Free checklist

Closing up for winter

Ten weeks a year, every cottage in North Hastings gets closed for the season. This is the list we work from, practical, in an order that makes sense on closing day, and free whether or not you ever call us.

Nothing here needs a login or an email address. Tick things off as you go; your progress stays on this page while you work.

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Water and plumbing

Shut off and drain the water system, or confirm your heat-trace is working.Frozen pipes are the most common spring surprise in this region; either drain the lines fully or verify the heat-trace before the first hard frost.
Know where your main shutoff is, and make sure it turns.If something lets go in January, the person checking your place needs to find it in the dark without calling you.
Pour RV antifreeze into drains, traps, and toilet bowls.Traps hold water by design; a little plumbing antifreeze keeps that water from splitting the fitting.
Open cupboard doors under sinks on exterior walls.It lets room air reach the pipes and costs nothing.

Heat and power

Set the thermostat for the winter, or confirm the plan with whoever checks the place.Most owners hold around 10 to 12 degrees, warm enough to protect the building, cool enough to keep the bill sane.
Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and replace the batteries.They do their most important work when nobody is there to hear them faintly chirping.
Unplug non-essential appliances and electronics.It removes the small parasitic loads and takes surge damage off the table during winter outages.
For anything electrical beyond batteries and bulbs, book a qualified person.Panel work, baseboard repairs, and generator hookups are licensed-trade jobs, not closing-day jobs.

Structure and roof

Clear leaves from the roof valleys and eaves, and check the vents.Valleys full of wet leaves hold meltwater against the shingles and feed ice dams all winter.
Walk the perimeter and look for gaps where animals could get in.A two-inch gap at a soffit is a winter home for something you do not want as a tenant.
Book a qualified person for the chimney and any propane equipment.Both need a licensed inspection or service if they are due, that is not a DIY item.

Security and access

Lock and note every door and window, including sheds and bunkies.Write down what you locked so nobody spends the winter wondering about the boathouse.
Leave a key with someone local.A neighbour or caretaker with a key turns a small problem into a phone call instead of a four-hour drive.
Confirm who has your current phone number.If the power fails or a tree comes down, the first call should reach you, not an old landline.
Make sure your driveway marker and civic number are visible from the road.Plows, deliveries, and emergency services all find you by that number once the snow is up.

Outside and shoreline

Pull docks, boats, and lifts above the ice line, or confirm the arrangement.Ice moves everything it touches; whatever stays in the water should be there deliberately.
Store or weigh down outdoor furniture, kayaks, and the barbecue.November wind off the lake relocates anything light enough to lift.
Photograph every room and the exterior before you leave, and date the photos.A before-and-after record makes any spring conversation simpler, whatever the spring brings.

Paperwork

Ask your broker what your policy expects while the property is empty.Every policy is different, so get the answer in writing from the person who holds yours.
Note your meter readings and the date.A photo of the hydro meter on closing day settles any usage question later.
Tell someone your expected return date.If spring plans change, the person watching the place should not be guessing.

Keep a copy

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Not able to close up yourself this year? That's what we do.