. Maine has many remote areas. Relying on your smartphone’s Internet access could put you in a bad situation. You may end of off-grid and not realize it. Take a few old school maps and some printed directions. It’s a good idea to take phone screen shots of important info on your phone if there’s a concern that you may lose connectivity at some point on your trip.
Amazon Prime. This is a life-saver for me. Where we’re at in Maine, there are local stores nearby but it’s about an hour drive to the nearest Walmart. An hour doesn’t sound that long. However, it’s 1 hour to drive to Walmart plus 1 hour to drive back back. Also, factor in shopping time and the cost of gasoline. Instead, let Amazon deliver packaged goods directly to your cabin or cottage. The delivery times may be longer than the 1-2 days in metropolitan areas. However, it’s still a great shopping option if you plan ahead.
Research your area ahead of time. Don’t assume that you’ll have access to the same kinds of stores, restaurants and amenities commonly found in suburban areas. For example, our town has a supermarket. No big deal, right? I’ve since found out that all of our surrounding towns have no such grocery store. Most of them drive to our store to shop. You want to know what is available in your vicinity before you make the trip.
Bring or pre-ship your favorite foods. Again, don’t rely on the local supply, especially if you are particular about brands.
Check Maine weather conditions. Have a plan if you experience severe weather. Everyone knows about Maine winters. However, even in Fall wind storms can knock out power for extended periods of time. No power means no Internet, no charging your electronics, no electric heat, etc. Emera of Maine has a web page devoted to power outages here.
If traveling with others, select a location where your guests can explore while you work. If you provide the only means of transportation and there’s nothing to do close by, it will not be a relaxing trip for anyone.
Internet Cafes. If you need really strong fast Internet for work, look for Internet cafes close by. Many hotels, rental houses and AirBnb’s offer wireless Internet but there’s often no distinction between intermittently functional and stellar connectivity. However, an Internet cafe’s main purpose is to provide reliable bandwidth. Make sure you know where one is.
Check cell coverage. You may have the best coverage where you live but things change region to region. Check out a site like Dead Cell Zones to find out how your cell phone is likely to function at your destination. FYI, US Cellular is commonly used throughout the state of Maine.
Designate a work space separate from your living area. This is especially important when traveling with companions. It helps keep the stress level down for you and your guests.