Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
AT YOUR SERVICE — Craig Hartsgrove of Hartsgrove Appraisal Services has ventured out on his own after years of working with Beth Bates. He provides a full array of appraisal services.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
PATTEN — An established Patten business is getting a name change.
Lakeview Appraisals, which was opened in 1989 by Beth Bates, will now be Hartsgrove Appraisal Services.
“I am retiring from appraising, said Bates, who is owner of Chickadee Realty and Lakeview Appraisals. “Craig Hartsgrove is striking out on his own and I will continue to operate Chickadee Realty.”
Hartsgrove earned his appraisal license in July after working 2,000 hours under Bates.
“He has worked hard to achieve this license,” Bates added. Hartsgrove began his understudy in 2006, working mostly during the off-season of his primary business Craig’s Clam Shop in Patten.
“The first five years my summer focus was on the Clam Shop and not appraising,” said Hartsgrove.
“He is a busy man, “ Bates said. “He has worked extremely hard at both places to get where he is today.”
Hartsgrove, who is originally from Newport, came to the Patten area about 10 years ago in a roundabout way.
“I was in the Army stationed in Orlando and I received my orders to go to Kuwait,” he said. “My wife was pregnant with our first child at the time and she wanted to be near her family while I was deployed away. She temporarily moved to Patten to join her family.”
The move became permanent after Hartsgrove decided to terminate his Army Commission of eight years and join his wife, Jennifer, and 9-month-old daughter.
“Having your first child born while you are away changes your perspective,” said Hartsgrove. “It was important to be a dad first and give up a career that I loved.”
Soon Hartsgrove began working with Bates on real estate in the Patten area. A deal was transacted to purchase the Clam Shop in Patten in 2005. The seasonality of the Clam Shop business left Hartsgrove ample time to pursue other careers.
“That is when Beth and I started talking about me joining Lakeview Appraisals as an appraiser trainee,” he said. “I am very appreciative of Beth for giving me the opportunity to become an appraiser. She dedicated many hours to me becoming a licensed appraiser and I will forever be grateful. Beth is retiring from appraising and now it is time for me to start my own appraisal company, Hartsgrove Appraisal Services.”
Time has flown by over the past 10 years for Hartsgrove.
“My family has grown since those first days in Patten. Jen and I have three wonderful children, daughters Makayla and Hunter, and son Bryten,” he said. “Family is everything. The appraisal career field gives me the flexibility to maximize my time with my family.”
Hartsgrove Appraisal Services will provide valuation services to all of Penobscot County, southern Aroostook County, and portions of Washington and Piscataquis counties. Appraisal services will be provided to lending institutions, individuals, attorneys and government agencies.
Hartsgrove Appraisal Services is located at 33 Shin Pond, Patten, Maine. To reach Craig call 207-267-0365 or e-mail craighartsgrove@ gmail.com.
“The biggest change for me is I will not be coming into an office building,” said Hartsgrove. “I will just have to walk to my office in my home.”
