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Cottage Life

Why a bad review can make or break your listing

Your cottage might look like the perfect oasis, but experienced hosts know that the key to a successful rental listing goes way beyond appearances. According to Vrbo, the online vacation rental marketplace, as many as 92 per cent of travellers want to see reviews before booking. That means the next review could make or break your listing.

“Reading reviews and caring about previous experiences is something that really resonates with travellers,” says Mary Zajac, a spokesperson for Vrbo. “There’s so many choices. People want to ensure that what they’re getting from their experience is matching their expectations.

Reviews are also an important part of how hosts gain trust and credibility on rental platforms. On Vrbo, you can earn a Premier Host badge if you meet certain criteria, including a minimum average rating. That recognition will boost your listing in search results. Bad reviews, on the other hand, could sink it.
“Reviews definitely play a role and are a factor in the ranking of your overall listing,” confirms Zajac. A poorly reviewed listing will be seen less often and be far less attractive to those that do see it. And less demand means lower rates.

A bad review of your cottage could be the result of broken items, inaccurate descriptions of amenities, lack of cleanliness, poor communication, or rambunctious next door parties.

Thankfully, they aren’t common. According to Vrbo research, 80 per cent of reviews are positive, while only four per cent are negative. So, instead of worrying whether that bad review will ever come, try to focus on encouraging every guest to leave a review. Here’s a few tips:

  • Prepare them: Let your guests know ahead of time that they’ll be asked to review the property. This friendly reminder will show them you prioritize positive reviews.
  • Review the guest: Zajac suggests leaving a review for the guest as soon as you can, doing so will prompt the guest to leave a review of their own.
  • Help them with ideas: When you follow up with your guest after their stay, get them talking about their experience. This will give them a couple of ideas to write about when leaving their review.

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Cottage Life

Family-friendly Blue Mountain vacation rentals

Looking for something to do with your family? Consider skiing the slopes of Blue Mountain. Enroll the kids in snow school to learn how to ski or take advantage of the hill’s night-lit trails. With 42 runs, ranging from bunny slopes to the mile-long Gord’s Groove, you could spend your whole day exploring the mountain.

But after a long ski session, you need the right place to relax. These rentals, all within a short drive of Blue Mountain, offer the perfect après ski amenities, including hot tubs, saunas, wood-burning fireplaces, and stunning views of Georgian Bay.

If your family gets tired of downhill skiing, you can always explore the area’s abundance of cross country trails, take a tour of nearby craft breweries, including Side Launch, Northwinds, and The Collingwood Brewery, or spend your day window shopping in Blue Mountain Village.

A kilometre from the base of Blue Mountain’s slopes, this no-frills ski chalet has three floors, parking for five, and an indoor sauna.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $800 per night

Sleeps: 20

Bedrooms: 8

Notes:

  • One kilometre from Blue Mountain Village
  • Internet included
  • Pets allowed with prior notice
  • Sauna available for use

Click here to book


 

This 4,000 square-foot, three-storey ski chalet features two wood-burning fireplaces, a pool table, and is within walking distance of Blue Mountain Village.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $726 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 7

Notes:

  • Less than a kilometre from Blue Mountain Resort
  • Laundry on site
  • Pool table and foosball table available for use
  • Internet included
  • Two-night minimum stay
  • Guests must bring their own firewood

Click here to book


 

A two-and-a-half-acre property with views of Georgian Bay, this ski chalet boasts 20-foot ceilings, a 70-foot deck, and its own elevator that serves the rental’s top three levels.

Location: Meaford, Ont.

Price: Averages $1,127 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 4

Notes: 

  • 14 kilometres from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Rooftop terrace
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Wheelchair accessible

Click here to book


 

Located in Meaford, Ont.’s historic district, this rental is a quick walk to the shores of Georgian Bay and a 25-minute drive to Blue Mountain. Featuring a wraparound deck, a gas fireplace, and an outdoor hot tub, you’ll have all the amenities you need to relax post-ski.

Location: Meaford, Ont.

Price: Averages $912 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • 22 kilometres from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Internet included
  • Linens provided
  • Waterfront view

Click here to book


 

A classic, three-level, Swiss-style chalet, this rental offers views of Blue Mountain, a wood-burning fireplace, and a dry sauna, plus a pet-friendly policy, so feel free to bring fido.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $616 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 7

Notes:

  • Less than a kilometre from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Dry sauna available for use
  • Internet included
  • Pets welcome
  • Ping pong table available

Click here to book


 

Categories
Cottage Life

Family-friendly Blue Mountain vacation rentals

Looking for something to do with your family? Consider skiing the slopes of Blue Mountain. Enroll the kids in snow school to learn how to ski or take advantage of the hill’s night-lit trails. With 42 runs, ranging from bunny slopes to the mile-long Gord’s Groove, you could spend your whole day exploring the mountain.

