First Year Hosting in the Books!

After a very unpredictable and unpleasant 2019 for our family, the future of our cottage was a little rocky. This place was first owned by my grandmother who bought it in 1975. As a (freshly) single mother of six, I don’t know how she pulled it off.

In her old age, post divorce & mid cancer treatment, she sold the cottage. It was an economic decision and to prevent fighting among kids & grandkids she made the tough decision to sell it to strangers.

Those people ended up listing the cottage a few years later following some misfortune of their own and my Aunt & Uncle were, fortunately, financially in a place to buy it back.

This year we lost both my grandmother and my Uncle within days of each other. I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s been an unpleasant year.

As you could imagine, the cottage has become a place of deep sadness at this time for some who only see it as Granny’s place or Uncle John’s. In addition to sharing the sorrow, I’m blessed to have a couple other lenses; positive childhood memories and now, my kids love spending time up there.

We are additionally blessed to have a patient and trusting Aunt and supportive family who are allowing us to rent the space out on Air BnB to cover running costs and such.

This is how we are keeping it in the family for the time being.

We have had, what I consider, a very successful first year renting. Some lessons learned and some big changes coming for 2020.

• 175$ per week night & 200$ per weekends and holidays.

• Four night minimum.

• Additional guest fees for reservations including more than 4 adults.

• Camera surveillance at check in and in fire pit area.

I hope with these changes we can avoid persons bringing pets or extra guests without approval.

After paying for maintenance & cleaning, the former nightly rate of 135$ per night (and minimum stay of only 3 nights) was not enough. I also hope to attract lengthier stays for less frequent turnover & to avoid “prime time” (weekend/holiday) bookings when ordinary week days were left open.

All of these rules and policies are included in our listing as we prepare to close the books on 2019 and look towards our second and more experienced 2020 season.

We are not making money off of this new venture. It is the only way, right now, for us to keep this very special place in our family for future generations to enjoy.

If you would like to plan a stay at the cottage next season please get in touch as soon as possible.