Renters | Owners
What Renters Have To Say
No matter how much one can research a property, traveling from Florida to stay for several weeks in a rental property can be daunting. One can never be sure of what one signed up for. Beginning with the execution of the rental agreement, the cleanliness of the property and her follow up with us during our stay, Sheri made us feel confident that the property we chose to rent was the right decision. We had no doubt that if anything went wrong at the property she would resolve the issue immediately. Renting for extended periods as we do, we know things can and sometimes happen, including one year a major storm that knocked out our electricity and internet, (which is vital to us, since we both work remotely). Sheri having suffered the same fate at her home, nevertheless followed up with us ASAP and even offered to place us in a different property until everything was back to normal. Because we had made other arrangements we did not take her up on her generous offer, but we really appreciated her efforts and thoughtfulness. There have been a couple of other hiccups at the property that no one could possibly anticipate. With a phone call to her, the issues were resolved in a timely and professional manner. With that said, doing business with Sheri has been wonderful. She has proven to deliver on what is promised. She is a personable, caring person, having all the best qualities a renter could hope for in a property manager. If we were property owners needing a property manager, Sheri Blackstone is the person we would want to represent us.
~ Larry N
We loved our stay at Driftwood Dreams cottage. It is such a cute cottage and has an amazing panoramic view of the ocean. We spent every morning on the deck watching the boats go out and the eagles fly and land in the pines right by the cottage. The kitchen had everything you would need to cook some fresh seafood. We cannot say enough on how Sheri took care of us and made sure our stay was amazing. We give this cottage and Maine Coastal Connections a five star rating. Thank you for a great vacation.
~ Cindy V
Spent another wonderful week at a glorious Maine escape. Have rented many houses managed by Sheri Blackstone and she always exceeds our expectations. The houses are situated in breath-taking locations, are well appointed, immaculately clean and have all the comforts of home. Having summered my whole life in Maine, I can say that Coastal Connections has the best of properties. Sheri is beyond helpful and gracious when working with you to find the “perfect spot” for your family and she does her best to accommodate you with dates that work with busy schedules. Sheri is not only accommodating, but she takes the time to add personal touches and attention to detail that make you feel welcome and at home. Upon your arrival, you are greeted with these “touches” and it starts your vacation off with a smile. Sheri goes out of her way to assure you of the cleaning procedures and measures taken to ensure a safe stay, which is especially comforting during these times. The houses are also well equipped and Sheri has thought of anything that you might need during your stay – it’s all there for you! We especially love her knowledge of the area and enjoy looking through her basket of suggestions for both sight seeing and places to dine. Sheri is available at all times if anything comes up or if you have any questions. Stunning sunsets and morning coffee right on the water… we look forward to many more magical Maine vacations thanks to Sheri!
~ Karen Gjertsen
This was the first time I had rented a vacation home in Harpswell, and I was nervous to do so with all the unknowns that COVID-19 brought this year. Sheri was lovely to work with – from accommodating a late check in, reassuring me as to the new cleaning practices, and being available at a moments notice via e-mail and phone for any questions that I had. She is very knowledgeable of the area and provided great recommendations for the proximity of beaches and other fun things for our family to do. Upon check-in, we were greeted by a spotless home and some treats for everyone to enjoy. This attention to detail and personal touch added to our experience, and we had such a great trip. I highly recommend Sheri Blackstone and Coastal Connections Property Management.
~ Nicole
We had a wonderful visit in Maine and thoroughly enjoyed staying at the Ocean View house in Harpswell. That was a beautiful and comfortable home that was perfect for us. We really appreciated the convenience of the elevator for moving our luggage up to the bedrooms and also our friend badly injured her foot (before we arrived at the house) so she was happy to avoid the steps. We loved seeing all the wildlife around the house and the view of the water and boats. If we ever stay in the Brunswick area again, we will contact Coastal Connections to see what houses are available. It was a pleasure to work with you. Thanks again for having such nicely prepared and maintained houses for rent.
~ C Ricker
Thank you for all your help and communication over the past year. The place was absolutely perfect for my family. So spacious with a great view. It was honestly the perfect accommodation.
~ MA Guest
Thank you again for all your help and time during our trip to Maine
~ Louis
Sheri Blackstone of Coastal Connections Property Management in Harspwell, Maine first arranged a vacation home rental for us 5 years ago, and she arranged the rental of the same property for our family vacation every year thereafter. She has been one of the most professional, responsible and always available property managers and agents we have ever had. For example, one year there was a serious plumbing problem and Ms. Blackstone took responsibility for solving the problem and getting it fixed immediately even during a holiday weekend. She has always bee there for recommendations or to solve any problem, big or small.