But after a long ski session, you need the right place to relax. These rentals, all within a short drive of Blue Mountain, offer the perfect après ski amenities, including hot tubs, saunas, wood-burning fireplaces, and stunning views of Georgian Bay.

If your family gets tired of downhill skiing, you can always explore the area’s abundance of cross country trails, take a tour of nearby craft breweries, including Side Launch, Northwinds, and The Collingwood Brewery, or spend your day window shopping in Blue Mountain Village.

A kilometre from the base of Blue Mountain’s slopes, this no-frills ski chalet has three floors, parking for five, and an indoor sauna.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $800 per night

Sleeps: 20

Bedrooms: 8

Notes:

  • One kilometre from Blue Mountain Village
  • Internet included
  • Pets allowed with prior notice
  • Sauna available for use

Click here to book


 

This 4,000 square-foot, three-storey ski chalet features two wood-burning fireplaces, a pool table, and is within walking distance of Blue Mountain Village.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $726 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 7

Notes:

  • Less than a kilometre from Blue Mountain Resort
  • Laundry on site
  • Pool table and foosball table available for use
  • Internet included
  • Two-night minimum stay
  • Guests must bring their own firewood

Click here to book


 

A two-and-a-half-acre property with views of Georgian Bay, this ski chalet boasts 20-foot ceilings, a 70-foot deck, and its own elevator that serves the rental’s top three levels.

Location: Meaford, Ont.

Price: Averages $1,127 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 4

Notes: 

  • 14 kilometres from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Rooftop terrace
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Wheelchair accessible

Click here to book


 

Located in Meaford, Ont.’s historic district, this rental is a quick walk to the shores of Georgian Bay and a 25-minute drive to Blue Mountain. Featuring a wraparound deck, a gas fireplace, and an outdoor hot tub, you’ll have all the amenities you need to relax post-ski.

Location: Meaford, Ont.

Price: Averages $912 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • 22 kilometres from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Internet included
  • Linens provided
  • Waterfront view

Click here to book


 

A classic, three-level, Swiss-style chalet, this rental offers views of Blue Mountain, a wood-burning fireplace, and a dry sauna, plus a pet-friendly policy, so feel free to bring fido.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $616 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 7

Notes:

  • Less than a kilometre from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Dry sauna available for use
  • Internet included
  • Pets welcome
  • Ping pong table available

Click here to book


 

Categories
Cottage Life

Family-friendly Blue Mountain vacation rentals

Looking for something to do with your family? Consider skiing the slopes of Blue Mountain. Enroll the kids in snow school to learn how to ski or take advantage of the hill’s night-lit trails. With 42 runs, ranging from bunny slopes to the mile-long Gord’s Groove, you could spend your whole day exploring the mountain.

But after a long ski session, you need the right place to relax. These rentals, all within a short drive of Blue Mountain, offer the perfect après ski amenities, including hot tubs, saunas, wood-burning fireplaces, and stunning views of Georgian Bay.

If your family gets tired of downhill skiing, you can always explore the area’s abundance of cross country trails, take a tour of nearby craft breweries, including Side Launch, Northwinds, and The Collingwood Brewery, or spend your day window shopping in Blue Mountain Village.

A kilometre from the base of Blue Mountain’s slopes, this no-frills ski chalet has three floors, parking for five, and an indoor sauna.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $800 per night

Sleeps: 20

Bedrooms: 8

Notes:

  • One kilometre from Blue Mountain Village
  • Internet included
  • Pets allowed with prior notice
  • Sauna available for use

Click here to book


 

This 4,000 square-foot, three-storey ski chalet features two wood-burning fireplaces, a pool table, and is within walking distance of Blue Mountain Village.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $726 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 7

Notes:

  • Less than a kilometre from Blue Mountain Resort
  • Laundry on site
  • Pool table and foosball table available for use
  • Internet included
  • Two-night minimum stay
  • Guests must bring their own firewood

Click here to book


 

A two-and-a-half-acre property with views of Georgian Bay, this ski chalet boasts 20-foot ceilings, a 70-foot deck, and its own elevator that serves the rental’s top three levels.

