I'd say generally avoid for small-time renting, I hear they're good for bigger real estate:…read moreThis is probably a long and boring story, haha. This isn't so much a review of MRA as it is of the main person I dealt with, Dan Soley.
There was a listing for a 5 bedroom house starting May 1. I inquired early April (week 1) and we set up a time to see the place later that week. We saw the place that Tuesday, the agent (Cole) said there were others interested in the house as well. With this information, the others and I convened and decided to jump on the lease ASAP. The agent informed us he was on vacation following week, but that Dan (Soley, related to the "Principal" Josh Soley) would be filling in for him. I contacted Dan that Thursday and told him we were interested in the apartment, as the final roommate for the house had just seen the place and had liked it. Dan said he would draft up a lease and send it our way. Dan and I exchanged 6 emails regarding lease info that day. He then asked if we could swing by the following week to move forward. I suggested the following Tuesday, 12pm and never heard back. That tuesday (4/9) I emailed him about meeting, to which I got no reply. I gave Dan a call, he picked up after the 2nd try and I asked if we could meet that day. Dan said something like "I think the landlord is still finalizing the lease" but the phone line was muffled. I asked "Well, do we have the lease locked in or not?" to which the phone then cut out. I immediately called back and Dan did not pick up. I sent him an email the following day asking my question again, no reply. I tried calling again later that week, no answer. The following week, I emailed Cole and he gave me a call. He said the lease had been signed to someone else the previous wednesday. This means that the Tuesday I called Dan he knew that the lease was basically being finalized with another tenant, which was signed the following day. Meanwhile, for a listing starting May 1, we were kept in the dark until April 15. One of our roommates was starting Nursing school in Portland May 1.
Maybe this company really focuses on bigger real estate so a small 5 bedroom rental house isn't high on their radar, who knows. The "owner" of this company, Josh Soley, his uncle (Joe Soley) owns the People's United Bank building, various other large buildings in Portland, along with many apartments in Portland. There are some stories of Joe I won't mention, because I don't want that to be the focus of this. More or less, my impression of Maine Realty Advisors is sketchy, and I feel bad for anyone that has to work with Dan Soley in the future. Cole was alright.
All claims in this review can be substantiated.
-Elias