Paul Crammond of Chestnut Park Realty Ltd. stands firmly behind this statement. “It’s all a matter of considering your needs and balancing your priorities.”
It’s not easy to choose a city home, but it’s even more challenging to match your lifestyle to a cottage purchase. “There are a lot of factors to consider,” Paul says. Factors like accessibility and amenities, types of water, and activities and life stages.
HIDEAWAYS sent our editor, Marilyn, and photographer, Rob, to cruise Lake Rosseau with Paul and chat with him about the many aspects of cottage selection. After 45 years of cottaging here — moving up permanently from Toronto in 1996 — Paul knows the area intimately. He points out the properties of prominent families and various famous sites, like the land where the historic Royal Muskoka Hotel once stood. Designed by the architect of New York’s Waldorf Astoria, it was destroyed by fire in 1952.
Perched on a bluff at the shoreline, St. John’s Catholic Church is a familiar Rosseau landmark, built over 110 years ago by Scottish immigrant Edward Ferguson and his son, William. (Edward’s great-grandson, Earl, established Earl Ferguson Construction more than 80 years later.) Paul steers the boat to a nearby rocky promontory. “This is called the Queen Victoria Rock,” he says, “for its eerie resemblance to her profile.”
Paul is a seasoned hand at exploring the lakes with his clients, gaining insight into their needs so that he can make the best recommendations. “Everyone values certain attributes differently,” he tells Rob and Marilyn. ClubLink members want to know about the nearest golf courses, while runners or cyclists look for trails and cottage roads. Some people love the rugged appeal of rocky terrain and elevated vistas while others, particularly seniors, favour a more relaxed landscape.
The big lakes call out to families who enjoy waterskiing and wakeboarding, but not to those who prefer to paddle down a tranquil river. Parents with young children often seek shallow beaches, but Paul adds a word of caution here. “Think ahead,” he advises. “When the kids are older, they’ll want some deep water to jump into.” And Paul warns his clients to be sure that the depth of water will accommodate their boats.
Ease of access usually involves proximity to the city or the distance from a marina to an island property. Some cottagers can commute by sea plane, and the ability to land at the dock carries significant weight. If the teenagers have summer jobs or want to be near their friends, town accessibility may also be important.
Of course, cottaging is all about the water. “Today’s charts and navigation tools make the lakes so user-friendly,” says Paul. “You can visit museums, dine out, go shopping or golfing, and see your friends without ever having to hop into your car.”
A stop on the cruise gave Marilyn and Rob the chance to see one of Paul’s properties. Surrounded by three acres of rock and trees, the cottage has a spectacular view. “This is an example of the natural landscaping that so many people are looking for these days,” says Paul.
“A huge part of my job is to uncover what is important to the buyer,” he concludes. “Then I use my years of cottaging experience to recommend the cottage that is perfect — well, almost perfect — for them.” CCH
Photos: Robert Nelson