Location: Meaford, Ont.

Price: Averages $1,127 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 4

Notes: 

  • 14 kilometres from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Rooftop terrace
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Wheelchair accessible

Click here to book


 

Located in Meaford, Ont.’s historic district, this rental is a quick walk to the shores of Georgian Bay and a 25-minute drive to Blue Mountain. Featuring a wraparound deck, a gas fireplace, and an outdoor hot tub, you’ll have all the amenities you need to relax post-ski.

Location: Meaford, Ont.

Price: Averages $912 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • 22 kilometres from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Internet included
  • Linens provided
  • Waterfront view

Click here to book


 

A classic, three-level, Swiss-style chalet, this rental offers views of Blue Mountain, a wood-burning fireplace, and a dry sauna, plus a pet-friendly policy, so feel free to bring fido.

Location: Blue Mountain, Ont.

Price: Averages $616 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 7

Notes:

  • Less than a kilometre from Blue Mountain Ski Resort
  • Dry sauna available for use
  • Internet included
  • Pets welcome
  • Ping pong table available

Click here to book


 

Categories
Cottage Life

Historic Severn Lodge in Muskoka for sale after 86 years of ownership

Built on the northern shores of Gloucester Pool, Ont., Severn Lodge, an establishment steeped in Muskoka tradition, can trace its history back nearly 150 years. But as of mid-January, the family resort has acquired a new addition: a for sale sign.

“We have decided to sell in order to be closer to our family in the United States,” says Sam Breckbill, the current owner, in an email. “My wife and I are both from Ohio. Although, I also grew up living at the lodge for half of the year, as we are open seasonally. Much of our family lives in Ohio and other U.S. states. We are at the stage in our lives when it’s important to be close to certain family members, especially those that are getting up in years and need our support.”

The decision to sell wasn’t easy, Breckbill adds, especially as business boomed during the pandemic. Deliberations had been ongoing for two years, weighted by the family history that hangs heavy over the resort’s 100 acres of pine-covered land.

Severn Lodge
Photo Courtesy of Sam Breckbill

Severn Lodge has been in the Breckbill family for 86 years. In 1928, Sam Breckbill’s grandfather, William “Bill” Breckbill, fresh out of high school, got a job working summers at Severn Lodge. Bill fell in love with the area’s clear waters, pine woods, and rock outcroppings. He spent eight years climbing his way up to general manager before purchasing the resort in 1936.

Before being owned by the Breckbills, the Severn Lodge lot passed through several hands, starting in the mid-1800s as the Georgian Bay Lumber Company headquarters. It was then that the main lodge was built. Around 1870, as the lumber industry waned, a group from Pittsburgh, Pa. bought the property, transforming it into the Mordolphton Camp, a place to fish and enjoy pristine Canadian wilderness.

Mordolphton Camp
Photo Courtesy of Sam Breckbill

In the early 1920s, the lot was again sold. Bought by George Barrick and Glen Crummel of Akron, Ohio, who bestowed the building with its current name, Severn Lodge, opening it to the public. Under Barrick and Crummel, Bill Breckbill acquired his taste for resort life.

Fast forward nine decades, and Severn Lodge has passed through three generations of Breckbills, employing 12 different family members.

Sam Breckbill recalls a number of notable moments from his time at the lodge: staff Thanksgiving dinners served late after the guests had finished eating. Each member of the table saying what they were thankful for. A sister getting married at the lodge. His mother throwing him a party after he bought into the business. Guests and past employees showing up, reminiscing about lodge events that stretched back 40 years.

“Severn Lodge is truly a special place that you must visit in order to understand how special it is,” Breckbill says. “I think it is a combination of the cozy, secluded beauty of the resort, the lake, and the Muskoka landscape, as well as the experience of being around people who are so happy and joyful from being in this environment.”

The asking price for the lodge is $12 million, plus $5 million for an adjoining five-acre peninsula, according to Colliers Canada, the agency representing the lodge. Offers will be accepted starting March 2.

Categories
Cottage Life

Historic Severn Lodge in Muskoka for sale after 86 years of ownership

Built on the northern shores of Gloucester Pool, Ont., Severn Lodge, an establishment steeped in Muskoka tradition, can trace its history back nearly 150 years. But as of mid-January, the family resort has acquired a new addition: a for sale sign.

