Part 2: Roll the Film!
I am actually going to combine a few thoughts into this article that all have to do with giving a buyer the best visual perspective of your property. By doing a few extra things, you can create an emotional attachment to your lake property that a buyer may not get from others that they walk through. So, lets open the photo album and charge up the battery on the camcorder.
In Real Estate 101, they always teach you about staging a home. That means getting rid of the clutter - inside and outside - and taking down a lot of personal photos that adorn the walls. What generally happens if you don't hide the family portraits is that the buyers start looking at them and forget to look through the home. I certainly agree with most all of this, except that waterfront properties are a bit different.
Lake home and cabin buyers are normally coming from a neighborhood that is not on the water. Their daily lives have consisted of getting up in the morning, feeding themselves (and maybe their kids), and then going to work and whatever other routine might take up their evening hours. It is kind of like the way most of us live. But now they are thinking that a lake place might change their daily ritual, although they are not quite sure to what extent.
Over the years I've noticed that a lot of these lake buyers have never lived on water before - and many of them have not even spent a lot of time around a lake - so they really don't know what to expect. Just like the way they can't imagine what your home will look like without the red shag carpet or tin awnings keeping the sun out of the house, they also have a hard time visualizing what joys could await them on this resort-like setting. So...you have to show them!
Most likely you have had a few good times at your lake place. Whether it has been your year-round home, or a weekend getaway, you or someone you know probably shot a few photos. These might involve swimming, boche ball, water-skiing - or even sitting around having a few beers, but they will create an image in the potential buyer's mind about what goes on at the lake. And the fact of the matter is that most people who are interested in buying a lake property are looking for a little fun to go along with it, so you most likely won't offend them if you are not dressed appropriately on these pictures. Also, the buyers will be able to see your property at various times of the year, instead of all of your photos being shot this week with dirty snow or brown grass.
Secondly, begin shooting some of your own photos now, so that you or your Realtor can use them in the marketing of your property, and continue shooting more during the time your property is on the market. Buyers love to see lots of photos - especially on lake properties where they are coming from further distances. If you leave all of the photography up to your agent, they may not hit it at the best time due to inclement weather or the time of day. You can be an effective partner in creating a faster - and potentially more profitable sale for yourself - by helping your agent with this task. Just email them any digital photos you think are good so that he or she can pass them along to possible buyers.
The last thing I want to talk about is an idea that is still fairly unique. It can be used in two different ways, or a combination of both. This one involves your video camera.
When a buyer is in your home or on your property, they are just getting a snapshot of what goes on there. If you put out a lot of photos of good times, they are getting a few more snapshots. But what if they can watch a video of not just your property, but also other lake activities and atttractions such as fishing, interesting landmarks, public islands and beaches, wildlife...and anything else you can think of that made you love your life here. You can have your VCR or DVD player all set up to watch it just by hitting "play" (just leave a large enough note explaining the procedure so that they see it). It will really add an extra dimension to their visit - even more so than the chocolate chip cookies you baked.
Finally, if you want to go all out, have extra copies of DVDs for them to take with them...or for your agent to send to them. In my mind, this is 10 times stronger than any virtual tour!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
What About Boathouses?
There is something special about an old boathouse hanging over the water's edge. Unfortunately, building codes have eliminated most of the ones that we used to see around our lakes up north. In fact, in a lot of areas it is even difficult to fix up the structures that are already there. However, a new Minnesota law from 2006 allows owners of these once common structures much more leniency in their restoration or replacement.
The photo above is from Shorline Construction on Lake Muskoka in Ontario, where grandiose boathouses have been a fixture on these expansive and scenery-filled waters for over a century. However, as this article states, even in an area where residents have looked fondly upon these architectural masterpieces, they know when they have too much of a good thing. I guess it's kind of like Don Henley and Glenn Frey wrote in their moving song, The Last Resort..,"You call someplace paradise - kiss it goodbye."
It's true. The things that create the most awe are the same things that most of us want to have for ourselves, but we may not want others to have them. We want the best beaches, bigger houses...and yes, boathouses, but they are expensive and hard to come by. That is why laws have been created to protect us from these villains who can afford to get the things that we might not be able to.
Nearly all of us would love to have one of these beautiful structures on our shoreline...the perfect place to entertain guests at the water's edge. However, not many of us would want our next door neighbors to have them on their 100 foot lots - blocking our views of the lake and impacting our privacy. Many people also like the idea of old resorts with their sandy beaches and relaxing grounds, and a lot of us would like to own one for our personal use. But no one seems to want one next door to them.
So as our population increases and our lakes become more popular, we will continue to lose some of our ties to the past. Boathouses that once housed magnificent tour boats and yachts on our larger lakes will be mostly a memory. However, many counties do allow smaller accessory buildings near the water - generally lacking character and much more of an eyesore (in my opinion) than the larger showplaces of the past.
But if you are lucky enough to have one these water-based boathouses on your lake property, take good care of it. It will be very difficult to replace!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Part 4 of Series..."What to Think About When Buying Lakeshore"
Part 4: What's Your Radius?
Today I'll talk about the most important topic for nearly all cabin buyers...how far will they go? We're not as concerned here about second home buyers or those that are thinking about getting a place for retirement. Instead, we'll focus on the true weekenders who need to get from their home or place of employment on Friday and be back there by Monday morning most of the time.
