Vicki Doudera - Realtor, Author, Mainer

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a new couple, Cliff and Maj-Lis, and taking them to look at waterfront property. I always enjoy getting to know people while we drive from house to house in my red Toyota:  it’s a great time for me to answer questions about the midcoast and hear my new clients’ wishes and concerns.

Since Cliff and Maj-Lis aren’t yet sure where they will purchase their second home (they were exploring other parts of Maine as well as Sweden, where Maj-Lis is from) there were lots of questions about living in this part of coastal Maine, as well as questions in general about purchasing real estate here, shoreland zoning, inspections, and property values.

You might think that we could have discussed these things while sipping cappucino and sitting in comfy chairs at Camden Real Estate, rather than driving up and down the Saint George penninsula on an unseasonably cold November day.  Why look at houses (I’d arranged three viewings) when they weren’t even sure if they’d end up moving here?

My reason? The best way for me to see what buyers want in a house is by taking them into houses.  Sometimes new clients will worry that they are wasting my time, but if someone is serious, there is no better use of my time than to see their reactions to different types of property.  That way I know that when they say “private,” they want a long, winding driveway; or that “in-town” means right in the thick of the village. Words mean different things to different people, and what constitutes “rural” in Virginia might be very different than rural in Maine.  

At the end of the day, Cliff and Maj-Lis had a good idea of what type of waterfront property they could purchase, and I went back to the comfort of my office knowing them that much better.  If they end up in this part of the state — and I hope they do — I’ll be ready to help them, thanks to the time we spent on a chilly November day. 

I spent last weekend with Mike and Sarah from the mountains of North Carolina. Their dream: to find an authentic Maine farmhouse within a 30-mile radius of the coast.

We met at my office and began touring the countryside.  Right away I knew I’d enjoy the day. Personable and optimistic, Mike and Sarah seem to make the best of any situation.  It was great to hear about their ties to Maine and their many moves around the country.

At the end of the day, we’d not only seen some beautiful foliage, but several promising properties. One in particular spoke to them: I sensed their excitement as we lingered in the country kitchen, cozy bedrooms, and the tidy barn. It was evident that the owners of the home took a great deal of pride in the place, and we could see why.

Mike and Sarah returned to North Carolina on Sunday, and called me Monday afternoon. They’d had time to talk, and reflect, and dream about the old farmhouse.  They knew it was the place for them, so we set about making it a reality. 

It’s great when people are clear about what they want, and even better when we can find the perfect fit. It’s that “aha!” feeling that makes my job rewarding, and people like Mike and Sarah that make it a joy.

For me, one of the best things about living in Maine is seeing wildlife on a fairly regular basis. Not that you can actually PLAN on seeing it (my friend Nancy has lived here for more than a decade and has yet to see a moose) but every now and then you spot something really outstanding, and it creates not only a wonderful memory and a great story, but a feeling of “one-ness” with nature. You know, the same kind of sensation you get when you gaze up at the stars and realize you are a part of something way, way, larger than all the little silly things we spend way too much time worrying about.

Scott, the founder of Camden Real Estate, just told me he and a colleague saw two bald eagles this morning. They were walking property in Hope and the big birds soared overhead, undoubtedly keeping as much an “eagle eye” on the curious interlopers tromping through the frozen blueberry fields as the men were on them. When another large bird swooped past, they realized it was a hawk with a wingspan of more than two feet. Pretty amazing.

I love those kinds of brushes with nature. Like the time we saw a moose run right down our street, his heavy hooves clacking away on the tar like an old typewriter. Or the fox that ran delicately toward the State Park a few mornings ago, his tail nearly double the size of his body. We are not the only species who love this state called Maine. It’s a place I’ll gladly share.

A New Year and a beautiful January day here in Maine… the sun is shining and the sky is super blue. Walked up Mount Battie this morning with two friends and admired the islands sparkling in the bay like little pebbles. Hardly any snow right now but that may change this week.

Many people wonder what the winters are like here on the coast, and on a day like today, I have to answer FABULOUS!  Yes, it’s cold, but that’s why we have L.L. Bean, right? (Or as we say here, “Bean’s.”) Throw on some fleece, good gloves, a warm hat and boots, and you’re all set.

Happy New Year to all!

It’s November and the snap in the air makes me realize I am running out of time for one home improvement project:  putting up a fence.

Although it’s mainly to contain our two dogs, I’ve decided not to go the invisible fence route. Pedro, my friend Nancy’s beagle, has busted through his force field a few times (he boarded both the school bus and the FedEx truck) and I don’t think I’ll feel comfortable with something I can’t see. Now that I’ve made that decision, others loom before me: pickets or rails? natural or painted? four feet or five? one gate or two?

Brian from the local landscaping company feels I should go with white fencing as it looks much better. But I’m not willing to take on yet another chore… that of painting my fence every few years.

The real estate part of me wonders whether white fencing would make a difference to a home buyer somewhere down the road. Not that we have any plans to sell our home, but I just can’t help thinking that way. I decide that because my fence will be located in the back yard, natural is appropriate. Now to the type and height….

The current fencing phenomena is relatively new to Maine. Although the fanciest homes in Maine’s well-to-do towns once boasted many an iron fence encircling the property, today, it’s usually the “folks from away” who erect the fences, causing some locals to grumble about them for a while.

My clients often ask me whether there are laws regulating fencing. In my town, the answer is no.  Good things to keep in mind are consistency with your home’s style and the neighborhood, and of course, respect for property lines. Finally, even though your fence may have a useful purpose, such as containing dogs or corralling children, be sure that the message it sends to the community is friendly.  Let your fence, as the poet Robert Frost said, “make good neighbors.”

Maine’s bright, clear November days lend themselves perfectly to the last gardening chore of the year: neatening up the garden and preparing it to weather the winter ahead.

I always follow the same pattern. First I remove any dead annuals and add them to the compost pile.  Next, the clippers come out and I trim back the perennials (unless of course they are still blooming, such as my ”Fairy” shrub rose, in which case I wait a few weeks.) I remove the piles of trimmed stalks and dead leaves, and then rake the beds out, removing any stray weeds that may have escaped my eye during the heady days of summer. Tender or new perennials may get a blanket of new mulch, and if I’m really motivated, I may stick a few bulbs in to surprise myself in spring.

The beds are neat and tidy; I’ve said goodbye and good luck to my old friends. Come spring, I won’t have to wade through dead growth to see new shoots. In the meantime, this annual ritual has prompted me to spend some of autumn’s most beautiful days in my garden.