Opening Your Cottage
Seniors Choice Newsmagazine, May 2005
Tens of thousands of Canadians have been waiting all winter for the time to open up their cottage and begin their weekly escapes from our busy urban centers. Some are well prepared to face the routines of opening a seasonal property. But what if this spring is the first time a new cottage owner is faced with opening a property that has been empty for half a year? Don't worry, whether you're an experienced cottager, or a newbie, road access, or water, here are some tips to help you make your opening weekend as easy as possible.
Even before you set out on your opening trip, there are some things you might want to make sure of before you leave the house. You should call your telephone company to make sure the phone service has been reactivated if you turn it off for the winter. You may still want to bring your cell phone just in case. You might also call your hydro provider to ensure there are no outages in your area. The major priority when you first arrive at the cottage is getting the water turned on. Hopefully, it will be a simple process to flush out the antifreeze out of the lines. However, shifting foundations and sub-zero temperatures can often lead to split or detached pipes. Make sure you have a 'plumbing emergency kit' on hand at the cottage, or pack one to take with you. Items to include are: a soldering iron and solder, plumber's tape, pipe fittings, connectors, drain pipe glue, faucet aerators and if your water intake source is a lake - even an extra foot valve. If you're not very handy, you might also add a 'how to' book. Make sure to bring some septic starter powder or pellets to help maintain an active septic system.
If you have an older fridge at the cottage, don't bring too many perishables on your opening trip, because you don't know how well it will work when you turn it on again after a long off season. Another opening weekend task is clearing out eavestroughs clogged with evergreen needles and leaves. It's a good idea to clean out your gutters out promptly, in preparation for heavy spring rains. It will keep water around the cottage, and the bugs that follow, to a minimum.
Water access cottagers also have to launch their boat before they can even get to their cottage. If you have a third party store your boat in the off season, chances are your battery is not in prime condition. Factors like evaporation, complete discharging, and temperature fluctuations can adversely affect the life span of a stored battery. Even if the establishment you store your boat with assures you they consistently maintain your battery through winter, there are no guarantees. Do yourself a favor, and bring some booster cables with you, or even better, a portable energy booster pack. It can save you a lot of aggravation if your battery dies when you try to start your boat for that first trip to the cottage.
Good luck with opening your seasonal property if you're lucky enough to have one! And if you're interested in buying a vacation property, your local Real Estate sales representative can put you in touch no matter where you're looking!
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