Work-from-home policies and changing lifestyle needs have sent many homebuyers venturing into Canada’s cottage countries this past year. This move has certainly contributed to the significant increase in home prices.

As the transition from an urban or suburban home to a recreational one can involve many new elements of ownership, research shows that some important property considerations are being forgotten about by first-time buyers.

According to real estate agent survey insights published this week by Royal LePage, 33.1 percent of respondents said that checking the quality of a property’s cell phone reception and internet connection is the number-one consideration first-time recreational property purchasers tend to take for granted or forget about.

Between June 15th and June 18th, the online Royal LePage First-time Recreational Purchase Survey polled 277 Royal LePage real estate advisors from across the country to learn more about the homebuying experience in recreational markets. The survey ranked the top 10 factors that recreational property buyers tend to gloss over.

About a third of agents said that ensuring the quality of cell phone reception and internet both in and around the property was a top factor that first-time recreational property purchasers frequently overlooked.

“Most people buy a cottage because they want a place to escape from their busy lives; somewhere peaceful and serene. While privacy is important, you want to make sure you’re not in an area so remote that you can’t make a phone call in an emergency,” said Pauline Aunger, a real estate broker with Royal LePage Advantage Real Estate in Smiths Falls, Ontario, in the report.

“Today more than ever, the ability to stay connected online is so important; be it for remote work, connecting with family and friends, or catching up on the latest Netflix series,” she added.

Understanding that owning a cottage on the water does not always mean waterfront ownership ranked in second place on the list at 15.7 percent. This was closely followed by ignoring considerations around water sources that are used in the area, according to 12.9 percent of those surveyed. The report noted that inquiring about whether your recreational home’s water comes from a well or a lake is important to know when it comes to usability, quality and treatment expenses.

“In a major city or a suburban neighbourhood, we don’t think about things like how to maintain a property in winter, or whether the water from the tap is drinkable,” said Aunger in the report. “When searching for a recreational property, these things can make a huge difference.”

In fourth place, 8.5 percent of respondents noted that knowledge of rules around long- and short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, was another vital consideration that is often missed. The 10-item list also ranked considerations around home seasonality (8.1 percent), sewage systems (7.3 percent), municipal regulations (5.6 percent), garage removal (4.8 percent), motorized vehicle regulations (2.4 percent) and snow removal (1.6 percent).

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many Canadians to stay put and rework their vacation plans, the Royal LePage report explained that recreational markets country-wide have seen “a significant spike in activity.” This resulted in a 16 percent year-over-year increase in the aggregate price of a recreational home in 2020. Royal LePage said that it is forecasting a 15 percent annual increase for Canadian recreational property prices in 2021.

Congratulations! You’ve got the keys to your new home and the unpacking of boxes has started! How excited are you?!

Whether you’ve have moved into a new build or re-sale property, there are a few things you can do as soon as you take possession in order to make it your own. Invest a weekend or two into warming up a featureless space or refreshing someone else’s old homestead.

Here are 10 things you can do to really own your new space and turn it into home sweet home:

1. Change The Locks: Secure your home by changing the locks as soon as you take possession. Even DIY beginners can change a deadbolt lock. A replacement deadbolt set can be installed in place of the current lock with just a screwdriver— no drilling required. Another option is to rekey the lock. Purchase a rekeying set from the same manufacturer as the existing door lock, and reset it for a new key

2. Consider a Professional Deep Cleaning: Hiring a professional cleaner to deep-clean and detail your home before you move your possessions in can make your new home feel that much more YOU! It will be easier without any furniture to work around, allowing them to access to every nook and cranny. Yes, you’ll have to clean again after moving day, but the heavy lifting will have already been done!

3. Clean Out the Vents: Years of dust, pet dander and detritus collect in the hidden workings of any home. One of the most effective ways to refresh a new home is to get right into the guts of it! Have your ducts, furnace and air conditioning unit professionally cleaned and be sure to change the filters as required to maintain that clean, fresh air.

4. Apply a Coat of Paint: Painting provides the most bang for your home-improvement buck! Whether the walls of your home are dingy or you’re simply not feeling the magic of beige, it only takes a few hours to repaint your space with a colour that makes you feel at home.

5. Freshen Up Your Floors: Much like worn-out walls, old floors can really put a damper on that new-home buzz. If your hardwood has seen better days, you can consider hiring professionals to re-do it or tackle the project yourself by renting a floor sander and varnishing over a weekend. For carpet, a deep steam clean can do wonders! For laminate, you can get that extra shine with a special laminate floor cleaner. Although if any of your floor coverings are lifting or have holes in them, you may want to replace it. You can further personalize your new space by adding floor runners or area rugs!

6. Neutralize Odors: Any re-sale home can benefit from a deep-clean refresh to eliminate any lingering odors from previous tenants. While some of the above steps will dramatically reduce any lingering smells, stubborn aromas require spot treatments such as:

• Putting dishes of activated charcoal (also known as activated carbon) in a musty, damp basement. These can be found at aquarium stores.
• Running a dehumidifier during the spring and summer.
• Placing a sock filled with dry coffee grounds or baking soda in closets, refrigerators or freezers to absorb stale odors.
• Pouring white vinegar down a stinky drain.

7. Enjoy the View! Dirty windows and screens can make rooms feel dark and dingy. A thorough cleaning will have your windows shining, and your indoors will feel brighter and fresher too. If your home came with the previous owner’s window coverings, be sure to clean or launder them; it’ll remove allergens as well as reduce any lingering odours. Or consider replacements with colours and patterns more suited to your style!

8. Lighten Up! A well-lit home is immediately warmer and more inviting than its darker counterparts. If your rooms feel dim, replace the existing bulbs with bright, energy-saving LED or CFL bulbs for more light and cost-savings! Dated lighting fixtures can also foil your redecorating efforts, so consider replacing them with something more your style.

9. Time for a Switch: Replacing your switch plates only requires a screwdriver but you would be surprised how much swapping out old lighting switch plates can refresh your space. With a little DIY expertise, screwdrivers, pliers and a voltage tester, you can install energy saving dimmer switches instead.

10. Display Your Art: Once you have deep-cleaned your new home and organized it to your heart’s content, it is time to dress up your walls with your favourite artwork and family photos! Get your kids’ kindergarten masterpieces onto the fridge and deck out your mantel with family photos.

Moving into a new home is one of the best times to make your space perfect for you! With a clean slate and empty floor space, now is the time to include all the things that make your house a home – to you! Unpack your belongings and personal items and add a splash of colour with throw pillows or rugs to brighten things up.