Labor Day weekend, basically the last hurrah of summer, is just around the corner. This means Minnesota lake house owners regrettably have to start thinking about closing up for the season. Beyond taking out the boat and dock, it’s a good idea to take a walk through of the home and see what a summer of living the lake life left behind.
The extra friends, family, and pets mean more traffic through the plumbing, stress on the dock, wear on the deck, and opportunities for small issues to explode into major headaches. So, what should you be looking out for when getting ready to say goodbye to your lake cabin for the season?
1. Plumbing and Water Systems: After a long day of playing in the sand, jumping in the lake, and eating juicy watermelon often calls for a nice, refreshing shower. Now multiply that by the twelve people you have running around outside all summer. That’s a lot of showers, and a lot of water moving through the pipes. Before leaving for the season, check under sinks, around the water heater, and near any exposed pipes for soft spots, discolorations, or a musty smell. If you have a well or pump system, this is also a good time to make sure it’s running properly before you winterize it.
2. Roof, Gutters, and Siding: Lake season and storm season are like siblings in a fight, with storm season shortening play time for lake season. While you’ve been sleeping peacefully (or not so peacefully, depending on how many kids were on the pull-out couch), your roof and siding have been out there taking the hits from hail and wind. Check for missing or curling shingles, clogged gutters, and any staining on ceilings or walls that could point to a slow leak. Get it fixed before the snow piles up and turns a minor problem into a much bigger, much more expensive one.
3. Dock and Waterfront Structures: Did you have that one “oopsie” moment where docking the boat didn’t go quite as planned? Or the dock seemed to shift out of nowhere and left a scrape on the hull? These are the things to look for now. Walk the length of it and check for loose boards, wobbly posts, and any hardware that’s rusted or working its way loose.
4. Deck and Outdoor Living Spaces: Think of this like checking the dock. Is anything loose? Are there nails sticking up, just waiting for their next barefoot victim? Any boards that feel a little softer or spongier than they should? The deck sees more foot traffic than almost anywhere else on the property all summer long, so it’s worth a slow walk-through before you lock up.
5. Appliances and HVAC: Check the water heater, washer/dryer hoses, and any window AC units before they sit idle for months. It would be a shame to finally kick off next summer with a splash, only to find out a hose gave out over the winter and you’re mopping up instead of soaking up the sun.
If you’re closing up the lake house, chances are the boat and the RV are on your list too. A few things worth remembering before they go into hibernation:
Once the walk through is done, take ten minutes to think about your coverage itself. Did anything change this year: a dock rebuild, a new boat, a bigger RV, an addition to the house? Seasonal property is easy to overlook when it comes to policy reviews, simply because it’s not the house you think about every day.
And if you did find something on that walk through (a leak, some storm damage, anything that gave you pause), now’s the time to talk to your agent, before the property sits closed up and out of sight for months.
Ready to review your lake house, boat, or RV coverage before the season wraps up? Contact Pine Insurance Agency, and we’ll help make sure everything’s as buttoned up as your dock.
