As we approach the most Canadian of holidays – our sacred celebration of the end of yet another Winter.
Yes, we’re talking about the May long weekend. It’s known by many names -- Patriots' Day, Victoria Day, May 2-4 – but it’s generally celebrated the same. That is with friends, a beverage of your choice, and under the stars. Even if it’s still sometimes a bit too cold yet, Canadians make sure they are enjoying the outdoors during the weekend.
And, for many, that means one thing: it’s time to re-open the Chalet, Camp, Cottage, or Cabin.
After a long winter, there will be several things you should do to make sure the re-opening goes smoothly.
Here are some things you should do:
Before you get down to the fun at hand, you have to be responsible. You need to do things like get the power back up, change the batteries in the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, have a peak at the roof to look for weather damage, make sure the water is on and ensure that the septic system is working because everybody, well, everybody needs a working septic system.
In fact, you should probably get your septic system and roof inspected by a professional.
We know. Not the most exciting thing, but it’s important. That’s especially the case if you have some new toys, like ATVs, Jet Skis, boats, etc.
It’s also important if you’re planning to rent the property during the times you can’t use it.
So, give your insurance agent a call and get it sorted. Pronto.
Now for the fun stuff! Ok, well, the almost fun stuff. A couple of days before you are set to make the first trip back, take a run to your storage unit to have a good look at the equipment that you stored over the winter. If you stored it at a heated facility, the equipment will have escaped the Winter without damage, but you may want to upgrade to newer versions of some of it or sell some that you did not utilize the summer prior.
Make a list of what you need and spend the next couple days shopping. Then pack what you’ll need to start having fun on your weekend getaways! Bonus: you’ll free up space in the storage unit to put your Winter toys way for the season.
Once you’ve arrived at your summer home, you should hold off unpacking just a few more minutes to make sure everything is ready to go. Walk around the perimeter of the building to look for weather damage and make a note of anything that might need attention. Then do the same inside, paying particular attention for mold, mildew, or damage from rodents.
Your next task is the most important of all – hang the hammock, pull out something cold and start enjoying your first Summer day of the season!
