Elissa Boughen of Chestnut Park provides a great check list for cottage maintenance

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COTTAGE OWNERSHIP 101

You’ve dreamed of owning a cottage. Your friends have been very encouraging and are secretly packing their bags, ready to come visit. You find a great Realtor, tour several properties and finally make an offer. At last, the big day arrives and you are officially the owner of a cottage. Other than packing food for the BBQ and drinks for the dock, now what??

It is a complete unknown for many cottage owners, after that first weekend of lakeside fun, what is involved to leave your cottage safe and sound when you have headed back to the reality of Monday morning, let alone what to do once summer turns to fall and it is, sadly, time to wind things down and close the cottage or prep it for winter use.

I often have questions from my Buyer clients about how to look after this or what to do about that, when the dream of buying a cottage becomes reality. Here are a few tips to help ease into keeping things running like a seasoned weekend warrior:

• Read your home inspection report thoroughly. Your home inspector will make notes of items that need to be addressed and on what timeline. They will also note items that are specific to the building style and age of your cottage that you should be paying attention to in order to maintain it well in all four seasons and help you avoid major issues.
• Get to know your water system. Do you have a drilled well with buried lines and don’t need to give it much thought? Or does your water come from the lake with or without a heated line? Do you need to pull the pump out in the fall and drain the lines, then prime the system in the spring? Or is the line equipped with heat cable and buried below the frost line? Gather as much information as you can from the sellers – you can ask your Realtor to request a meeting with the Sellers prior to closing or request that they leave instructions for your cottage systems. If you acquire a cottage with no knowledge of how the systems work, it is worth having a local plumber come in to explain care and maintenance to you, or engaging a local cottage maintenance service to help you through the learning curve.
• Get to know your septic system. Your Realtor and home inspector should be able to provide information on where your tank and tile bed are located. Be sure to keep cars and heavy items off the entire area and ensure trees do not begin to take root. If the Sellers can’t provide evidence of it being pumped, get it pumped the first spring you own the cottage and depending on usage, plan to repeat the process every 3-5 years.
• Get your water tested. Stop by the local health unit and pick up a few sample bottles to have on hand. Fill the sample bottle as per the included instructions and drop it off at the health unit. Results come back in the mail within a week…worth doing every spring to ensure you and your family are drinking water that is bacteria free or to take corrective measures if needed.
• Get in the habit of turning off the water when you leave, every time you leave, no matter the season. Pipes can freeze in winter if the power goes out, there is no heat on at the cottage and there is water in the lines. But just as easily, in the middle of the summer, your hot water tank could spring a leak and if your water is not turned off, it will run until your next visit when you are likely to find a flooded basement. Locate your main water shut off valve and put it on your checklist of things to do when you’re tidying up and locking up to leave. While you’re at it, consider flipping the breaker to turn off power to your hot water tank. It will heat up quickly once you return and flip the switch but will save you money in the interim, not keeping water heated when it isn’t needed.
• Keep your chimney clean. Does your new cottage have a wood burning fireplace or woodstove? Dispose of your ashes in a metal container, outside on a concrete or gravel surface until they are completely cooled. Contact a local chimney sweep and determine the interval at which you should be having your chimney cleaned, depending on usage, and put it in your calendar. It is inexpensive and good insurance against a chimney fire. And don’t forget to order next winter’s wood good and early…the best wood to burn is dry wood and suppliers run out – don’t leave your ordering until too late and chance green wood or none at all.
• Talk to your neighbours about the ice in your location. Do the neighbours pull their docks out in the fall to avoid ice damage? Do they have a bubbler system to keep the ice from freezing around the dock or boathouse? Or is it a sheltered area and no action required? Ice can cause massive damage to dock cribs whether wood or steel and knowing how best to handle it will save money and headaches come spring.
• Speak to your insurer. Does your policy state you need to have someone checking the property on a regular basis in order to comply with your policy? Does it state you need to keep your driveway plowed, even if you’re not using it, in order to allow fire and emergency vehicles access? Planning to rent? Make sure you have a policy that covers you. It is worth reading your policy and getting informed through your insurance broker, to ensure you have met your obligations for coverage.
• Maintain your trees. Your cottage, your roof, your decks, your docks, etc, all need sunlight and air to lengthen their lifespan and avoid rot. Keeping trees limbed up and cleared out keeps branches off roofs, dead trees from falling on your cottage in a storm and maintains the gorgeous view you paid for and come here to enjoy. Keeping your eavestroughs clean helps keep water flowing away from your cottage and minimizes chances of leaks. Ask your Realtor or check online for qualified tree removal companies in your area if you are not confident doing this job yourself.
• Be proactive on maintenance. Staining your decks and siding before they begin to peel makes for an easy job and constant maintenance of your investment. Leave it too long and the job becomes far larger and damage, including rot, may already have occurred.
• Consider installing a remote thermostat which connects to Wi‑Fi to control the temperature of your cottage from your phone, tablet or laptop. Keep the heat low during the week and turn it up for a toasty arrival.
• Most importantly – find your nearest and best local market or grocery store, microbrewery and LCBO and stock up…then enjoy lazy days and star filled nights with friends and family!

These are just a few tips to get you started on the road to cottage ownership. Ask your Realtor for information on your local townships and/or for recommendations for local property management companies. Cottage ownership is a wonderful thing and brings years of enjoyment yet there is also work associated with owning any property. If you are proactive and view it as a labour of love, you will minimize the amount of time, money and effort that need to go into keeping your property the dream you anticipated it would be.

The Muskoka Lifestyle. It’s how Elissa grew up, how she lives today, and what she loves. Elissa knows this area intimately, from its lakes and waterways to its towns, villages, roadways and trails. She is the agent to help you find your way here – whether you are new to the area and looking to make the Muskoka lifestyle a part of your cottaging or full time living plans, or whether you are familiar with this magnificent area and looking to make a change.

With an extensive background in sales and negotiating, dedication to outstanding customer service, and a genuine interest in achieving the best for her clients, Elissa will help and guide you with your real estate needs and goals. Confident, personable and professional, Elissa has the local area knowledge and the real world skills to get the job done. Thinking of buying or selling a home or cottage in Muskoka? Let’s talk: 705 787 5463 or [email protected]

 

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