“We have decided to sell in order to be closer to our family in the United States,” says Sam Breckbill, the current owner, in an email. “My wife and I are both from Ohio. Although, I also grew up living at the lodge for half of the year, as we are open seasonally. Much of our family lives in Ohio and other U.S. states. We are at the stage in our lives when it’s important to be close to certain family members, especially those that are getting up in years and need our support.”

The decision to sell wasn’t easy, Breckbill adds, especially as business boomed during the pandemic. Deliberations had been ongoing for two years, weighted by the family history that hangs heavy over the resort’s 100 acres of pine-covered land.

Severn Lodge
Photo Courtesy of Sam Breckbill

Severn Lodge has been in the Breckbill family for 86 years. In 1928, Sam Breckbill’s grandfather, William “Bill” Breckbill, fresh out of high school, got a job working summers at Severn Lodge. Bill fell in love with the area’s clear waters, pine woods, and rock outcroppings. He spent eight years climbing his way up to general manager before purchasing the resort in 1936.

Before being owned by the Breckbills, the Severn Lodge lot passed through several hands, starting in the mid-1800s as the Georgian Bay Lumber Company headquarters. It was then that the main lodge was built. Around 1870, as the lumber industry waned, a group from Pittsburgh, Pa. bought the property, transforming it into the Mordolphton Camp, a place to fish and enjoy pristine Canadian wilderness.

Mordolphton Camp
Photo Courtesy of Sam Breckbill

In the early 1920s, the lot was again sold. Bought by George Barrick and Glen Crummel of Akron, Ohio, who bestowed the building with its current name, Severn Lodge, opening it to the public. Under Barrick and Crummel, Bill Breckbill acquired his taste for resort life.

Fast forward nine decades, and Severn Lodge has passed through three generations of Breckbills, employing 12 different family members.

Sam Breckbill recalls a number of notable moments from his time at the lodge: staff Thanksgiving dinners served late after the guests had finished eating. Each member of the table saying what they were thankful for. A sister getting married at the lodge. His mother throwing him a party after he bought into the business. Guests and past employees showing up, reminiscing about lodge events that stretched back 40 years.

“Severn Lodge is truly a special place that you must visit in order to understand how special it is,” Breckbill says. “I think it is a combination of the cozy, secluded beauty of the resort, the lake, and the Muskoka landscape, as well as the experience of being around people who are so happy and joyful from being in this environment.”

The asking price for the lodge is $12 million, plus $5 million for an adjoining five-acre peninsula, according to Colliers Canada, the agency representing the lodge. Offers will be accepted starting March 2.

Categories
Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: Acadian Coast

New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province. Many of its vibrant Francophone communities are arrayed along its east coast, known as the Acadian Coast. Here, cottage country has traditionally meant Shediac, a 20-minute drive from Moncton. The town is the self-proclaimed lobster capital of the world, and the July festival devoted to this succulent crustacean is one of many family-oriented events. But with such a short commute to the city, many Shediac cottages are becoming year-round residences.

Farther north along the shore, waterfront dwellings tend to be more affordable. However, you’ll likely find these in a fishing village rather than in a cottage community. For those willing to try a more remote area, there are beautiful beaches on Chaleur Bay. Bathurst is an attractive regional centre with a tradition of multi-generational family cottages on its outskirts.

In northern New Brunswick, undeveloped waterfront lots are a popular investment for rural New Brunswickers working out west in the oil patch. More generally, though, the much-loathed “double tax” on second homes (actually a provincial tax on top of municipal property taxes) likely dampens the cottage market province-wide, potentially putting buyers at an advantage. 

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Cottage Life

Everything you need to include in your cottage rental agreement

If you have a cottage in a prime location, renting can be a great source of ancillary revenue. Unfortunately, renting out your property isn’t as easy as handing over the keys. Even if people are only staying for a weekend, you need measures in place to protect you, your guest, and your property. To do this, create a cottage rental agreement.

“A rental agreement itemizes the terms, the price, and any security deposits that would have to go down,” says Bradley Samuel, a real estate lawyer with Tierney Stauffer LLP.

If you’re creating your own rental agreement, here are the details you should include:

Guest information

Don’t hand your property over to a complete stranger. In the agreement, collect the guest’s name, phone number, email address, and home address. Some hosts will even ask for a copy of the guest’s ID to ensure they are who they say they are.

Beyond the guest who made the booking, you should also require the names, phone numbers, and addresses of all people who will be occupying your property, including guests just visiting for the day and not staying overnight.

