Guides for the family cabin
Practical advice for families who share a cabin or lake house: scheduling, costs, checklists and house rules.
Best app for a shared family cabin or lake house (honest comparison)
Google Calendar, a spreadsheet, a group text or a dedicated app? An honest comparison of the tools families use to share a cabin or lake house, with pros and cons.
How to share a family cabin or lake house: a schedule that works
Fixed rotation, rotating holidays or first come, first served? Four ways to schedule a shared family cabin or lake house, and the ground rules that keep everyone happy.
How to split vacation home costs fairly among family
Property taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs and supplies – who pays what? Three fair ways to split the costs of a shared family cabin or lake house, with a worked example.
Cabin and lake house closing checklist for the end of the season
A complete end-of-season checklist for closing up a family cabin or lake house – water, heat, food, outdoor gear and security – so it's ready and undamaged next spring.
Family cabin rules: a template you can adapt
House rules make a shared family cabin or lake house easier for everyone. Example rules for booking, cleaning, costs, guests and pets that you can copy and adapt.
Cabin opening checklist: first spring visit to the lake house
Opening the cabin or lake house for the season? A step-by-step spring checklist for the outside, mice, power, water, chimney and dock – in the order that catches damage early.
Organizing a family cabin: get the plans out of the group text
When lake house plans drown in the family group chat, you get double bookings and "I said so in the chat". How to separate conversation from decisions and keep one overview.
Who gets the lake house on holidays? A fair rotation that lasts
Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving are the weeks everyone wants. How to set up a holiday rotation for a shared cabin that stays fair for years, with an example.
Lake house packing list: what to bring vs. what stays there
A lake house packing list for summer, fall and kids – split into what each family brings and what should always stay at the house, so nobody packs twice.
Cabin supplies list: what a shared vacation home should always have
A cabin supplies list for shared vacation homes – the essentials to keep stocked, how much to keep on hand, and a simple restocking routine every family can follow.
Vacation home guest information: what to tell guests (template)
A copy-ready vacation home guest information sheet: what guests need before and during a stay, from directions and lockbox codes to Wi-Fi and checkout.