Waterfront properties are in high demand. Those looking to escape the city are flocking to lakes and oceans and buying up homes all over the world. If you’ve been thinking about selling your beach house, now is the time to do it.
Making a few improvements to your waterfront home to improve its value is a great way to boost the asking price and curb appeal before putting it on the market.
1. Install a Retaining Wall
Whether you live on the beach or the lake, the waves will continue to erode your shoreline and eat up your land. Year after year, another inch of your garden or beach will disappear. Combat erosion and improve your property value by installing a retaining wall. Heavy materials like boulders, timbers and poured concrete will counteract pressure the best. Remember to contact your homeowner’s association or state department to obtain a building permit, if necessary.
2. Clean Up the Shoreline
The cleanliness of your shoreline plays a critical role in determining your asking price. Most potential buyers will see your property from the water, first, so it must make a good impression. Prepare your home for the homebuying paparazzi by clearing away seaweed, lily pads and other debris. For problems below the surface, you might use muck pellets or a weed blower to get rid of sludge, silt and aquatic plants.
3. Increase Waterfront Visibility
Most people retreat to waterfront homes for the view. They simply can’t resist the idea of sipping coffee while gazing out onto the water. Increase the value of your waterfront home by ensuring a clear view. Trim trees, brune bushes and shrubs and remove boulders and stumps that obstruct their line of sight. When you stage your home, remember to wash those windows so everyone can see the water — and all your hard work.
4. Add a Floating Dock
If your property doesn’t already have a dock, adding a floating one will give you the best return on investment. This type of dock is easy to install and usually costs less than stationary models. Many floating docks are also modular, allowing owners to reconfigure the arrangement to serve a variety of purposes. Homebuyers who want to add more features to their property or buy more boats will especially love this addition.
5. Create Lounge Space
Properties that rest outside the city center offer a higher profit for a lower investment. The same is true of adding outdoor lounge areas to these properties. Features like arbors, benches and patios can attract swaths of homebuyers. Plus, they’re a relatively simple option if your waterfront is flat. Decks, balconies and porches may require more time and dedication. However, they can also improve property value without requiring a year’s worth of savings.
6. Install Outdoor Amenities
Of course, exterior amenities can improve your waterfront value as well. Outdoor kitchens, fire pits, boat lifts and even pools can interest potential buyers and help you sell your home fast. This idea is also beneficial for landlords looking to attract tenants. Put that monthly stream of cash back into adding amenities to your rental so you never have to worry about extended vacancies. When the time comes, these improvements will also help you sell the property at a higher price.
7. Add More Lighting
When it comes to home improvements, proper lighting is what separates the boys from the men. While most guys will invest in landscaping and water toys, others will spend a few extra dollars on illuminating their waterfront properties. Invoke jealousy with lanterns and exterior wall sconces. Light up the home’s entrance and make sure the pathway to the dock has solar lamps to safely guide residents to the shore. Update interior lighting, change out dimming switches and add skylights, too.
8. Focus on Efficiency
With so much focus on sustainability these days, many homeowners won’t purchase a home unless it is efficient. Some may look for solar panels and others prioritize value energy-efficient appliances. Regardless, it’s wise to invest in renewables and features that are updated and more eco-friendly. Doing so will attract both earth-conscious buyers and those hoping to spend less on their utility bills.
Improving the Value of Waterfront Properties
If you’re improving the value of waterfront properties you wish to sell in the near future, considering hiring a professional to stage your home. This person will stage your property to have a neutral style to help the prospective buyers see it as their own. They’ll also help you sell the waterfront lifestyle that comes with your home by strategically showcasing all of its best features.
Ultimately, this step will increase your waterfront property value, too, and maximize the return on your investment.
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.
