Ownership FAQ
How long can I use my cottage each year?
A half-share in a cottage will give an owner 6 months use of a cottage each year, excluding the time needed to safely open and close (see below) the resort.
When can I use my cottage each year?
Cottage use will be divided into 2 seasons: Season 1 will run from the beginning of February to the end of July; and Season 2 will run from the beginning of August to the end of January. Each year cottage owners will rotate Seasons. In other words, if the Smith family used the cottage during Season 1 of 2007, while the Jones family used the cottage in Season 2, the families would rotate Seasons for 2008.
This time rotation system means that every second year each owner will get 2 contiguous Seasons use of the cottage, less the time (see below) required for the official opening and closing of the resort.
Can I use my cottage in the winter?
Cottage owners wishing to use their cottage during the months of November through April can do so; however, there will be no sewage, drainage, or running water available during this time period. A public compost toilet will be available to owners for this time period and fresh water will be available from a tap near the main Lodge. The Lodge will not be open during these months to provide any services to The Cottages.
What size cottages are available?
The Cottages are available in 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom configurations.
How many cottages will be built at The Lodge?
There will be a total of no more than 15 cottages built, of which 12 have been constructed and are ready for use.
Is there a recreation building for the cottage unit owners?
Yes. Cottage owners will have access to a cottage club that is being established in a refurbished 1940s era building that sits right at the edge of the water. The club will be ideal for all manner of activities, from lessons and meetings through dances and card games, and the building will become a wholly owned asset of the nonprofit organization.
How much waterfront do the cottages have?
The land on which the cottages are built has approximately 1,600' of waterfront.
How close to the water are the cottages?
All of the cottages are on the water. No cottage is more than approximately 60' from the water, and most are much closer than that.
What price will I be paying for ownership?
2006 Season prices for a single cottage unit (a half-share on a cottage) will range from $110,000 for a 1-bedroom to $160,000 for a 3-bedroom.
Can I buy a whole cottage?
Yes. The cost of a full cottage is double the cost of a single cottage unit. All other policies and features remain the same except those that govern the sharing of a cottage.
How are the cottages constructed?
The Cottages are a frame construction and each one is unique and hand-built by craftsmen. Cedar siding, white and red pine with spruce beams are the main construction timbers used. A separately metered electrical service and sewage pumping station comes with each cottage. Roof materials are either anodized ribbed steel or cedar shingle, and the walls and roof of the cottages are fully insulated.
How old are the cottages?
All of the cottages are brand new, most less than 3-years old. Moreover, all of the electric, plumbing and septic systems that service the cottages are also new.
How is cottage electricity use monitored?
The wiring for all cottages is brand new, and each cottage has its own electricity meter.
What comes with my cottage?
All cottages are fully furnished with very beautiful handcrafted furniture, bathrooms
(shower, toilet and sink), bar fridges, stand lighting, screened porches, living areas and equipped kitchens. The beds are custom made with deluxe mattresses. The two and three bedroom cottages are equipped with wood burning stoves, and all cottages have electrical convection wall mounted units for supplementary heat.
Do the cottages have eat-in kitchens?
Yes.
Can I barbeque at the cottage?
Yes. All cottages will come equipped with a new gas barbeque.
Can I have guests?
Yes. Your guests can stay with you in your cottage provide the numbers do not exceed the limit established in the regulations, or they may stay at the 'Bunky', a large cottage set aside for the use of the guests of the cottage unit owners. The 'Bunky' is situated close to the main cottages, and is owned by the cottage unit owners through the nonprofit organization.
Is there any charge for my guests staying in the 'Bunkie'?
Yes. The cottage unit owner will be charged $50.00 per night per person for use of the 'Bunkie’.
Who gets the money I pay to have my guests stay in the 'Bunkie'?
The money is paid to the nonprofit organization with 75% being allocated toward lowering the monthly maintenance fees of the cottage unit owner who rents the 'Bunkie' and 25% going into the general revenues of the nonprofit organization.
Questions about maintenance services
How much are the maintenance fees?
The maintenance fees are estimated at $155.83 per month per cottage unit for 2007 based on 12 months. This money is paid to the nonprofit organization that is owned by the cottage unit owners so it can conduct and pay for the necessary maintenance on behalf of the owners. The end result is that the cottage unit owners control the maintenance thereby avoiding the costly markups levied by management companies that contribute to dramatically higher maintenance costs. Full details of what is covered by the maintenance fees are available in the legal documents.
When will my maintenance fees go up?
Maintenance fees can only be increased with the approval of the directors of the nonprofit organization. In other words, the fees will only go up if the cottage unit owners deem it is necessary. Your maintenance fees are not controlled by a for-profit management company, but by the owners themselves.
What happens to any money that the nonprofit organization does not need to use for maintenance in any given year?
Any money not needed for maintenance in a given year becomes the asset of the nonprofit organization, to be invested or used for the benefit of the cottage unit owners.
Who maintains my cottage and the common property?
There will a full maintenance program managed by the non-profit corporation that is controlled by the cottage owners. A full time maintenance person will be on site during daylight hours, and after hours the maintenance person can be contacted by telephone.
Who cleans my cottage?
All cottages will be cleaned once per week from the second week of May through to the third week of October, on a schedule to be posted each season. At the end of each annual ownership period, the housekeeper will clean each cottage prior to the arrival of the next occupants. These cleanings will be part of the annual maintenance program.
If an owner wishes daily maid service, this may be arranged through the maintenance manager and paid for by the individual requesting the service.
