Short-Term Cottage Rental – Winter Essentials

As the weather gets colder, the days get shorter, and cottages get quieter it is time to start preparing your cottage rentals for the winter months. So why don’t we help you? 

Here in the Kawartha lakes the summer months are booming, cottagers from all over come to visit the beautiful towns, take in the scenery, and enjoy the fresh water. But cottage country life doesn’t stop when the lakes get colder and the views get whiter. There’s a whole other winter market to gain.

First things first though, this is the time for all property owners to do all of those big and small fixes that they’ve been putting off all summer. In order to maximize revenues during the busy months, repairs and upgrades should be scheduled during the slower seasons. This is the time to repaint all the busy areas of the homes, ensure that all amenities are working, start closing down the seasonal cottages, or switch up the cottages to ensure a smooth winter of renting. 

If you are someone that is looking to gain winter rentals following some easy steps can make it easier for you. Here are some of our tips for getting winter ready:
1. Ensure heat is working, don’t forget to monitor propane tanks, and set up a refilling schedule if you haven’t already.
2. Check doors/Windows for draft areas. Knowing which parts of your STR can be colder during the frosty months can allow you to add more heating options such as space heaters.
3. Make sure your septic is pumped and ready to go. Having to get your septic pumped in the winter is not a headache you want. 

4. Change bedding. Consider gaining more throw blankets, heavier duvets or comforters for the winter months to ensure each guest is warm. 

Each of these items can be crucial for providing 5 star stays.
Want more tips? Be sure to get our free ebook tip guide for advancing your STR’s. 

When guests consider winter cottages, it is not the same as during the summer, having a waterfront or water access property is not enough to bring ample attraction. With that being said, boosting that attraction can be easy when providing a variety of activities for indoors and outdoors. Consider getting some board games for adults, as well as the whole family. Variety is key during the winter as you never know what the weather might have in store. When thinking about outdoor activities one of our best sellers is outdoor ice rinks on the lake. The outdoor ice rinks can be super easy to make and easily maintained by personal or guests themselves. However, these are weather dependent making them just a bonus add-on. Other outdoor activities can include fire areas, and snowshoes. 

Consider having pamphlets outlining fun activities and events within the area that are happening during the winter months. Including neat restaurants, and stores within a relative distance can also boost engagement from guests making them wanting to return again. 

All of these items can be time consuming, however with each of our services provided, we ensure the winter transition to be smooth and enjoyable for all. 

The winter can be such an enjoyable time for owners, by taking this opportunity to gain trust with guests without the business of the summer season. Building these relationships with guests during the slower months can be proven to bring guests back year after year. Winter months can be a time for smaller rates, so providing thorough checks before accepting guests should be a top priority to ensure guests meet expectations, and guidelines.

Don’t forget it is the most wonderful time of the year! With the holidays around the corner we have some holiday tips to maximize revenues, and guest experiences. You can learn all about our full holiday tip guide in our FREE ebook ready to be downloaded today. 

As we gear up for December, next week we will share a handful of holiday tips for owners to follow. Be sure to follow along! 
Thanks so much for reading, 
Maddie – Owner of Northern Point Property Management