Having this information gives you a better idea of who you’re hosting and should keep your guests’ behaviour more accountable during the stay.

Property details

Give the guest a detailed overview of what’s available at your property. Include an itemized list of amenities, such as laundry machines and internet access. Some hosts also provide watercraft. If you’re providing a motorized watercraft, Samuel stresses that you must outline the rules around its use. “If they’re getting use of a boat or watercraft, [make sure] that they’re appropriately licensed, drinking is prohibited, and so forth,” he says.

This section is also where you can specify what’s off limits to guests, such as utility closets or work sheds.

Terms of the stay

To avoid issues with poorly behaved guests, include rules around the stay. Start with the check-in and checkout dates and times. Make sure they’re exact so that guests don’t have wiggle room to show up and leave whenever they want. Specify the maximum number of allowed guests at the property, including those just visiting for the day—otherwise you leave yourself open to parties.

Follow this up with any firm rules, such as no smoking, no pets, or no loud music. Samuel also suggests including a note on any fire bans in effect, especially if you have an outdoor fire pit.

Finally, let the guest know that upon departure, you expect the cottage to be in the same condition they found it. Some hosts will even provide dump passes, requiring the guest to take their garbage with them.

“You would want to include a clause that says breach of any of those rules is a deemed termination, and you can be ejected immediately,” Samuel says. “So, you sort of swing the hammer if you need to.”

Liabilities

According to Samuel, this is a must-have section in the agreement. In case anything happens during the stay, you need to make sure you’re protected against lawsuits or major financial loss.

The first step is to check what your insurance covers. “Most people’s homeowner’s insurance covers them for blanket liability,” Samuel says. “So, things like boating accidents or negligence that causes injury…typically [the host’s] house insurance will cover that.”

As an added precaution, Samuel advises including a separate indemnity waiver to ensure that “the actual person or persons putting their name and credit card down are the ones who are going to take liability for their guests.” This means that if someone other than the person who made the booking drives your boat while intoxicated or performs a dangerous act, you’re not liable for their well-being. We suggest having a lawyer look over the waiver before sending it to guests.

Payment information

This is where you can confirm the nightly price, how you expect to be paid (through a booking site, e-transfer, etc.), and when the fee should be paid by. If the guest is booking more than 30 days in advance, you may want to ask for part of the payment up front so that the guest is less inclined to cancel last minute.

Add a section about cancellations—how the guest should go about it, how far in advance you need to be notified, and any ramifications, such as a lost deposit, so the guest knows what to expect if they change their mind about the stay.

This is also a good place to include any information on security or cleaning deposits. Communicate why you collect the deposit, how much you collect, and under what circumstances the guest would lose the deposit. Claiming a deposit can be a point of contention between guests and hosts, so make sure you’re clear on what your expectations are.

Additional clauses

As much as the agreement is about the guest committing to your rules, you need to provide them with some promises. This includes a section about maintenance—that the property will be clean, safe to use, and all amenities will be working.

You should also address your right to access the property during the stay. “If it’s a weekend or a week booking, we’re talking shorter term, I would say in the agreement that you can access the property at all reasonable times,” Samuel says.

Finally, provide information on keys, alarms, and lock codes—anything the guest needs to access the property.

Once the guest has read and completed the agreement, all you need is their signature and you’re ready to rent.

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Cottage Life

If you value privacy, you’ll love these Thousand Islands getaways

Cottages in the Thousand Islands easily rival its central Ontario neighbours. The area, perched on the picturesque shores of the St. Lawrence River, is home to over 1,800 islands with many bordering the U.S.

If you’re looking for outdoor adventure consider a boat cruise along the St. Lawrence or a dip in one of the area’s surrounding lakes. It’s the ideal place to hike with over 50 kilometres of trails. If the outdoors isn’t your thing, shopping and fine dining are only a 30-minute drive away in Kingston.

If you do choose the Thousand Islands for your cottage getaway, make sure to visit the soaring turrets of Heart Island’s Boldt Castle and the Gothic architecture of Dark Island’s Singer Castle.

Thirty minutes from Kingston, the newly renovated Grippen Lakehouse offers 2,000 square feet of living space, vaulted ceilings, and a wraparound deck with serene lake views.

Location: Grippen Lake, Ont.

Price: Averages $367 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 4

Notes:

  • Internet included
  • Laundry on site
  • Lakefront property
  • Canoe and kayak available for use
  • Pets welcome
  • Outdoor fire pit
  • Guests must remove their own garbage at checkout

Click here to book


 

With a view of the Thousand Islands bridge connecting Canada to the U.S., Sunset Cove is the perfect island getaway offering shoreline access to the St. Lawrence River.

