Going to the cottage is a way of life for many Canadians once the “May Two Four” weekend rolls around. However, owning and maintaining a cottage is a lot of work, and not something that every family has time for these days. Enter Sandbanks Summer Village, a condo cottage development, on 80 acres of land in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Cottagers come from Toronto, Ottawa and other parts of the province and elsewhere.
Unlike a “traditional” cottage, where there is the annual rituals of “opening” and “closing” the house, there is no maintenance required by the cottager – everything is handled by staff in the development. It is almost like staying at a hotel. At Sandbanks, cottages are around 800 to 1,300 square feet, with two bedrooms and a full kitchen. In addition, there are amenities including a beach, tennis courts, more swimming facilities and more.
The idea of the “condo cottage” came from Howard John Hall, who developed the first of its kind in Maine nearly 10 years ago by Cottage Advisors and Village Developers (also the developers of Sandbanks). This concept came to Canada more recently, with Sandbanks opening just a couple of years ago. I recently spoke with Tina Bacci of RESIS Real Estate Sales Integration Solutions, the company that manages the sales and marketing of Sandbanks (and other similar developments) on…
…whether there’s a typical person or family who would prefer Sandbanks to a “traditional” cottage:
Owners at Sandbanks Summer Village are comprised of urban professionals, empty nester or retirees (some who spend the winter down south and come to their cottage for the warmer months), young families, and even extended families. The typical buyer loves the outdoors and loves the social aspect, but at the same time, want something that is hassle-free. Cottages are clustered around neighbourhood “pocket parks” and scheduled events and activities bring a real camaraderie to the condo cottage community.
… what one can expect during their stay:
Aside from generally enjoying the amenities, people can also join in on the recreation events. A full-time Fun Director makes sure there’s always something to get involved, regardless of age. Some activities include: book groups, poker runs, wine tastings, live music for adults; baseball, tennis lessons, sailing, crafts, cooking class, video games on the big screen for kids; and movies at the open-air pavilion, campfires, themed golf cart parades, neighbourhood barbecues or potlucks for families.
… other types of conveniences that cottagers will find at Sandbanks:
A resort filled with amenities means cottagers often spend their entire vacation time right on the site. There’s no need to pack up the car and head to the beach or drive to the grocery store, or even into town for dinner at a restaurant, because the community includes all of these features onsite and within walking distance from every cottage.
… the breakdown of owners versus renters:
Primarily the village is filled with owners, but occasionally owners will rent out their cottage for a week or two if they know they won’t be using it. It’s another great way to make their cottage work for them. Renting out your cottage for a few weeks a season has helped some cottage owners BECOME owners. It makes it more affordable.
… whether condo cottages like Sandbanks is more like a summer camp for families or a resort:
It is very much a summer camp in the sense that there is such a focus on the outdoors and there are so many activities and opportunities to make new friends and new memories. But it’s also very much a resort in the sense that everything is kept in pristine order, there are so many luxurious amenities, and the world-class staff is attentive and working hard to make sure everyone is happy and having a good time.
Cottages at Sandbanks are available for purchase at approximately $150,000 to $200,000. Short term rental are also available and can be booked through the website.
Images courtesy of RESIS Real Estate Sales Integration Solutions
