Important FAQ Information About Renting

Please read the following information carefully-- all or part of the following may pertain to your Maine Vacation Rental and is subject to change without notice. (Arranged alphabetically)

ACTS OF NATURE: The Knowles Company cannot be held liable for any acts of nature or occurrences beyond our control. No rate adjustments will be made.

BREACH OF LEASE: If any or a part of the Lease Agreement is violated, at The Knowles Company and/or the Lessor's discretion, all or a portion of the security deposit may be forfeited without recourse. This includes but is not limited to breaches in the allowable maximum occupancy per residence, acceptance of pets and smoking on the premises. Lease agreements made under false pretenses will cause forfeiture of all payments and the Tenant will be asked to vacate the property immediately.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Once a lease agreement is executed and payment has been made, should the Tenant be unable to occupy the rental property for any reason except the fault of the Lessor, the Tenant is still responsible for the remainder of the rent due. If the Knowles Company and/or the Lessor are able to sublet the premises for the same period of time covered by the lease agreement to another Tenant, monies received from the second rental will be paid first to the Lessor to fulfill the balance of the original lease. The remainder, if any, will be paid to the original Tenant as partial or full reimbursement, less The Knowles Company Commission. Trip insurance is available that can help protect Tenants from unforeseeable circumstances that may be reason for cancellation.

CLEANING: The property will be cleaned prior to Tenant's arrival at the Lessor's expense, and will also be cleaned upon Tenant's departure. Some Lessors include departure cleaning in the cost of the rental; others do not. If departure cleaning is included, Tenant is responsible for "excess cleaning" charges, which will be deducted from the security deposit. Excess cleaning is defined as the amount of time (in dollars) necessary to clean over and above normal or average cleaning times. Cleaning times and rates vary by property. Tenants responsible for cleaning upon departure pay "basic cleaning" charges, or that amount necessary to fully return the property to a rentable state, with these funds paid from their security deposit. (Tenants should be aware that cleaning charges on Mount Desert Island average $25.00 per hour as of January 2008.) Additional cleaning services at Tenant's expense can be arranged through The Knowles Company.

CONFIRMATION OF RENTAL: Confirmation of property rental is established only when a lease agreement has been executed by two parties and the first scheduled payment has been made by the tenant and has cleared the bank.

FURNISHINGS: All of the properties are individually owned and decorated. Items such as furnishings, appliances, equipment, style, quality, colors, etc. are provided solely by the property owner. The Knowles Company does not accept liability for the aesthetic or functional perception of the property's contents, and no rate adjustment can be made. Tenants who move furniture do so at their own risk, and understand that additional costs may result if damage occurs during the move, and/or if furnishings are not returned to their original places prior to departure.

MAINTENANCE: In the event of equipment malfunction, The Knowles Company will expedite repairs as quickly as possible. The cost of repairs will be borne by the Lessor unless due to misuse, waste or negligence of the Tenant. Any maintenance items should be reported to The Knowles Company as soon as possible, and Tenant is asked to take reasonable steps to limit the damage. No rate adjustments can be made for circumstances beyond The Knowles Company control or for malfunction or loss of use of equipment or amenities.

PACKAGES/FAXES: Tenants may arrange to have UPS or FEDEX packages sent to The Knowles Company at our address. A small fee per package may be charged, with all fees collected donated to local charities. Incoming and outgoing facsimile services are available at The Knowles Company address. A small fee per page shall be charged, with all fees collected donated to local charities.

PAYMENTS: Rental rates quoted reflect the discounted, cash price for each property. Payments must be in the form of a personal check, cashier's or certified check, wire transfer, traveler's check or cash. If paying by means other than those described above, office administrative fees between 3 and 5% will be charged and added to the payment amount. If any payment is more than 21 days late the Lessor and The Knowles Company reserve the right to assume default of the lease, keeping all monies received, and the Tenant is still liable for the remainder of the rent due. If the Knowles Company and/or the Lessor are able to sublet the premises for the same period of time covered by the lease agreement to another Tenant, monies received from the second rental will be paid first to the Lessor to fulfill the balance of the original lease. The remainder, if any, will be paid to the original Tenant as partial or full reimbursement, less The Knowles Company Commission. Wire transfer payments and returned checks will be charged a service fee not to exceed $30.

QUIET USE AND ENJOYMENT: The Knowles Company does not guarantee quiet use or enjoyment of the property due to noise from other persons, construction, maintenance, etc. from neighboring properties and will not grant a rebate for circumstances originating outside the property. In the event that the property you are renting is for sale, the property owner and/or owner's broker may find it necessary to show the property during your stay. The Knowles Company will make every attempt to schedule the showing at a convenient time so as not to disturb the Tenant.

SMOKING, PETS AND OCCUPANCY LIMIT: Smoking is not allowed inside rental properties. Pets are allowed only by special permission from the owner and only if agreed to as per the terms of the lease. If pets are permitted, the number of allowed pets agreed to in the lease cannot be exceeded. Maximum occupancy is set by the owner and agreed to by the Tenant in the lease. The occupancy limit cannot be exceeded. Tenant agrees that at owner's discretion all or a portion of the security deposit may be forfeited without recourse if any or all of these terms are violated.

TAXES, FEES, AND SECURITY DEPOSITS: Security deposits, pet fees, 7% Maine State Sales Tax, and a nominal booking fee are not included in rental rate. The security deposit, also referred to as a damage deposit, is collected with the Tenant's final payment, and is held by The Knowles Company. As per the lease agreement, Tenants agree to pay for any damages to the rental property not resulting from normal wear and tear, as well as charges incurred during their stay, including but not limited to telephone charges, cleaning and utilities. Balance of security deposit will be returned within 45 days of Tenant's departure, unless otherwise notified in writing. Neither the Lessor of the property nor The Knowles Company is required to pay Tenant any interest on the security deposit. Security deposit amounts vary by property, but generally range from $500 to $2500.

Knowles Company rental agents represent the owners of rental properties and have a fiduciary duty to them. While every effort is made to ensure that the above information is accurate, and that the information pertaining the properties we represent is accurate and up to date, property characteristics, prices and availability are subject to change without notice. We strongly recommend that tenants make a personal inspection of any property prior to signing any lease.