The main thing to keep in mind when getting ready to list your unique East Tennessee lake home is to remember you are not just selling a home, you are selling a lifestyle. A buyer can change the structure, but they can’t change the location. So focus your efforts on the buyer’s priorities…the lake, shoreline, the views, etc. There’s no shortage of articles on how to prepare a generic home for sale, but there are none specifically for lakefront homes. Here are some helpful tips:
- Dock & Deck Safety: If you have docks, decks, and/or shoreline walls, be sure they are sturdy and safe. Replace / repair any loose boards and floating docks should be roped off or sturdy enough to walk on. For the steep pathways to dock, they can easily become slippery if they have accumulated algae or areas that get wet frequently. If there is a pathway leading down to the water, make sure it is clear of any obstacles and well defined. Are you in the process of adding a dock or deck? Check out our blog for the best materials to use.
- Shoreline Curb Appeal: Because our East Tennessee lakes fluctuate in water levels, many buyers look hard at the shorelines to imagine winter shoreline conditions. It’s best when getting your lake home ready for sale to clean all debris, leaves and dead tree limbs from your shoreline. Rake all aquatic weeds and bottom muck as far out into the lake as you can reach. Have photos displayed on a flyer that show the shoreline conditions in ALL seasons, particularly summer.
- Lake Lifestyle Staging: Buyers are buying a lake home for the lifestyle it will provide them. As lake specialists we love seeing the excitement of our buyers when they walk out on a dock and there are boats or jet skis, it makes showing and selling the home a motivating experience! Help them understand by neatly staging your shoreline and lakeside yard with lifestyle items: kayaks, fishing equipment, fire pit, etc. Don’t over-do it….but let them know how they will be spending their days.
- Lake Visibility from the interior: If a buyer enters the home, they will immediately walk to where they can see the lake. So be sure any window glass and/or sliders are perfectly spotless and clear from anything that would block your gorgeous lake view!
- Market the Lake: Create flyers or speak with our Lake Team about making a binder to have details on the lake itself, recreation close by your shoreline, the lake community your located in, neighborhood lake activities, etc.
- Marketing Materials: 95% of buyers start their search on-line. Photos and video must “tell the story” of the home and lakefront location. Assume the buyer knows nothing about the lake and area. Walk them through your location virtually. Panoramic and drone shots of the lake, as well as photos showing the home from out on the water, are critical.
- Use our Lake Specialist: Most Realtors you speak with will be a “generalist”. But lakefront property is unique, your home is unique… and it takes an agent with lakefront knowledge to understand important details to your sale such as community HOAs and restrictions, TVA and shoreline restrictions, lake activities, pricing, and more. The most powerful things about our Lake Team is our lakefront experience, we live, work, and play on our lakes and know them better than any other East Tennessee brokerage! And likely we already have a qualified buyer for your unique lake property!
Pricing Your Lake Home Correctly: Not all lakes are created equal; the size, cleanliness, and recreational draw of your body of water will impact your property’s value. More important is your property’s frontage: What is your particular piece of the waterfront pie like? Size, slope, substrate, and other factors can impact the value of your frontage.
Want more articles to help you prepare for selling your home? Read about our Tips and Tricks to Capitalize on Selling Your Lake Home in a Seller’s Market and call us today so we can help you sell with easy!
Posted by Jack Vincent, Lakefront Living Realty, TN