When you are far from home it is a comfort to know that your agent, who arranged everything, is there at all hours to solve anything in the most practical way possible. Every year that we have rented in Harpswell has been better than the last, in large part because of Ms. Blackstone’s professional manner of conducting business and standing by her clients.
~ Jim & Jane Plaisted
We would like to commend and recommend Sheri Blackstone, owner of Coastal Connections Property Management. Currently, we rent a lovely property on Harpswell Neck, Maine each summer for four weeks. We have rented many properties through VRBO over the last 12 years, traveling south in the winter, north in the summer.
Sheri, by far, has been the very best house manager that we have ever dealt with. She is a real pleasure to work with, courteous, friendly, and very responsive to any need. You will find any property managed by Sheri to be exceptionally clean, (I am an acknowledged clean perfectionist), and fully prepared for guests.
~Maggie & Joe T, Ocean Grove, NJ
Sheri Blackstone and Coastal Connections are great resources for properties in Brunswick and Harpswell, Maine! We rented a house through Sheri this fall and again for coming summer 2019. She is extremely helpful, very responsive and thorough in all her rental communications and information to us. We love the property she found for us and are excited to return again for two weeks this coming summer. We can’t think of a better rental agent than Sheri Blackstone!
~Lydia, MN
I am writing to record a special testimonial about Sheri! My family and I have rented homes at the Auburn Colony in South Harpswell for over 30 years. For the last 8 years, we have connected with Sheri from Maine Coastal Connections as our rental agent. Every year, Sheri has worked tirelessly to secure the perfect cottage for us. She has helped us with changes that would make our stay more comfortable. If we needed different beds, she made it happen. If we needed ceiling fans because of unusual heat, we have ceiling fans. If we have needed to arrive earlier in the day than usual, the house has been ready. Every year she makes sure that the cottage is clean as a pin and leaves a delicious bottle of wine to enjoy with our first lobster feast. She makes sure we have a flower arrangement in the kitchen from wildflowers that grow in the area. She makes us feel so welcomed! Sheri is the BEST rental agent we could ever ask for. My family and I feel blessed to know Sheri and call her friend. Her trusted help makes our annual Maine vacation a lifelong memory. Sheri will help everyone feel the same way!
~ Carolyn Berglund
We have worked with Sheri for a number of years now, and she is great! We are renters, and she is always responsive to our needs and concerns before, during, and after our stay. She keeps us up to date on changes year to year, and effectively communicates with owners when need be. Sheri manages a number of the houses near the one we rent, and the renters and owners are all very happy with her work.
~Amy Mahoney
Next August our family will be enjoying our annual family gathering in South Harpswell, Maine. Sheri Blackstone of Coastal Connections Property Management, LLC, has been our real estate agent for the past six years. She is efficient, is attentive to detail and takes a personal interest in making sure that our vacation is an enjoyable experience. Emails and phone calls are responded to in a timely manner. Upon arrival on check-in day, we are always greeted with a welcome note highlighting important information and local events for the week. The cottage is always immaculate and ready for occupancy. Following our vacation, a personal thank you note arrives in the mail thanking us for our business and wishing our family well.
Our family enjoys doing business with Sheri Blackstone and is confident that our vacation arrangements will be well organized with her.
~ Armand J. Hudon
What Owners Have To Say
Sheri Blackstone has been managing, and renting out two properties of mine for 8 years. She also oversees another property my family owns. She has been excellent with all three. She is always prompt to communicate and act on any issues or problems that come up in the home, as well as all renters. She pays much attention to detail and works hard to keep her renters and owners happy. I’m 70 and have been a general contractor for 45 years, so I am well aware of the work that taking care of properties entails. She has made it easy for me to reside in another state , while keeping my Maine properties in good running order for renting out, and for my family and I to come enjoy. All is always perfect, immaculately cleaned, and very welcoming. She has had to call on her professionals many times to fix emergency issues when they arise. (Believe me, there have been many, being on the coast of Maine, you never know what the weather holds !!) Sheri even goes the extra mile and checks on my properties throughout the winter for added assurance . Coastal Connections offers a high standard of service, yet personal when needed. She is honest, trustworthy, and I highly recommend her , without any reservation. If you’re looking for someone to manage your property , give her a call, her services will not disappoint !