Location: Ivy Lea, Ont.

Price: Averages $295 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Located on an island, you need to take a boat or taxi to access
  • Pets welcome
  • Outdoor fire pit
  • Steep stairs, ill suited for those with limited mobility

Click here to book


 

Perched on the Bateau Channel, this Howe Island cottage is the perfect getaway for sightseeing and boat tours.

Location: Bateau Channel, Ont.

Price: Averages $563 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Accessible by ferry
  • Outdoor fire pit
  • Kayaks and canoe available for use
  • Linens and towels not provided

Click here to book


 

Nestled in a quiet cove on Birch Island on Bobs Lake, this cottage is accessible by boat. It is the perfect wilderness retreat with 640 kilometres of shoreline to explore.

Location: Birch Island, Ont.

Price: Averages $185 per night

Sleeps: 9

Bedrooms: 4

Notes:

  • Launch your boat and park your car and trailer for free at the marina.
  • Kayaks, canoe, and paddle boat available for use
  • Cottage is accessible by boat only
  • Guests need to bring their own drinking water
  • Linens and towels not provided

Click here to book


 

Another Bobs Lake property, this cottage has16-foot high ceilings and comes with two bunkies—enough room for the entire family. Throw in a basketball court, hot tub, and boats, and you’ll never be bored.

Location: Bobs Lake, Ont.

Price: Averages $1,003 per night

Sleeps: 15

Bedrooms: 6

Notes:

  • Lakefront property
  • Kayak and canoe available for use
  • Pets welcome
  • Hot tub
  • Basketball court on the property
  • Two bunkies (one is a treehouse)
  • Cottage is on an island

Click here to book


 

With 10 acres of property and 500 feet of western exposed shoreline, privacy is not a problem at the Lazy Loon Lakehouse. Enjoy the 50-foot deck, hanging hammock chair, or crisp waters of Wolfe Lake.

Location: Wolfe Lake, Ont.

Price: Averages $530 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 5

Notes:

  • Lakefront property with western exposure
  • Kayaks and rowboat available for use
  • A/C
  • Outdoor fire pit
  • Towels not provided

Click here to book


 

Categories
Cottage Life

What restrictions can you put on your rental cottage?

Cottages became a sought-after pandemic escape as Canadians gravitated to local vacation rentals over the past few years. But some owners, though excited to turn their summer retreat into an income property, are still weary of letting strangers in. Luckily, if it’s your place, your rules apply. 

“There are rules and policies that each host sets for their vacation home,” says Alison Kwong, a spokesperson for VRBO, the online vacation rental marketplace. “It gives hosts that peace of mind.”

Here are some of the common restrictions you can set for your cottage:

Guest policy

Cottage owners can restrict additional guests if they choose, or stipulate that guests can’t stay overnight. “It’s common for renters to invite people over for lunch or to hang out during the day, but when it comes to who’s sleeping there, you can be strict,” says Kwong. 

Age of primary renter

The age of the primary renter is something guests need to disclose on VRBO, says Kwong. “The age restriction varies from host to host. Some set it at 25 or 21. The minimum is to prevent parties or misuse of the property. You can also require that the primary renter is staying on site to avoid a case where an older sibling, or the parent, is renting for the kids.”

Length of stay

Looking to really cash in on your income property? While you may be tempted to rent it out all year, ensure that you’re not violating your insurance policy. Some companies might allow one month of rentals, while another might allow six months. If you’re restricted to a certain length, be sure to inform potential renters before they book. Your insurance may also stipulate additional restrictions—including maximum occupancy—so familiarize yourself with your policy before setting your rental restrictions. 

Pet policy

According to VRBO, one of the most popular search filters is for properties that allow pets. “It’s really fantastic to be able to bring your dog along,” says Kwong, who adds that they’re seeing a lot of that during the pandemic. But there are reasons to ask renters to leave Rover at home, including severe allergies, protection from possible damage, or having to pay a premium on housekeeping fees.   

Local rules

Hosts have a variety of preferences for what happens on their property, and many will restrict things like smoking or holding events. Beyond that, make sure you and your renters are following local rules and bylaws. For example, not all lakes allow motor boats, or your municipality may be under a fire ban. “It’s just a win-win for everybody when you’re abiding by the local rules and restrictions in that community,” says Kwong.