It’s too late to get a good cottage:  True or False

FALSE: There are lots of new cottage owners who have just bought and closed on their purchase, and are now listing their properties for the first time. The secret is in how to find them. Unless listing agencies have a method for highlighting new listings or last minute availability, you’ll have to go through each listing and check whether the week is open or not. A tiresome process, so you may be better served contacting a few agencies and asking if they have something new coming up. We have just listed over a dozen new cottages, with another 15 or so to come in the next few weeks. Call us on 1 866 323 6698 and ask about what’s new, or bookmark this blog as we’ll be listing them all here as soon as they go on the web site.

Rental rates are higher through an agency than a private listing: True or False

FALSE: A reputable agency will place a competetive rate on a cottage that will be on a par with private listings. You may have to pay a booking fee on top of the rental rate. What you get for that is the assurance that the cottage has been inspected by agency staff, meets their minimum standards, and is regularly checked and maintained by the owner or his representative.

Discounts apply for last minute availability

FALSE: Some owners may discount late availability but don’t expect this to happen. There is a high demand for weekly rentals even at the last minute and we usually have a list of people waiting for a cancellation or late listing.  Many owners would prefer to use a vacant week themselves rather than offer a deal. However, it’s always worth asking.

All agencies are created equal: True or False

FALSE: There are a lot of rental agencies operating in Ontario, and thankfully, most are professionally managed and comply with provincial regulations of either the Real Estate Board (RECO) or the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO). However, offering cottages for rent and accepting a commission from an owner for doing the work, can seem an easy business to set up, and there are a number of unregulated agencies now listing cottages on web sites. To ensure your money is protected, held in a Trust Account, and managed professionally, make sure the agency you use is RECO or TICO registered. The logos and registration numbers should be clearly displayed on their sites and in supporting literature.

We just got rid of all that time consuming searching and paperwork. Just take a look at our new site at www.clrm.ca – here’s what you’ll find:

Completely up to date availability – our availability is live, so as soon as an online booking is made, the calendar is updated. Search for the actual dates you want or for a start date to see all the cottages we have available at that time.

Compare feature – sometimes it’s nice to see a few properties side by side on a page so you can compare features and prices. The compare feature allows you to do just that.

Advanced search options – if you are looking for something in particular, perhaps a pet friendly cottage, or one with internet access, just use the search facility to find one that has the features you want.

Online booking – no more rental applications or faxing paperwork back and forth. Just use the simple online form to reserve your cottage – fill in the names and ages of your group, and providing you don’t exceed the maximum occupancy or other noted restrictions, your reservation is confirmed immediately.

We’ve Stayed Here cottages – where you see the red We’ve Stayed Here badge, it means a member of our team has actually stayed a night or more in that property. All our cottages have been personally inspected, but where we can, we stay there overnight to get the full guest experience.

Trip planning – if you need to rent a boat or a snowmobile, want to book a cruise or a fishing trip, or just want quick information on what is in the local area, check out our cottage region pages. We’ll be adding to those all the time to bring new events and attractions so you can plan your trip well ahead of time.

Packing List – you can find a lot of vacation packing lists online, but ours is the only one that focuses on vacation rental packing. We know what you should take since we’ve stayed at a lot of vacation rentals, so our list is comprehensive and includes everything from things to pack for a rainy day to a terrific food list so you don’t forget anything you need for cottage catering. Our unique packing list is sent free to all our rental guests.

Take a look at the site and let us know what you think. We need and value your feedback and will put all suggestions into a monthly draw for a $50 cottage rental voucher – redeemable against your booking.

Now think how much fun it would be to enjoy Christmas or New Year with your family at a rented cottage. Check our just-published Festive Availability and book now for your fabulous winter break. Call or email us with any questions you have, and book today!

For me, the fall is the best time for geocaching. There are no bugs, it’s nice and cool for a hike and there is little traffic. What better idea than to rent a cottage for a few days and get the family out of the city for some outdoors time.

To find out more, go to Geocaching.com and check out the great video that shows you how to start; then read my article on Geocaching at the Cottage; and visit Geocaching Ontario for details on competitions and new Ontario caches.

You can either plan all this yourself, or choose a cottage that provides a Geocaching Package. This can include a rental GPS unit with instructions, a list of caches in the area, maps, and a couple of trinkets to start you off. Once you’ve found the first cache, you’ll be well on your way.

