Rob Heming
Sales Representative
Realty Executives Plus Ltd.
The official kick-off to summer, the May 24 long weekend, is right around the corner! That means it’s about time to open up the cottage, set up the outdoor patio and enjoy the country air.
Before cramming everyone in the car and hurrying down the highway, let’s take a look at the best tips for opening the cottage.
You should be bringing some crucial supplies when you open your cottage for the summer season. Stocking up on the essentials is, well, essential. Cleaning supplies, batteries, candles, flashlights and a case of bottled water should be coming with you on the inaugural trip to make sure you can clean the cottage, change the batteries in anything that might require (like a smoke detector), candles in the event the power doesn’t work and flashlights when you need to look in dark areas for critters who might have made their cottage your home.
Make sure your insurance documents are up to date on everything you need like the cottage, boat, trailer, or anything else that needs it! You should also have a list handy of the name of local businesses to help with any problems that might occur through the season, such as:
Because you never know what could go wrong, having a quick reference list in a drawer is a must have!
Now that you’re at the cottage, take a little tour around the property and look for signs of possible life. Nests or burrows made by little animals seeking warmth can be a common sight on the property when returning after the winter. Look for possible entry with broken boards, gnawed through wood or broken screens. Tap around the top and side of any covered deck to see if any rustling happens underneath. If you find a little family living under the deck, it might be worth calling pest control to do a full and complete survey of the cottage.
Now that the outside has been looked at and taken care of, the inside still requires a keen eye for detail. Mice are sneaky, little critters, capable of showing up in the oddest of places, leaving their poop everywhere. Check the floors, counters, drawers, stairs and any cramped little area that requires a flashlight. While checking for mice, also be on the lookout for any damp areas on the floor, walls or ceilings, which are signals of the larger issue of possible water damage.
Now that you’ve stocked the cottage with key supplies, your list of contacts has been written, you’ve toured the outside and inside thoroughly, it’s time to get your services turned back on (electricity, hydro, internet, etc), set up the Muskoka chairs and enjoy the first weekend at your cottage!
Rob Heming at Realty Executives on the Bay
specializes in tourism accommodation, recreational and multi-residential properties,
as well as fine homes and waterfront cottages.