~ David Yancey
We started using Sheri Blackstone and Coastal Connections as our property Manager over 3 years ago, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice!
Sheri is very hard-working and diligent about our cottage; she is exceptional in her attention to detail, and she goes out of her way to make our renters feel comfortable and special. When renters arrive there is a homemade, blueberry coffee cake and a bottle of wine along with a personal note welcoming them. It is such a lovely and personal touch.
We are long-distance owners, and we need a property manager who is present and able to quickly take care of the things we cannot. When a chair blew off our deck in a storm and broke, Sheri picked up a new one the next day. When our gas grill finally gave out due to old-age, Sheri not only shopped around, suggesting several options to replace it, she bought one and drove it 20 miles to set it up for us. She has quickly resolved plumbing issues for us, electrical maintenance, and more. Let’s face it, a cottage on the coast of Maine requires a lot of maintenance. Sheri lives there and knows the ropes. She has a faithful network of trades people to call on at a moments notice, and above all she has the time and energy to see to it things are resolved quickly.
We really appreciate the personal attention we get from Sheri. We know she has a solid list of clients, but every time we reach out, we hear back from her very fast, sometimes within the hour!
We frequently consult with Sheri about ways to make our rental cottage more comfortable. She has given us some great ideas, including ways to enhance the property and make it more appealing to wider base of prospective renters.
Sheri has gone out of her way each year to fill our place with renters, including our first summer on the market. Now she has a steady stream of repeat renters, which we’re sure is in no small way due to the attention she gives each group.
Our guest book is full of happy renters who love our place and Sheri. She is no doubt a big reason we have so many happy returning renters. We could not be happier with Sheri Blackstone as our rental property manager, and strongly recommend her and Coastal Connections for any property management needs.
~ Home Owner
Sheri has been taking care of our property since 2013 and we are very happy with her. We live far away from our summer home/vacation rental property, so she is our eyes and ears, and she always keeps us updated on any issues or concerns that might come up. Sheri has given us great peace of mind that our house is being looked after and protected when we have guests and during the off season as well.
Over the years Sheri has taken very good care of our property – she treats it like her own. She has suggested and taken care of many improvements to our home which has made it more welcoming and comfortable for us and our guests. She has changed out some older carpets, upgraded couches, and warmed-up the place with new curtains and towel baskets – just to name a few.
Sheri is the point person for our cottage and is always available to us and our guests for any and all questions and issues. She also lives locally and knows the area and people well, which is a huge help to us and our guests.
Sheri also coordinates the cleaning and turnover of the house, and takes care of opening and closing the house for the season. Another huge help for us.
Sheri and her team have great attention to detail, and always make sure our house is well prepared for our guests. She is always available to our guests and strives to make their vacation an enjoyable one. She wants them to love their stay, so they want to come back again and again. Anyone can rent you a house, but Sheri strives to make our house your home away from home for a week or two.
~ Dominick
When I first decided to turn my home into rental property, I handled it myself. To say that it was a near disaster would be an understatement. Fortunately, I met Sheri who has now been my property manager for a many years caring for my home as if it were her own.
Sheri goes out of her way to maintain my property. She checks in before and after every guest, coordinating cleaning and making sure there are no issues. If there are any problems, she promptly handles them. Dryer stops working? Front door needs replacing? Sheri has a network of professionals she calls in straight away and personally oversees the work. One year the plumbing failed. Sheri immediately had the situation assessed then spent considerable time researching companies and costs to complete the repairs. Left in her capable hands, the project was successfully completed without stress on my part.
Sheri also pays attention to the finer details always making my home comfortable and inviting for guests. She has a decorator eye, often shopping for and adding new rugs or pillows, accessories and tablecloths. She replaces bedding and towels regularly and offers suggestions for improvements that I might not notice. My home has never looked better!
Sheri works hard to rent my home throughout the year, working with each potential guest to accommodate their needs. Every guest is welcomed with a combination of freshly baked cake, a personal note, and/or a bottle of wine. There’s a basket full of pamphlets on local attractions and restaurants. And guests know Sheri is available twenty-four seven should they need any help.
I know my home is in good hands with Sheri and Coastal Connections. She is professional, conscientious, and sharp. Her exceptional and personal year round service has given me peace of mind. So if you’re looking for a property manager in Harpswell, give her a call. It’s the smartest thing you can do for yourself and your home.
~ Susan G