433 Toothaker Pond Road, Phillips, ME 04966

This 1930 farmhouse sits on 1 acre, just 20 min from Rangeley & about 30 min from Kingfield & Sugarloaf. Extensive improvements have been made to the home over the past 3 yrs, including a new furnace, well pump, almost all new windows and new front and back doors. A new shop has also been added, perfect for storing toys. The ATV trail is right next to the house, with the snowmobile trail located about half a mile up the road, past Bear Belly's Tap and Table, a great local restaurant, and Cliff's Donuts, which offers delicious locally made donuts - the perfect treat after a long week of outdoor fun. The remaining work on this Western Maine mountain home is minimal, offering the chance to put the finishing touches on a well-updated property. When the house was first purchased over three years ago, it had been neglected for many years. The first year included addressing frozen pipes running under the crawl space, which had been exposed to the frigid air. The solution involved bringing the water lines inside to ensure proper installation for the harsh northern climate. The oil boiler also cracked during that first winter due to a factory defect in the Burnham boiler. A new boiler was installed and much of the first-floor baseboard heat was replaced.
The first winter in the house presented challenges, including wind chills of -20°F in a home that desperately needed reliable heat. To address this, the partial basement, which had been covered by a plywood board, was excavated. The prior owner had likely attempted to block the cold air from entering the home. Old rock steps were dug out, mortared into place, and a Marketplace Bilco door was added to provide easier access. A woodstove was also planned for the basement, providing a secondary heat source in case of power outages during the region's frequent winter winds. This stove keeps the home warm in temperatures as low as 10-20°F & helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature of 67-70°F, reducing heating costs.