Give us a call if you want more information. We have plenty of availability for November and watch out for our Specials Page with discounts for November rentals.

Back to school next week……

It’ll be winter in three months time…….

Oh my – this is all a little scary – and yesterday I saw leaves drifting off a tree that was fast changing colour.  But wait!  You can still rent a cottage to enjoy the last long weekend of the summer.  We’ve still got a range of lakefront cottages to rent from 3rd – 6th September.  Take a look at our last minute page and book now.  These won’t last for long.

With four bedrooms and two bathrooms; a living and a family room and a delightful sun room, this is a great location for two families vacationing together.  The established perennial gardens, and great swimming from the shoreline and off the dock makes this a super choice for parents and children alike.  It has just been listed at $2200 per week and has availability for July and August.  Call us on   1 866 323 6698 for more details.

So, if you want good fishing, great swimming in a quiet bay, and a superb  location, we recommend The Sharicton to you!  It will sleep up to 8 people in 3 bedrooms + a den and has a full bathroom and powder room.  All for $1700 per week.

I love to run, and my favourite route is the 4km road that leads down to my cottage on the Crowe River. At this time of year it’s the most tranquil and peaceful route you could imagine. The only sounds might be a woodpecker tapping away at a tree, or a chipmunk rustling in the leaves. Coming around a corner to see a group of deer grazing by the roadside is one of those idyllic moments that are hard to forget. On a cool day there’s little that beats a good run finished of with a soak in the hot tub listening to the flow of the river over the nearby rapids. The few hills just add to the variety and interest of the run – not too difficult but enough to make it a great workout.

If you are a runner and want to get away from running in town; having to slow for crossing a road or maneuvering around pedestrians, why not give yourself a break and enjoy some great cottage country routes. Osprey Cottage is available for short breaks and so are many others in our cottage collection. Just give us a call and let us help you arrange it for you.

Photo of Shoe Tree on Highway 62, Ontario by 1ncognito

 I met a lot of people at the Show yesterday looking for a cottage to rent for the entire summer of 2008. They are right to be doing their search now. Many of our best cottages already have several summer weeks booked – most of them with returning guests from this year. Having said that, one of the purposes of us exhibiting is to attract new owners and new cottages, and it sure looks like there will be a bumper crop for next year. Over the next few weeks our team will be on the road inspecting these properties, taking interior photos and preparing them for listing. This is always an exciting time as we’ll get to see lakes and rivers we have never been to, and add new locations to our ever growing inventory.

More from the Show tomorrow……………….

Most cottages have been booked up for months, particularly those with prime waterfront on the popular Muskoka Lakes. However there are often new cottages coming onto the rental market and most of the rental agencies and private owner websites have last minute listings. There’s a lot of people looking for late availability so here’s a few tips to help:

Don’t ask for a discount or a deal for a prime week.

I’m getting around 50 enquiries a day at the moment for last minute rentals mainly for the last week of July and first week of August. There is just too much demand for an owner to offer a deal, and unless the cottage is still vacant a few days before the week starts, I wouldn’t hold out much hope that you’d get one. There is also a risk that you offend the cottage owner which doesn’t do much good.

Be straight with your numbers

When the owner or agency asks you how many people you have in your group, don’t hesitate and say you are not sure yet. This sounds immediate alarm bells in the owners mind that you might just be planning a party at his cottage. Be honest about the number of adults and children in the group. And, yes, children do count! The maximum number a cottage will accommodate is usually determined by the capacity of a septic system to support usage over the week and is not negotiable.

Don’t be too choosy

At this late stage, you might have to abandon some of your criteria such as wanting air conditioning, or a sandy beach. There is very limited choice and the cottages that remain are often the last to go for a reason. Perhaps there is a short walk to the water, or a shared beach; there may be close neighbours, or limited facilities. You need to be decisive at this time, so know what you are prepared to sacrifice to get a cottage for the week you want.

Mention the dog!

Pet friendly properties are usually the first to be rented, so you may find it more of a challenge if you have a pet you want to take with you, as many cottages will not accept them. When you are speaking with an owner or agency, mention any animals at the outset. Don’t leave it until you are ready to make payment to tell them Fido is coming.

Pay promptly

An agency will normally ask for a credit card payment on booking, however a private owner may not accept credit card bookings and you’ll need to send a cheque by Express Post. Don’t expect a cottage to be held for you if your payment is delayed – there are plenty of other people waiting to take the week you want.