Cottage and Trailer Season: A South Shore Opening & Closing Checklist

For a lot of South Shore property owners, the cottage or trailer sits empty for months at a time — which means small problems have months to get worse before anyone notices. The two riskiest windows are the transitions: opening up in spring, and closing down in fall.

Spring opening checklist

• Walk the exterior first — check the foundation, skirting, and roofline for anything that shifted or was damaged over winter.
• Look for signs of pests or water intrusion before you start using the space again — droppings, chewed wiring, damp spots, or a musty smell are all worth investigating.
• Air the place out and check that everything powers on as expected before you rely on it.
• Clear away any storm debris — fallen branches, ice damage, anything blocking drainage around the property.
• If water lines were shut off for winter, have this checked and restored by a licensed plumber rather than doing it yourself — a missed step here is one of the most common causes of spring water damage.

Fall closing checklist

• Secure all windows and doors, and remove anything valuable you don't want sitting unattended for months.
• Arrange for someone to check on the property periodically over winter — storms, snow load, and break-ins are all easier to catch early than to discover in spring.
• Note anything that needs professional attention before you leave — plumbing, electrical, or structural concerns are worth having a licensed tradesperson look at rather than leaving until next season.

Winterizing water lines specifically is a job worth leaving to a licensed plumber — done incorrectly, it's one of the most expensive mistakes a seasonal property owner can make.

While you're away

The months in between matter just as much as the two transitions. A storm damage check after a bad weather event, confirming the property is still locked up securely, and picking up mail or parcels so the place doesn't look obviously empty are all small things that add up to real peace of mind.

A little attention at the right moments goes a long way toward making sure the place you look forward to opening up each spring is actually in the shape you left it.