How to Make a Manual for Your Cottage

Oct 19, 2010
Toby Welch

Create a Cottage Manual - Luther Cushing

Life is easier for cottagers who have a cottage manual - all the information you need is in one place.

Why should you own a cottage manual, a notebook that contains the details of how your cottage is organized?

To keep track of chores and routine maintenance. The manual may even entice other family members to share in the cottage duties. (Wishful thinking, I know...)
A way to remind yourself how things work when you’ve been gone from the cottage for a while.
As a guidebook for invited guests who don’t know how the cottage runs. With a completed manual, anyone should be able to run your cottage with few unanswered questions.
If you rent out your cottage or plan to in the future, the manual will show renters how the cottage operates.
It is a place to keep track of what you need to do to open the cottage in the spring and close it in the fall (if you don’t go to the cottage when temperatures fall below freezing.)
The ideal spot to keep information about future cottage projects or things you want to tackle when you have the time.
It serves as a how-to-run-the-cottage manual in case someone else needs to take care of the place.
A handy tool for when you sell your property or pass it on to someone you love.

Buying a Cottage Manual

There are two choices for your manual – you can purchase one or make your own. Buying a manual that allows you to fill in the blanks is less time-consuming. You can complete it in less than an hour. The downside is that it is not tailored to your cottage and chances are there will not be enough space for all the information you want to input; it is hard to customize the book to your cottage.

Making a Cottage Manual

If you decide to make a cottage manual, there are some things to think about:

What system do you want to use? Consider a binder with loose-leaf paper, a heavy-duty notebook, a computer program, large note cards, or an organizer. Some cottagers use a word processing program to record the information and print out an updated hard copy every few years. Manuals don’t have to come in a book form and each system has its pros and cons.
You may choose to include loose pieces of paper with information such as brochures, magazine clippings, maps and/or photos. Is a system with some type of pockets or sleeves the best option for you?
Do you intend to keep the manual at the cottage or would you prefer a portable guidebook?

As things at the cottage are constantly changing, choose a system that allows for on-going revisions. Today’s main concern may be getting rid of the critters that have taken up residence in your cottage but next season you may be focusing on building your dock.

Topics for Your Cottage Manual

Once you have decided on a system for your manual, spend some time listing what categories to include. Here are some ideas to get you started:

opening the cottage
contact information
neighbour information
guest book
to-do list
local amenities
water systems
electrical systems
garbage
recycling
composting
heating
hot water heater
water pump
generator
propane system
septic system
TV/Satellite dish
outdoor shower
repair records
equipment
safety issues and orientation
fire concerns
first aid
weather information
animals
important documents
insurance information
maps of the area
local Cottage Watch Association
projects to consider in the future
closing up the cottage
list of people to contact in an emergency

When starting your manual, take pride in your project. Spend a few extra minutes on the first page. Include your full names, contact information, and the cottage geographical information.

Map to Your Cottage

Maps may be an integral part of your manual. Include written and picture maps of how to get to your cottage. Your written map will read along the lines of “From highway 37, turn left (west) onto range road 169. Follow the road for 500 metres until you come to a four-way stop. Turn left (south) and follow the gravel road for five kilometres. Once you pass the CP Rail car cemented in the field of mustard…”

Include any maps that pertain to your cottage such as a map to the closest town, maps to important neighbours and friends, and a diagram of your property with the boundaries clearly indicated. Some cottagers also include charts of their garden with the plants clearly marked and maps of underground pipes and/or wires.

Pictures of Your Cottage

You may want to include photos to complete the information. Pictures are an excellent visual aid for those not familiar with your cottage. Include images of projects you have completed, pics of things you want to build, aerial photos of your property, and, of course, snapshots of memorable times spent at the cottage. You get the picture. (Sorry – couldn’t resist!)

Perks of Having a Cottage Manual

When you need to get in touch with the cottage association and it only takes seconds to look up the phone number, you’ll be thrilled you have the manual. The first time the pump on the well fails and you know the steps to get the water flowing again, you’ll be even happier. And when you don’t have to hunt through the cottage to find your drawing of the dock you plan to construct this summer, you will be glad you took the time to compile the guidebook.

By having a cottage manual, you will save a lot of time in the future.