Occasionally we get into dialogue with cottagers on the subject of rates.  We are asked how do we establish our seasonal rates?  Truth be told, it's not an easy conversation to get into.  If you have ever travelled, booked a hotel, motel or a suite in a medium to large city, you have an appreciation and knowledge as to how much short term rentals can be.  Cottages are somewhat unique because of the criteria that so many different people are looking for.

The key factors are generally around:  location, lakefront, amenities/decor, and view.  If you are looking for something in the middle of no where that requires a 5 hour drive to get to, through country roads, perhaps a boat access only trip, and there is limited or no hydro, and plumbing is your own problem, well, then, yes, you are probably going to find a very good deal.  And those types of "cabins" do exist for rent at less than $400 or $500.00 per week.  If that is what you are looking for, you will be content to find it.

However, with the economy being what it has been over the last two years, many families have opted out of the typical trip south to tropical resorts.  The rates have just gotten a bit out of hand, and the frustration of travelling with airplanes has gotten worse, not easier.  Families are staying back and doing road trips instead.  Families are looking for more modern amenities, private resort-like options as they peruse through the hundreds, if not thousands of different websites, just like this one, to find the perfect little summer retreat.

Keep in mind of some key factors that will help you and your family select the right getaway for your vacation:

1.  Always ask and anticipate photos:  inside and outside; the inside photos are as important as the landscape.  Remember, you do have to sleep in another person's mattress.

2.  Ask about the shoreline and the lake; if you are boaters and need to have a lake that will allow motor boats and water fun, make sure this is the case.  Many lakes in Ontario are in fact changing their rules on this and disallowing the use of motorised watercraft.  Harris Lake is not one of them.  Much of this depends on how crowded the lake has become, the amount of crown land will often dictate how crowded a lake is and whether this is a factor.

3.  Neighbours are okay in my books.  Knowing that there are people near-by is not a bad thing.  Some cottagers prefer to rent in the middle of no-where for privacy.  Honestly, my neighbours are hardly ever seen, let alone heard.  You did have the occasional wave and hello from time to time.  But if you are travelling with kids, and you go into the middle of no-where, what happens in situations of emergency? accidents? or just plain "I forgot to get propane, water, and the car won't start!".  Sometimes, neighbours are a good thing.

4.  Accomodating larger groups is a great value for families.  This is the demographic we continually chase after.  They are more respectful of property and dwelling contents, more quiet at night, and generally don't party to the wee hours.  But also, they are who we are aiming to please.  If you and your mate are looking for a one room cabin on a small patch of land, getting a quote on a 3 bedroom that can sleep 12+ people is probably not going to be in your price range.  The more people you can accomodate, the better the value.

5.  Amenities do matter in the end.  Let's face it, we are going on a vacation.  If we wanted to rough it, we would go camping in the woods.  Families who look for a cottage want more than a hole in the ground.  They want the peacefulness of nature, lakeshore at their door, and the freedom to have a nice campfire, and still have the option of putting their perishables in a fridge, ice cubes in their drink, a nice hot shower in the morning, and a pot of coffee waiting for them as they rise to a gorgeous sun.

6.  What's the deal with linen?  Linen adds cost, simply put.  Typically it's not included in most rentals.  We are not in the hotel business, and how many people wash their sheets every 5 or 6 days?  Towels for sure, but sheets?  Not really.  And when you "lend" it out to strangers, you have to wash it all the time.  Bleach it even.  Proprietors charge for it because of the amount of stress it puts on the septic system that most cottages have.  It also slows down the inspection process to account for each piece.  It's labour intensive.  And at the end of the day, we don't really want to use someone else's linen. 

7.  Ask about the view.  We have spent thousands on our landscaping of the lakefront at HLH.  In our opinion it's the focal point of the property:  a glorious sunset.  In the cities, condos with lakeviews are in many instances worth double the market value simply because of the sunset you see every night.  Our goal was to have a nice flat area for seating around a big open campfire, right by the water's edge.  Hard to achieve when you are situated in and around the Canadian Shield.  But we did it!  And we are trully proud of it.

8.  Sandy shorelines are not always the best choice for families.  If you've got a boat, and want a sandy shoreline, it makes it kind of hard to moor the boat.  You would then need to find a sandy shoreline with a very, very long dock.  That could be tricky.  So remember that sometimes it depends on what your family is looking for.  And once again, remember, the Muskokas are part of the Canadian Shield....finding sand could be very tricky. 

9.  HYDRO COSTS....it's a simple thing.  The further you are situated from the power source, the more expensive the rate.  HLH is about 4-5 times more expensive in hydro rates than in the GTA.  People have a hard time wrapping their mind around this harsh reality.  when attempting to understand rates, hydro usage is a big part of the variable in the formula.  Plumbing, appliances, electronics, lighting....it's all part of the reason why proprietors rates are much higher in July and August.  The dwellings are used more during those months, and a huge factor is REFRIDGERATION.  We are trying to recoop some of our expenses, and cover our costs.  So when you are looking at a cabin in the bush, verses a cottage ten minutes from town, you might just find yourself scratching your head with the fact that the rates are not that far off.....it might be because of hydro.

10.  Pests.  Ask about them.  There are several different kinds.  Remember, we invaded them first.  This was their home forever, and we came along and plopped down cement and said, "GET LOST!"  Even at HLH we've had to deal with the occasional little furry friend, carpenter ants, hornets....but the important thing is, we did have to deal with them and we stay on top of it.  Ask if the owners themselves use the dwelling.  That is a big plus if they.  Cottages that are occupied by owners generally are cleaner,more up to date, and usually are void of pests.  No one wants to live with little critters.  But if it's unoccupied for months of the year, and is only opened up for business purposes, chances are there will be a pest or two.

Hopefully, these hints have assisted you in learning a bit more about cottage renting and vacationing in Ontario.  Please feel free to add your own hints to this string!