Spring has finally arrived and you probably have one thing on your mind – it’s time to open up the cottage! While some cottage owners wait until the weather warms up in May - lots of owners want to visit earlier and use the time to get their cottage ready to receive the family. Here's some helpful tips to put on your checklist!

Read More

It's been a beautiful fall so far. The colours have been spectacular. And while you are enjoying the fall leaves and other fall harvest activities, it's hard not to notice that the weather is changing and it's getting colder as we move towards November.

If you haven't already done so, it's time to get your seasonal holiday cottage ready for winter. There are a number of steps you can take now, to ensure your cottage will be secure and safe from damage during the winter ahead.

Read More

Read More

According to real estate news, 2020 saw a trend for homeowners to move out of larger towns and cities and relocate to a rural community. This was partially because of so many companies transitioning to a remote workforce, where all that was needed was a quiet space and an internet connection for office workers to complete their work. Urban homeowners saw an opportunity to pull up stakes and settle into a year-round rural retreat with all the associated benefits of country living.

Housing in rural or even remote areas, is quite different than in cities - especially when it comes to energy.

Many communities in central Ontario, especially smaller villages, do not have access to natural gas and so homes are either heated by electricity, oil, or propane.

Home buyers often calculate into the purchase price how much it would cost to renovate and upgrade a property to forced air propane with central air conditioning.  Cost savings, efficiency, and environmental benefits are often cited as the reason for the preference for propane.

If you are new to propane as an energy source for your home, we've put together some helpful information in the form of a complimentary downloadable guide (PDF).

Read More

With the pandemic, many property owners in central Ontario have not been able to visit their cottages very often during the season. If your property is periodically vacant, security is a top of mind issue. An unoccupied or vacant property faces an increased risk when it comes to potential damage such as water damage, heating/electrical system damage and vandalism.

One thing you can do is to make sure your propane supplier has your current phone number, mailing address and email, should they need to contact you about your tank or service. Also provide them with an emergency/ alternative contact in case you are out of reach.

Mechanical failure and power outages can cause heating systems to shut down, and if that happens during the winter it can cause a big problem. Cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and burst, and if no one is around to respond considerable damage can be done. So keep that in mind for this winter.

Read More

If you live, or own a holiday cottage, in a remote location of Ontario, it’s incredibly unlikely that your property is located on the grid. That’s why, as we covered in our blog titled ‘Living off the grid: What are your energy options?’, it’s essential that you know which available energy choices are open to you.

In most cases, your home or cottage will be able to make use of solar energy, wind power or hydro power. However, one of the most accessible, efficient and cost-effective methods to power your remote property is propane.

Read More