Once you have decided upon the area where you would like to buy, much depends upon the state of the real estate market in that locale. These days (read "recession") it is highly unlikely that there will be a lack of properties for sale, and you should be able to find something that fits your needs. Real estate agents will be able to assist you in identifying potential properties but first you should think about the size of the cottage that you want, and how much land you would like.
Obviously, you need enough bedrooms to accommodate your immediate family, but you should also think about the number of guests that you could possibly invite. You don’t have to accommodate all of them in bedrooms or bunk houses, but you will need to consider the use of pull-out couches, cots and bunk beds, and you must have enough space to allow these to be deployed while providing sufficient privacy for each guest. For example, our two bedrooms can sleep five people, the living room couch converts into a double bed, we have a double and single bed in the boathouse plus another pull-out couch, so we can accommodate twelve people in varying degrees of comfort. Once you have this many people in the cottage, however, you have to be sure that your bathroom facilities will cope. As we have a single bathroom (and toilet), we can manage with that many people for a short time (a weekend, for example), but you would not want to have twelve people for a whole week. If you are considering having many guests for more than a weekend, you want to be sure that the cottages you view have enough bathrooms to cope.
As far as land is concerned, how much you need depends upon the use to which you want to put it. If the cottage is on a lake or river, you will feel less confined by the size of your property, as you can escape onto the water for activities such as water sports and boating. However, if your property is landlocked, you may feel the need for space for activities such as volleyball and badminton, or even snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. A balance has to be achieved between your need for activities, and the effort needed to maintain the property (in itself another activity). If you purchase a cottage with a 25-acre lot, you will need to make decisions about how much of it is to be mowed, treed, gardened or left to go wild. Ultimately, you want to enjoy your property without it becoming an imposition on your time to maintain it - after all, you go to the cottage for relaxation, not to work like a slave every minute.
Once you start to view some of the cottages on the market, you will need to consider some of the following factors:
Affordability. You know what you can afford, but your financial plan for the cottage should include provisions for both the purchase of the property and its ongoing upkeep. Typically, purchase costs will include the purchase price, surveyor's costs, lawyer's fees, land transfer taxes (if applicable), etc. Ongoing upkeep expenses include municipal taxes, electricity and fuel bills, and maintenance costs. Other hidden expenses will occur, such as increased gasoline purchases for your vehicle (you will be driving more), and consequent vehicle maintenance costs.
Age of the cottage. Clearly, the older a cottage is, the greater are the chances that maintenance expenses will be higher. In older wooden cottages that are surrounded by trees or undergrowth, you will have to examine the roof and exterior walls carefully to ensure that the wood is not rotting, or that the shingles are not deteriorating under the moss or leaf debris that tends to accumulate in such conditions. If there are problems with the roof, some of the wood may be damp, which makes it a prime habitat for beasties such as carpenter ants, which can eat away your investment.
Distance from services. You need to be sure that you can obtain groceries and other supplies easily. If stores are not close, you will need to plan your menus more carefully, and ensure you bring in all the necessary ingredients. If you are missing anything when you start preparing your killer ribs recipe, you will either have to improvise, or put dinner on hold while you make the half-hour trip to the nearest store. Barbecue chefs should always ensure that they have a full spare propane tank handy in case the gas runs out. You will also have to be comfortable with the time and distance to the nearest hospital, in case any emergencies occur. When undertaking cottage projects, planning ahead will again be needed to ensure you have everything you need before you start. Nipping out to the hardware store if you have forgotten anything may not be an option.
Construction. More modern cottages will have proper all-round foundations of breeze-block construction, and may include a full or partial basement. Older cottages are often built on concrete pillars, and the crawl space underneath may not be enclosed, or may be enclosed with boards or other materials either to improve heat retention or to discourage animals from living underneath. The modern methods are better. The pillar method is strictly for seasonal non-winterized cottages, as the crawl space often can’t be heated adequately to keep water systems from freezing, so avoid these if you expect significant use of your cottage in winter. Our cottage is built on pillars, with the crawl space enclosed with planks. It is still very cold on the floor in winter, and we are obliged to wear winter boots all the time. Pails of water left on the kitchen floor overnight have been known to partially freeze despite the wood stove keeping the interior warm. Improved insulation under the floor would help.
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