Imagine driving along the beautiful country roads to spend long weekends at your home away from home. With a cool drink in your hand and the lake just steps away, there’s nothing quite like spending your summers in cottage country. For many homeowners, building a cottage in Ontario is the ultimate dream. Being able to relax and unwind in your vacation home and host family and friends is exciting. If you dream of owning a custom cottage, we’ve outlined all the steps to building a cottage and some helpful tips to guide you through the process.
Brainstorming to Build a Cottage
Coming up with ideas and building a solid plan for your custom cottage is a great starting point. At this stage, you can note down some potential locations for your new cottage. Ontario is full of excellent vacation spots like Muskoka, Prince Edward County, Bruce Peninsula and areas in the GTA like Aurora, Innisfil, Milton, Burlington, Mississauga and beyond.
The best place to buy a cottage in Ontario boils down to what you’d want from this space. Do you want a place to get away from all the noise in the city? Maybe you prefer a spot with tons of outdoor activities available like swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Whatever your answer may be, it’ll help narrow down a few options for the prime location for your cottage.
This is also a good time to brainstorm ideas for the interior and exterior design of your home, how much square footage you’ll need and any sustainable features you’d like to incorporate into your home.
Understanding Cost to Build a Cottage in Ontario
Be sure to establish a detailed budget before beginning any work on your custom cottage. It’s a great way to stay on top of all the expenses that are included when building a cottage.
A portion of your budget should be set aside for things you’ll need to pay for, including:
The costs for the above will vary depending on the location of your cottage and if any other hidden expenses arise.
There are ways to negotiate costs while building your home. You can choose to build your cottage in a less populated area or you can choose lots with previously built structures on them. We also recommend setting aside some money as a cushion because additional costs may come up during the construction process that you didn’t account for.
Buying Property to Build a Cottage
Location plays a big role in the final cost of building a cottage in Ontario. The average price for a cottage in cottage country starts at $500,000 and may increase depending on where it’s located. Waterfront cottages, for example, tend to be on the pricier side because of their prime location next to the water.
It’s best to shop around and get a better idea of prices, especially when it comes to choosing between older properties and vacant plots. Be sure to work with a team of professionals like the ones at NICKS Developments to help you purchase property for your new cottage.
Deciding to build your own cottage could help you save money. The average cost of a custom home starts at around $250,000. But other factors may increase the price including the total size of the custom cottage, additional design features, and more.
A land survey must be done once you’ve purchased a plot of land to build on. Precise measurements will be provided to the construction company or architect on your team. A land survey must be done to prevent any issues with construction or legal later on. Before you begin building a cottage, you need to secure a building permit. A permit will ensure that your cottage is built according to the correct building codes, bylaws and any other requirements.
Designing Your Custom Cottage
Getting to design your vacation home is one of the most exciting parts of the home-building process. It can become overwhelming since there are so many potential designs you can choose from to build your cottage.
It’s essential to work with a team of professional custom home builders like NICKS Developments for your custom home-building project.
The final design of your custom cottage should be tailored to your needs.
If you plan on hosting a lot of family and friends over the holidays or long weekends, you may need to consider building a cottage that’s sized larger to host everyone. And if you plan on spending most of your time outdoors, it may be worthwhile to build a front deck for you and your family to enjoy.
Construction Process
Building a cottage in Ontario comes with many steps, especially during the construction phase. Here’s an in-depth look at what it takes to build a custom cottage:
Be sure to use high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship for every facet of your new cottage. You want to choose materials that are durable and long-lasting so you’re less likely to encounter issues down the road.
While the construction takes place, make sure to oversee all the work that’s being done on your home. They may need your opinion on decisions for the home’s layout, and design and if something unexpected occurs.
Take the Next Steps to Build a Cottage in Ontario
A lot of time and effort goes into building a cottage. It’s essential to understand all the costs involved in addition to the design and construction process. You need a team you can trust to work on your new home.
Take the first step towards building your dream custom cottage. Contact our team at NICKS Developments to get started. We’re proud to be the top cottage builders in Ontario and service areas across the GTA including Oakville, Innisfil, Burlington, Mississauga, and more!
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