NON heated homes in Maine? (Portland, Bangor: apartments, rental homes, insurance)

[cmist]

I was reading through some rental ads in various places and it seems that I see *Hot/Water* and *Heating* listed as a plus in many homes... as if there are homes that dont have those basic necessities?? These are normal homes in cities and not rustic hunting cabins in the wilderness.

I have also read that some homes have to have 2 sources of heating, such as using a wood stove for one area, but then some other type of heating for another room or the rest of the home?

This is something I never even gave a thought to.

I live in Phx, AZ and never see homes listed with AC or Hot Water in the actual positive feature list. These things are expected.

What things might a person think is common place in a home that may not be? Dishwashers? Garbage Disposals? Kitchen Sinks(lol)? Laundry Rooms / hookups ?

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by cmist

I was reading through some rental ads in various places and it seems that I see *Hot/Water* and *Heating* listed as a plus in many homes... as if there are homes that dont have those basic necessities?? These are normal homes in cities and not rustic hunting cabins in the wilderness.

I have also read that some homes have to have 2 sources of heating, such as using a wood stove for one area, but then some other type of heating for another room or the rest of the home?

This is something I never even gave a thought to.

I live in Phx, AZ and never see homes listed with AC or Hot Water in the actual positive feature list. These things are expected.

What things might a person think is common place in a home that may not be? Dishwashers? Garbage Disposals? Kitchen Sinks(lol)? Laundry Rooms / hookups ?

It means the cost of these features are included in the price of the rent, not just that the home has them.

[msina]

If a rental home is advertised with "Hot Water" and "Heat" included that means it is included in the rent. Rentals normally don't have woodstoves, it's a liability for the landlord in the insurance. I don't know of anyone with a garbage disposal unit in northern Maine. Could be some places have them but, it you have a septic system you shouldn't use a garbage disposal, it's not good for the septic system, start a compost instead if you can. Dishwashers may be something you may find in newer homes, particularly in the "city" but, there again, you won't find them in most rental homes especially older houses.

[cmist]

It was the rental section of Bangor. I dont mind doing without disposals and dishwashers. My wife does the dishes anyhow *LOL*

I was looking in Bangor, and the ad didnt read like 3 bed home *heat included* There were quite a few advertised like *3bd heated home*...

Ill take your reply to mean that not having heat would be extremely unusual, and the other stuff is more common to newer homes but definitely non-essential.

Are there more homes there on septic vs sewer?

How bout the water? More on wells vs. city water?

Whats the local opinion of city water? people here buy bottled cause they think the city stuff is toxic, but I know other cities the water is as good as bottled.

[msina]

I was looking in Bangor, and the ad didnt read like 3 bed home *heat included* There were quite a few advertised like *3bd heated home*...
means the heat is included in the rent

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Most if not all of Bangor has city water and sewer. Ue your garbage grinder to your heart's content. The terms hot water and heat can be combined to mean the home is heated with a hot water baseboard system which is very common in Maine.

[RHB]

Bangor is on city water and sewer - the landlord (usually) pays for them.

I work in Bangor, and it seems like most people drink the water, there are a few who don't, but I think it's more personal preference than the water is bad.

[cmist]

OK, another question about heating...

Im sure its probably oil, and another rental I saw said $1000 without heat and $1050 with heat. Isnt it extremely unlikely to only pay $50 month for heat?

Also, how exactly is heat isolated away from other utilities? For us out here, of course we have AC not heat, but its impossible to separate what is due to AC or hot water heaters, vs lighting and other applicances.

Also, its completely unheard of to pay your tenants utilities out here. People could crank their air conditioners do to 40* in the hottest point of the summer if they want, leave all the doors open and leave you footing the bill. There is no sense of personal responsibility when you dont pay you own utilities, so Im having a hard time understanding how or why its possible to do such a thing there?

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by cmist

OK, another question about heating...

Im sure its probably oil, and another rental I saw said $1000 without heat and $1050 with heat. Isnt it extremely unlikely to only pay $50 month for heat?

Also, how exactly is heat isolated away from other utilities? For us out here, of course we have AC not heat, but its impossible to separate what is due to AC or hot water heaters, vs lighting and other applicances.

Also, its completely unheard of to pay your tenants utilities out here. People could crank their air conditioners do to 40* in the hottest point of the summer if they want, leave all the doors open and leave you footing the bill. There is no sense of personal responsibility when you dont pay you own utilities, so Im having a hard time understanding how or why its possible to do such a thing there?

Often you'll find the landlords will set the heat at a minimum and maximum level so it's comfortable for most but you will not get away with cranking it to 90 and leaving it there. Usually a place with paid for heat will be an apartment building where the zones for all of the apartments are together and there is no way to determing who uses more heat. The hot water will be paid by the resident with a seperate electric hot water tank. $50 a month for heat is cheap! Heating is not inexpensive in Maine and is probably the biggest drain on personal income there is.

[cmist]

I get apt complexes that pay utilities, especially water, but it was the house rentals that pay them is what confused me. And then to only see a $50 increase to include heat confused me even more, figured I must be missing something because who in their right mind would choose to pay their own utilities if they can have them paid by a landlord at a fixed price no matter how warm they make it.

What do you mean they set it at a min & max level? Are you locked out of the thermostat?

How about summer, do you need AC as well and then heat in winter too? Or do you have some months where neither AC or heat is needed?

I would guess our summer cooling=maine heating... but then trying to figure out which place has more time of using neither.

I am not sure why, but something is pulling me to the Bangor area because it seems much less expensive than Portland, but still sizeable enough to be convenient. Is this the 2nd largest city there after Portland? Any other cities in this arena to consider?

Thanks for your help!