Rob Heming
Sales Representative
Realty Executives Plus Ltd.
Let’s face it … so many of us spend our weeks battling the rat race just so we can make it to the weekend. We commute to and from work, we take care of the house and the kids and the pets all week long to pack up on Friday afternoon and fight traffic to the cottage for a couple of days of “rest” before we have to pack back up and do it all over again. What if you could escape the hectic pace of working for the weekends and start living, working and playing all under one roof? Rob Heming can show you how.
In this digital age, telecommuting is becoming more and more common as folks choose to work remotely. From your home office, from the coffee shop, from your car … if you’ve got WiFi, you can work. There’s often no need to limit your location to a certain address, so why would you? Many telecommuters chose to leave the “big city” behind for a more relaxed life in a small town. Imagine downsizing to a townhouse with a home office with a view of Georgian Bay, just minutes from some of the best recreational opportunities in the province, AND at a fraction of the price of big city housing. Rob Heming can help make that happen.
Are you a people person? Do you love to host parties and organize events? Then perhaps you should consider being your own boss with a Bed & Breakfast, lodge or retreat centre. Rob Heming has a variety of these types of properties available with owner’s quarters and some even currently operating as a business … with others that are ready for your special touch of TLC! Imagine spending your off-hours lounging on a waterfront dock or hiking your own forested acreage, as well as being able to host family and friends when your accommodations aren’t fully booked. It’s an entertainer’s dream!
Some people were just made to spend their days (and nights) in Mother Nature. If you have a passion for sports, camping, horses, agriculture or just the outdoors in general, Rob Heming is the man to talk to! With decades of personal experience in outdoor education and residential camps, Rob has become known as the go-to guru for buying and selling properties of this nature. If you’re thinking of investing in a property of this nature, you won’t find a real estate agent more knowledgeable or experienced in this area than Rob.
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.
Your cottage or recreational property is your home away from home but, let’s face it, the cottage lifestyle can be expensive! Taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance - it all adds up. This month, let’s take a look at ways to make your property work for you with some ideas and tips for generating income from your cottage or recreational property.
The most obvious way to generate income from your cottage or property is to rent it out when you are not using it. Whether you choose to hand over the keys personally or use a home-sharing brokerage like Airbnb, you will need to be aware of the rules and regulations associated with short term rentals in your community. Many municipalities already have or are working towards regulations to govern licensing, the number of guests allowed, consecutive days rented, zoning and more. To see what the Province of Ontario is proposing, you can download this handy PDF document. Also, be sure to review your insurance policy to verify that this type of rental will not void your agreement.
Is the view from your dock picture-perfect? Do you have a sprawling lawn or unused back acreage? Then you may want to consider renting out your property for special events such as weddings, reunions, photoshoots, corporate events or campouts. Limiting the use of your property to the outdoor elements only takes some of the “personal space” factor out of the equation - as in no one will be sleeping in your bed or using your bathroom. Just be sure that your insurance, as well as the potential renter’s insurance, will cover any possible damage or incidents that might occur.
Maybe you've dreamed of semi-retirement or a change of pace, a way to get away from the rate race and the hustle and bustle of city life. Why not live where you work and invest in an income-generating property like a Bed & Breakfast, Country Lodge, Residential Camp or Outdoor Education Centre. Reduce your commute to mere seconds by living or staying in the owner’s quarters while running your own successful business. Rob Heming SPECIALIZES in these types of properties and is DEFINITELY the go-to guru when considering a move of this type.
Your cottage or recreational property exists to give you peace and relaxation, not stress from another unpaid bill. Make your property work for you and stop worrying!
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.
The cottage is your castle. It’s the place you love to go to get away from the daily grind and the constant noise of the city. It’s an absolute treat to sit and bask in the peace and quiet. There are times, though, that obligations do take over and on occasion, you have to host friends and family that might not see eye to eye with each other, or are known to spark conflict. The Summer already has some record-breaking heat - let’s take a look at some ways to make sure tempers don’t flare and everyone stays cool when you’re hosting at the cottage.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a table of six or sixteen, there will always be an optimal way of arranging your guests around the table to minimize clashing opinions. Some forethought should be put into who is sitting next to who in order to make drinks on the deck and dinner run smoothly.
If you’re having overnight guests, shuffling everyone into the living room on the pullout couch is hardly an effective plan, especially if there are children involved. Be sure to offer up the bunkie or spare bedroom, or even your own quarters, if need be.
Having access to things like ATVs, kayaks, hammocks while you’re at the cottage is a ton of fun. Everyone loves access to the fun stuff so, to make it fair, consider having a sign up sheet or schedule that everyone can refer to. This will help ensure that everyone gets a turn and there are no arguments to be had about unfair use.
The cottage is your escape. For a brief period of time, you’re able to silence all the outside forces and just enjoy the beauty around you ... This beauty can be easily wiped away when you’re hurtled back into the real world with heavy-hitting topics that folks tend to have strong, opposing views on.
Keep far away from topics like
Sure, you might feel that you have the more correct way of thinking, but a shouting match at the dinner table won’t solve any of these issues. Pick your battles - this one isn’t it. Steering clear of the hot button issues keeps everyone in a good, chill mood - key for such warm weather.
It can certainly be trying to host friends and family at the cottage but sharing a wonderful day or weekend is what makes it all worthwhile in the end. When the last guest finally heads back home, that’s when it’s time for you to return to the peace and quiet, while knowing that you hosted a successful cottage get-together.
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.
Our cottages are our own little slice of heaven. Away from the busy streets and near constant noise, it’s our place to get away and relax in peace and quiet. Nothing could be worse than having our relaxation interrupted by unwelcome guests. I’m not talking about nosy neighbours or even the inlaws - I’m talking about rodents and critters of all shapes and sizes.
Mosquitoes, bed bugs, snakes, spiders and skunks can all make your weekend in paradise an absolute nightmare. Let’s take a look at some of the most common cottage intruders and how they set up shop around the cottage.
The creepy crawlies that want as much to do with us as we want to do with them. Dock spiders and fishing spiders tend to accidentally find their way inside of our cottages. While relatively harmless, they’re still not something you want to wake up to see crawling on your wall. Coming across these spiders can startle you just as much as the spider, and a simple relocation to the outside world will make both of you equally as happy. For a full list of spiders that can show up around the cottage, CLICK HERE.
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.
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.
