7 Features Every Recreational Property Must Have

Having a cottage is a chance to dive into an outdoor lifestyle. Having a deck (and dock) is paramount. If one already exists, make sure the boards and footings are solid and don’t need repairs – replacing decks can get expensive quickly. Having a beautiful outside dining and living space acts like a moth to the flame for recreational-property seekers.

An easy-to-access driveway is one feature cabin owners covet. Having year-round accessibly to the recreational property not only ups the potential of your own personal use but also the rentability factor. Also, inquire about who handles snowplowing or if there are private-road maintenance fees, as that can add up year after year.

Back home in the city, you turn on the tap and water comes out not matter what season it is. But things are a little different up at the cottage – a cold snap can freeze water pipes or cause disastrous line cracks. Having insulated lines from your recreational property to the lake or well will protect you against costly plumbing problems during the winter.

We escape to Cottage Country to get away from the hum of office computer screens and the pings of Facebook notifications. However, in this day and age it’s unreasonable to expect that everyone at the cabin is in the position to unplug.

Having reliable internet and cell service is an absolute must when looking at recreational properties. Contact local providers and get the lowdown on service coverage in the area – sometimes rural locations are excluded or need special considerations.

You want family and friends to enjoy your recreational property too. Having enough space for them to sleep is important. Think through the square footage needed to house everyone, whether that takes the form of multiple bedrooms or cottage-adjacent bunkhouses.

Building restrictions can be quite strict in cottage-heavy areas to help preserve the very thing people flock there for. Look into these restriction, especially if you plan to expand.

How the bathroom works could have a lasting impact on your recreational property, so make sure everything is in tiptop shape. Septic systems are made to last for about 25 years. Investigate the age of the system, and how much longer it will last.

Having a recreational property that can also be used in the fall and winter is good investment. Investigate the level of insulation in the walls, floors, and attic, and make sure it’s suitable for Canadian temperatures. A reliable heat source is also a must if you plan on using the cabin when the temperature drops.

There are a lot of special features we’d like every recreational property to have, but this is the list of the bare minimum. Knowing what to ask and what you might need to do to a property is the very first step. Happy hunting!