A waterfront home in my local area, Bellingham / Whatcom County, can sell as quickly as the day it’s listed, but during a slow market, a home can languish on the market for months. To avoid this, you can take proactive steps to ensure your lake house will be a quick sale. But owning waterfront property is a unique experience. In this article, you’ll find tips for lake houses and other waterfront properties.
Know The Current Market
First, ask a listing agent for comparable sales and market conditions. They can show you similar sales to help you list your home at the most profitable and appealing price. To attract plenty of buyers, it’s best to set the price close to what a reasonable buyer would pay, given the comparable sales in your area.
Make The beach Look Inviting
Lakeside and oceanfront homes with private beaches have the ultimate view, but beachfront views require maintenance and upkeep. Make sure to remove weeds and other unwanted vegetation from the beach area. Before a showing, rake the sand and place a few beachy items, such as toys or a comfy chair overlooking the water.
Maintain The Dock
A worn dock with buckled or broken boards should be replaced, stained, or painted. This gives a new look that buyers crave. When a buyer sees a weather-worn dock or decking, they see a future renovation project. This is an easy step in securing a sizable profit on a waterfront home.
Renovate The Boathouse
Some waterfront homes come with the coveted boathouse. Clean the exterior of bird droppings and stains. A fresh coat of paint can turn a dingy boathouse into a boater’s dream.
Stage For A Beach Day
When people shop for a waterfront home, they imagine future parties on the patio and deck. Feed their imagination by setting out flower pots and placing deck furniture in a party-style manner. As you do this, imagine preparing for a party. Stage the deck in the most inviting way, setting the table for an imaginary BBQ. Don’t forget the landscaping as well. The grassy area near the deck should be neatly manicured without weeds and vines.
List The Area’s Highlights
Though some buyers are people returning to the lake for their childhood vacations, many buyers of lakefront houses need to familiarize themselves with the area. They may be in search of a second home. It’s always helpful to give them a list of highlights about the area, such as an aerial photograph of the property, brochures for local shops and restaurants, and anything to show the potential buyer a flavor of the town and its culture. You could prepare a binder with these items, much like the informational binders you find in a hotel room.
Make Sure To Accentuate The View
Make sure the windows are clean, especially those that overlook the waterfront. You’ll want to remove windchimes and other decorations that distract or block the view.
Check Your Permits
Permits are needed whenever a property owner makes significant structural changes to a house. You can ease the transition by checking ahead of time that these permits are in place. This could also eliminate hiccups in the sale.
This can make a waterfront home highly appealing to a potential buyer. You could display copies of your permits in a folder on the foyer table. Seeing the work on the home was legally done puts a buyer at ease. It also adds value to your listing.
A professional listing agent can accelerate the sale of your waterfront home with advanced knowledge of the local market and prices.
Hi! I’m Jolene Baijot, I’m a Real Estate Agent in Bellingham, WA. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I appreciate your time spent on this site. You can connect with me on Facebook, Instagram or contact me through this website. I’d love to hear from you.