Do the cottages have problems with damp?
None of the cottages has any problems with damp or standing water due to a combination of cottage design and construction, and the amazing natural drainage of the area on which the cottages are constructed.
Questions about legal matters
Who can answer any legal questions my lawyer or I might have?
The Lodge at Pine Cove Cottages, has retained, Tom Pinckard, to answer all legal questions. Mr. Pinckard is a highly regarded lawyer who is considered by many in his profession to be one of Ontario's leading experts on lifestyle real estate law. Please contact us for an introduction to Mr. Pinckard.
Does my ownership of a cottage unit have a time limit?
No. Unlike some fractional ownership schemes, your ownership of a cottage at The Cottages at Pine Cove is perpetual.
Can I sell my cottage unit, or leave it to my heirs?
Yes. The cottage unit is your asset, and as such can be disposed of as you see fit provided that the new owners agree to abide by the rules and regulations governing The Cottages at Pine Cove.
Will I own the land the on which my cottage is built?
Yes. The land on which the cottages are built is owned and controlled by a nonprofit organization that in turn is owned and controlled by the cottage unit owners.
How do I learn more about the rules and regulations governing the nonprofit organization?
All cottage unit owners will be provided with legal documents containing the full details of the rules and regulations governing the nonprofit organization and the purchase of a cottage unit at The Cottages at Pine Cove. These documents will be provided in advance of the completion of the purchase of a cottage unit so that your lawyer can review them. In addition, questions about these documents and any other related legal issues can also be discussed with our lawyer Mr. Thomas Pinckard at no cost to you,.
Who will manage the nonprofit organization?
The nonprofit organization will be managed by a board of directors made up of the owners of the cottage units and duly elected by the owners of the cottage units according to the rules and regulations governing an Ontario nonprofit corporation.
Please describe the long-term relationship between the cottage owners and the company developing the resort?
Once the cottage units are sold and the nonprofit organization is running smoothly, the legal relationship between the cottage owners and the developer is at an. The developer will have no long-term vested interest or involvement in the cottages or the nonprofit organization, nor will the developer have any financial stake in the cottages or the nonprofit organization. In short, the ownership and future of the cottages and the nonprofit organization are entirely in the hands of the cottage unit owners.
Questions of a general nature
Will there be lots of other resort developments in the area?
No. All of the land around the French River system is either provincial park, government owned Crown Lands, or the Dokis First Nations lands, and as such, is unlikely to be developed.
Will I be able to 'trade' the use of my time at my cottage with other cottage owners?
Yes. The Lodge will establish a computer-based trading system so that cottage owners can easily exchange time with other like-minded owners. Participation in the trading system by cottage owners will be strictly voluntary.
Will I be able to 'trade' the use of my time at my cottage with other resorts?
Yes. The Lodge is in the process of establishing business links with the leading resort exchange organizations, such as, RCI.
When will the resort officially open and close each year?
The last week of April and the first week of May will be used to open The Lodge and The Cottages for the main season, and the last week of October and the first week of November, will be used to close the resort for the winter. Cottage owners will not be permitted access to The Cottages during these times so that any maintenance required on the individual cottages and the main property can be safely completed.
Can I rent my time at my cottage to people that do not own one a cottage unit?
Yes. The owner is fee to rent to other people, provided that the people renting the cottage conform to the official rules and regulations of the association.
Can I ask The Lodge to look after the rental of my cottage unit?
Yes. The resort will be pleased to look after all the details of renting your cottage in accordance with the terms between the resort and cottage owners.
How is the swimming?
The swimming is ideal. The water immediately off the shore in front of the cottages quickly drops to depths of over 30' and so is a perfect place for competent swimmers. Those cottagers who are not comfortable swimming in deep water, or people who simply want to paddle, will enjoy the warm, shallow water just off our sandy beach.
Is parking available?
Yes. The Lodge has a parking lot.
Can I dock my boat on the property?
Yes. A cottage unit owner can purchase a slip at the communal dock used by The Cottages and The Lodge. We have concentrated all the docking away from the cottages, to ensure the peace and privacy of the setting is undisturbed.
Will the cottages have their own septic system?
Yes. The cottages will be serviced by a brand new septic system that has been given the highest environmental rating by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The system costs roughly $100,000.00 to install, and it will be a wholly owned asset of the nonprofit organization controlled by the cottage owners.
What is the drinking water like at the cottages?
The drinking water for the cottages is drawn from a deep, fresh-water well which is regularly tested by an approved laboratory.
Will there be a place to store personal items when we are not at the cottage?
Yes. Cottage owners will be able to store a range of items in areas specially constructed for the purpose, items that include, things like lines, seasonal clothing, household and recreational items. A full description of the make-up and location of these storage areas will be provided to cottage buyers.
Can I store my boat at the cottage in the off-season?
The Lodge has made arrangements with a local business located only a short drive away that will enable cottage owners to pay for this type of storage, but there will be no off-season storage facilities for boats at the cottages.
Were any trees felled during the building of the cottages?
No living trees were cut down to permit the building of the cottages. In all cases, the cottages were designed and built around the trees in order to preserve the natural beauty of the area.
For more information please contact
Alex Strachan or Janine Suboch
The Lodge and The Cottages at Pine
Cove
P.O. Box 91, Noelville, Ontario, Canada, P0M 2N0
Phone: 705-898-2500
Fax: 705-898-2045
Email: info@frenchriver.com |
