Is it time to sell your lakeshore home?

Key insights:

• Is your home away from home feeling more like a chore than a retreat? Consider putting your property up for sale at the end of the season.
• If you’re planning on selling your lakeshore home or cabin, there are several steps you can take to help prep the space while still enjoying it to its fullest.
• Selling your home doesn’t mean you need to leave lake life behind. Check out other lakeshore homes and cabins that may better fit your needs.

Maybe the property has become too much to handle, or maybe summer getaways have been few and far between over the years. Whatever the reason, if you’re thinking about selling your cabin or lake home, this summer is a great time to put in the work to list it while still enjoying one last summer.

Is it time to sell?

If you’re not quite ready to abandon the lake life, finding a different lakeshore property that better meets your needs might be a consideration. Ask yourself these questions if you’re still on the fence about selling.

Does the size of my lake home fit my needs, including hosting guests? If your family or friend group has expanded since you first bought your lakeshore property, it may be a tight squeeze when all the guests come for the weekend. Outside of selling, your best options are to limit your guest list or expand your current property’s footprint.

Is it too difficult to maintain my lake home throughout the year? Whether your property is higher maintenance than you were expecting or you simply don’t get to the lake home as often as you hoped, the maintenance may begin to overwhelm your weekend trips. If you’re not ready to sell, you could consider hiring a year-round resident or maintenance worker who can do some of the upkeep so your weekends away are more relaxing and less work-intensive.

Am I spending enough time at my lake home? No matter how much you prioritize life at the lake, there are plenty of close-to-home summer activities that can keep you from heading lakeside each weekend. If you’re starting to feel that your lakeshore property isn’t being used as much as you’d like, you may want to consider renting it out on off-weekends or even think about co-owning a property with family or friends.

Is the location of my lake home ideal? Consider your commute time and access to shopping, entertainment and other amenities. If you’re spending too much time getting to and from your cabin each weekend or heading into town for basic errands, you may want to consider a location that works better for you.

Is this the right lake for me? Whether you’re a wakeboarder, an avid fisher, a kayak enthusiast or simply want to boat to a dockside restaurant every weekend, there is a right lake for your needs. If you’ve realized that your lake doesn’t match your interests, it may be worth speaking to an agent who can help you find the right waterfront property for you.

Now that you’ve decided to sell, here’s a to-do list for your summer to prep your cabin or lakeshore home while still enjoying the season.

Clean, declutter and take note

When selling any property, a good scrub of your space and decluttering are good first steps. Remove lingering cobwebs and dust from the long winter and toss all of the broken yard game sets and ratty towels you’ve been storing.

While you’re scurrying around emptying closets and cleaning rooms, take note of any repairs or renovations needed, like cracked tiles, rickety railings and hole-filled window screens, to get your property in tip-top shape for you and potential buyers.

Work on projects throughout the season

Whether they’re as big as repairing a dock or as small as painting a few rooms, maximize the summer season to complete renovation projects. Completing a small project here and there—or hiring trusted contractors for times you have other plans—will allow you to actually enjoy your time at the cabin or lake.

Consider outdoor landscaping endeavors like:

• Felling trees
• Creating or cleaning up walking paths
• Repairing steps and railings
• Painting the exterior
• Establishing storage space

A few interior projects might include:

• Removing dated wallpaper for a more neutral palette
• Updating bathroom fixtures
• Finishing off added space
• Fixing stuck windows and doors

Take pictures all summer long

It can be hard to appreciate the beauty of a property when it’s covered in snow, so make an effort to have pictures taken of your cabin or lake house throughout the summer season to show off crystal waters, relaxing sunsets and fresh greenery. While you may feel confident in your own photo skills, it’s best to ask your REALTORⓇ about getting professional pictures done.

Typically, the inside of cabins or lake homes have plenty of windows to let fresh air in, which can mean less-than-ideal lighting conditions for pictures. They can also pack a lot of space into limited square feet with multi-purpose areas, bunk beds and vertical storage. That’s all great when you’re living there, but in photos, the space can look cramped. A skilled stager and expert photographer have the tricks needed to show the functionality of your space.

Don’t forget about the exterior! Show off your parking space for cars, boats and 4-wheelers and any storage areas for kayaks, life jackets and yard games. Fire pits, swing sets and other on-property entertainment can also be a big draw. Additionally, aerial views can give buyers a good feel of the property and how close it may be to trails, docks, hunting grounds or local shops.

Prepare to list your lake home for sale

Every county, city, lake or river can vary in its conditions for local sellers. The best way to get started on the process of selling your waterfront home is to get a professional home value estimate from one of our experts.

Reach out to Edina Realty or your agent to get an expert opinion of what your waterfront home is worth today.