Summer is just around the corner, and that means cottage season is approaching fast. As much as we love spending lazy summer days by the lake, opening the cottage for the summer can require a lot of work.
Preparing for the move can be a little overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be as long as you have a strong plan to follow, and you put it in action ahead of time.
Here are our tips for making this summer move as seamless as possible.
Have a copy of the floor-plan handy.
Having a floor-plan of your cottage with accurate measurements will help you ensure you only bring as much as the house can handle. It’ll also allow you to plan out in advance where any new furniture or belongings you’re bringing along will go – taking away the stress of figuring it all out on moving day.
Decide on what you want to move.
Unless you leave your furniture and items in the cottage year round, you’ll need to move some of these items back to the cottage for the summer. Keep your floor-plan in mind when deciding on new items to bring this season – as your cottage likely doesn’t have as much space as your permanent home does.
Turn utilities back on.
Before you move, you’ll want to make sure you’ve called the utility company well in advance to have the electricity and any other services you use turned back on in time for moving day.
Check in on insurance.
Go over insurance documents to confirm the cottage and other related items (boat, trailer) are all up to date. If you have new large items that need to be insured, make sure to add them to your insurance package before leaving the city.
Don’t over pack.
Many of us suffer from this dreaded over-packing condition. We imagine a summer without all our things, and it freaks us out – but when summer ends, we realize we didn’t even read all those books, wear half our wardrobe, or play all the games we brought. Be vigilant when packing for the summer – it’ll make moving back home in the fall a lot faster and easier. You never end up needing as much as you think you’ll need.
Get the cottage cleaned ahead of time.
While you might have given it a good cleaning upon moving out last fall, it is very possible that the winter and rodents have taken their toll. Having everything thoroughly cleaned and any winter damage and leaks repaired before the move will make moving day even easier. This is also the time to get the septic system pumped or the outhouse cleaned. You really don’t want to deal with that mess halfway through cottage season.
Book your movers far in advance.
Cottage season is a particularly busy time for us, because everyone is heading north at the same time. Booking your movers as early as possible ensures you are not stuck in the city away from lake life, waiting for a later moving date.
