It’s time to open up the cottage for summer!

Are you getting ready to open up your cottage for summer? As we make our way through April, cottage season is coming ever closer! If you are a cottage owner, you are likely looking forward to long weekends away, and spending peaceful evenings in the quiet surroundings. Before you can break out the beach chairs and firewood, however, you need to prep your cottage for the season! Here are some tips to help you get your cottage ready.

Be sure to pack properly!

First and foremost, you need to ensure you pack well for opening weekend! You won’t have a smooth experience getting your cottage ready for summer if you forget to bring half the essentials. The trouble is there are so many items you need, it can be hard to keep track of them all. If your cottage is in a town, this may not be a huge issue. However, if you are in an isolated location, it becomes extra critical to pack properly.

Of course, be sure to pack all clothing and toiletries essentials, including some extra changes of clothes. You will also need to bring food supplies and enough water to last for the duration of your trip. It never hurts to pack extra snacks and beverages just to be on the safe side! On the first aid front, be sure to bring lots of sunscreen, bug spray, and basic first aid supplies such as bandages and an antibiotic ointment. You surely aren’t planning on getting hurt, but the tasks involved with opening the cottage for summer can easily result in minor scrapes, burns, or cuts.

For cottage supplies, it’s important that you have lots of flashlights and batteries. You should also have chargers and extension cords for your electronics. If you have a portable generator you can take along, this is also a good idea. Since you will need to give your cottage a post-winter scrub-down, make sure you are also prepared with cleaning supplies. Try to mentally walk through all the tasks you need to complete, and consider the materials needed for each item. 

Turn on all the systems

After months of not being in use, it’s time to power up the cottage! Before closing up the cottage for the winter, you likely turned off all systems and unplugged most appliances. Now, it’s time to reverse those steps. Plug in your fridge and freezer to start getting them ready for food storage. Be sure to test your AC if you have it and confirm it is working properly. You should also check your heating system to make sure this is working as it should, even though you will not be needing it much longer. You will also need to turn your water back on. It’s essential to confirm water is flowing properly and that none of the pipes or drains are blocked. You should also turn on your hot water tank and check for any leaks. With any luck, all systems will be good to go for the summer!

Do a deep clean

Owning a cottage means double the spring cleaning. After a long winter of sitting empty, your cottage will need some love to bring it back to life. Your biggest enemies will likely be dust, dirt, and cobwebs that have accumulated over the months. Make sure you have an endless supply of wipes, cloths, disinfecting spray, and furniture polish on hand. You will also want to bring a good broom and mop with you to tackle the floors! 

Your appliances should also be given a good cleaning treatment. Clean out your microwave, oven, and burners to ensure any lingering debris that may have gathered is gone before cooking. Moving into your bathrooms, you should give your sink, toilet, and shower a good spray as well to freshen things up for the season. Throughout the entire cottage, be on the lookout for any mold or mildew that has popped up, and treat it immediately!

Inspect the outdoor area

Since your cottage is likely in a rural area surrounded by forests and wildlife, it’s important to inspect the outside of the property for any damages that occurred over the winter. First, and most importantly, be sure there are no fallen trees or branches that may have damaged your roof, windows, or any other part of the cottage. Winter storms can be aggressive, and it’s not uncommon to find trees that have been knocked down or blown over. You should also be on the lookout for any signs that wildlife has created a home under your porch or deck. Damage to these areas, such as holes or signs of chewing, can indicate the presence of critters that are meant to be outside. In addition, be sure your deck is in good shape and hasn’t been damaged by ice or snow over the winter. You can add a coat of water sealant to prepare it for summer rainfalls and prevent the wood from rotting prematurely. Finally, it’s important to clean out your gutters to ensure rain can flow freely and prevent leaks this season!

Make notes of any repairs needed

Throughout the process of opening the cottage for summer, you should make notes of any problem areas that require repairs or replacements. Opening weekend is hectic, and it’s easy to forget all the issues you may come across. Jot down anything you see, whether you are able to take care of it yourself or not. For issues you can tackle on your own, it is helpful to remember them in case they occur again in the future. For problems that require extra help, it is obviously important to ensure you have detailed notes on what the issues are, so you can find the right person to fix them.

Opening the cottage for summer can be a tiring process. However, it also means you have a whole season of fun to look forward to! It’s important to prepare yourself as best as you can for opening weekend to give yourself the best experience possible. Be sure to pack strategically, test all systems, do a good cleaning, inspect your property, and take lots of notes on any repairs needed. You’ll be sitting on the dock in the sun in no time!

If you have any questions about your mortgage, give us a call at Centum Home Lenders! You can reach us at 506-854-6847, or get in touch with us here.