Word of mouth is your friend, so get on the telephone. If you re dealing with real estate agents or commercial cottages, you re on equal footing and can be very specific about what you re looking for because you ll end up paying for it. We advise a more delicate approach when dealing with private parties who might be letting a treasured family home. Whomever you re dealing with, ask lots of questions. If you re told the cottage is on water, ask what kind of water.
Tidal flats can be great for toddlers, but some can smell a little, well, fishy.
Deepwater frontage is pricey but wonderful if you want to dock a boat. Properties with rocky drop-offs, often called bold frontage, might boast spectacular views but might be useless for recreation swimming is impossible, and children always want to balance on the slippery jagged boulders. If you plan to be in the woods, remember that in some areas in spring and early summer, black flies and mosquitoes can be a nightmare. Ask about heating the cottage too. Make sure it s a technology you can handle.