IN COLLABORATION WITH PROMUTUEL ASSURANCE
Summer is great at the cottage! But if you want to make the most of your warm-weather haven, you've got to get it ready. That's right: before you can sit comfortably on your dock or veranda, refreshments in hand, you need to open your cottage.
To make your life easier, and enable you to enjoy summer in the comfort of your second home as quickly as possible, follow this step-by-step guide to opening your cottage. From water supply to landscaping and cleaning, find all the tips you need for a hassle-free summer at the cottage.
THE STEPS TO OPENING YOUR COTTAGE FOR THE SUMMER
To avoid forgetting an important step and having unpleasant surprises, here's a guide divided into 8 essential steps to open your cottage for the summer and make it as pleasant as possible for your warm-season stays.
1. Check your insurance coverage
As with your principal residence, insuring your cottage is not only essential to protect it from damage, but also to cover your civil liability in the event of bodily injury or property damage unintentionally caused to another person.
Summer is a good time to review your cottage insurance policy, especially if you're planning to carry out renovations during the warmer months. If you're planning to start renovations, be sure to contact your home insurance representative. If you own an ATV, motorboat or personal watercraft, you should also review your recreational vehicle insurance policies. A well-insured boater is worth two!
2. Inspect the premises
Even if you've visited your cottage during the winter, it's always a good idea to carry out an overall inspection once the snow has melted and the warmer weather is approaching. First and foremost, when you arrive, inspect the premises for signs of mold, water infiltration, broken windows, roof damage and so on. If necessary, call in a professional to make the necessary repairs as quickly as possible. And don't forget to notify your insurer in the event of major damage!
Bonus tip: take advantage of summer to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This should be done every 6 months!
3. Turn the propane or electricity supply back on
Your inspection revealed no problems? Excellent. Now it's time to reconnect your cottage's power. If it runs on electricity, start by inspecting the cables to make sure they're all in good condition. Turn on the main circuit breaker. Walk around the house and plug in appliances to check that all outlets have power. If necessary, contact an electrician for repairs.
Is your cottage powered by propane? Summer is the ideal time to check the condition of your tank, pipes and connections. If your tank is almost empty, be sure to have it filled before the start of the warm season. When it's time to turn the power back on, start by opening your cottage's windows. Open the water main, then carry out the checks. Check for leaks by applying soapy water to the pipe joints. The appearance of bubbles indicates a leak. Remedy the situation by closing the valves and the main line until a professional has carried out the necessary repairs. Last but not least, take advantage of the warmer weather to perform your annual burner cleaning.
Finally, no matter what type of supply you have, wait until you've reopened the water supply before reconnecting your water heater. It must be filled before being inspected and restarted.
4. Inspect and reconnect your water supply
Is your cottage supplied by a surface well? You'll need to clean it every year and test the water at least twice a year. Summer is the perfect time to do both.
If you have a pump, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions before turning on your water supply.
To turn the water supply back on, open a faucet and the main valve. Let the water run for a few minutes. Once your water heater is full, you can plug it back in.
5. Inspect and pump your septic tank
If it's time to pump out your septic tank, contact a professional to do the job. Don't do this dangerous task yourself!
Did you know that, according to Quebec government regulations, the septic tank of a year-round secondary residence must be emptied every two years? For more information, consult the government's technical guide to wastewater treatment for isolated residences.
Once the septic tank has been emptied, open the drain valves and run the water from all the faucets in your home for a few minutes. This will clean your pipes.
6. Clean your cottage and get it ready for summer
Now that the utilities have been reconnected, it's time to tackle some spring cleaning to start the warm season off on the right foot. As well as cleaning spaces and surfaces, change the sheets for summer bedding, put away warm clothes, install mosquito nets and more. In short, get your home ready for summer!
7. Clean and open up your cottage grounds
Once you've cleaned the inside of your cottage, turn your attention to the outside and the grounds. Empty gutters, collect leaves and branches, touch up paintwork and make any other minor repairs. Inspect the property for signs of erosion: broken boulders, collapsed rocks, mudflows, etc.
Next, replace your summer accessories that were put away in the fall: dock, barbecue, outdoor fireplace, chairs, picnic table, hammock, etc. In short, everything you've got in the house. In short, everything you need to play outside at the cottage this season!
8. Plan your renovations
Finally, the approach of summer is the ideal time to plan any necessary renovations and improvements you'd like to make to your cottage. Whether it's new landscaping, a garage for your recreational vehicles or a dock for your watercraft, contact a professional so they can get the job done quickly and let you enjoy your new equipment all summer long.
Just a reminder: if you're having work done, contact your home insurance representative, who will make sure you're covered for the new value of your cottage.
Extra tip: we all forget things sometimes! While you're opening your cottage for the summer, make a list of missing items or things to take with you on your next visit, so you can complete the remaining tasks. After all, the goal is to be able to enjoy your vacation home as much as possible during the summer months, right?
On that note, happy cottage opening and, above all, happy summer!
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