Obviously, the largest crowd of cabin buyers spends the majority of their time around the Twin Cities. With a metro population of over 3 million people, you can't blame them for wanting to get away. If fact, the amount of residents throughout the 13 county metro area is about the same as the rest of Minnesota...combined with North and South Dakota.
When Twin Cities residents start the process of searching for a lake cabin, they generally think in terms of how many hours away from "The Cities" they are comfortable driving. The real problem begins when they look at a map to see how far 2 hours...or 3 hours...will take them. On a good day, two hours can get you to Mille Lacs Lake or Alexandria, depending on which part of the metro area you are beginning your trip from. But on a Friday afternoon, it might only get you from Eagan to Maple Grove! That will definitely cut into your play time at the lake.
Many of the buyers I talk with tell me that they want an "up north feel." Of course, many of the residents around Minneapolis and St. Paul came from up north because there was not a lot of opportunity for jobs in their home towns - or they were hired by a Twin Cities company out of college. Now they have young kids, and they are hoping to give them some of the same experiences they had from growing up around those northern lakes.
But many of these younger families live in the suburbs on the south side of The Cities, which makes it a little tougher to get "up north." Although, if you live on the north side of The Cities, some of the suburbs there seem to keep growing, and are almost up north already!
The other thing I hear most often is that they want to stay within a 2 hour radius of their home. Combining a 2 hour radius with an up north feel is really hard if you live in Lakeville. And if you work typical weekday hours, it won't be much easier at 3 hours. So......what does a person do?
Well, first of all decide what you really want out of a lake place. I find that most people who say they want a certain type of property, or a particular area, only do it because that is what they are most familiar with. Decide on the size lake you want for the type of recreational activities you enjoy the most, and other factors such as proximity to nearby towns for shopping or restaurants. And decide how far you can realistically drive without giving up precious family time at your new cabin.
The next thing you need to do is define several of the potential areas that might work for you. Just by looking at a state map you can see groupings of lakes that will fit into your desired drive time. If you live in Apple Valley and want to stay within about two hours of home, check out the lakes around Mankato and New Ulm to the south, and then look at areas like Litchfield and Willmar to the west for the most waterfront opportunities. You may also find some good offerings near Amery or Siren, Wisconsin. But by going directly north from the southern suburbs, you may only end up in the outskirts of the ever-expanding metro area, and you may not find the type of surroundings that will feel as much like you are "away from it all." Also, because you will not be much further out than commuting range, many of the lake places will be year-round residents and the prices will tend to be higher.
Here is another important thing go keep in mind as you scan the maps for possible lakes to choose from: there will be many other water bodies spread throughout your chosen drive time that might not be as easy to find, but they could be very good candidates for your perfect lake place. In fact, sometimes these smaller and less-known lakes are hidden gems that offer more privacy and solitude the their busier and more popular counterparts. You can often find these by doing some searches on various real estate websites for the general geographic area you have in mind.
After you figure out what is most important in these aspects, then you need to be honest with yourself (and your real estate agent) on how much you are willing to spend. If you have a price of $300,000 in the back of your mind, you will probably not be happy with what you see at $225,000. And if you are going to be driving 2-3 hours to look at these properties, you will be wasting a lot of your time in the process.
It is much better to tell your agent that you want to spend between $200,000 and $300,000, and that you would like to see properties throughout this range to get a good feel for value. As far as I know, it is still illegal for real estate agents to force someone to pay a higher price than that person wants to for property...and if they aren't able or willing to educate you on a wide range of possible values, find a new agent!
One more thing you should know about real estate agents is that most of them tend to work quite geographically, and may not be familiar with lake properties over a wide ranging area unless that is their true specialty. It is not a bad idea to ask them about lake property values in some neighboring market areas to see if you have a good feel for their ability to represent you properly in your search. A good agent will refer you to another real estate professional who can provide the best service for your needs, unless they personally have a strong comfort level in assisting you.
Owning a weekend lake cabin can be one of the most enjoyable experiences for you and your family. If you like having friends and relatives around, you will have no shortage of them coming to visit, and you'll gain a boatload of good memories to carry with you through the years. If you would rather just get away from everyone and spend your free time reading and recharging your mental batteries, that works too.
But make sure to be open-minded in your hunt for your perfect cabin. Minnesota and Wisconsin have good lakes everywhere, and you just have to be a little more adventurous to find them. "Up North" might actually be a couple hours south...and you are going to have a lot more time to enjoy it!
Today I'll talk about the most important topic for nearly all cabin buyers...how far will they go? We're not as concerned here about second home buyers or those that are thinking about getting a place for retirement. Instead, we'll focus on the true weekenders who need to get from their home or place of employment on Friday and be back there by Monday morning most of the time.
Obviously, the largest crowd of cabin buyers spends the majority of their time around the Twin Cities. With a metro population of over 3 million people, you can't blame them for wanting to get away. If fact, the amount of residents throughout the 13 county metro area is about the same as the rest of Minnesota...combined with North and South Dakota.
When Twin Cities residents start the process of searching for a lake cabin, they generally think in terms of how many hours away from "The Cities" they are comfortable driving. The real problem begins when they look at a map to see how far 2 hours...or 3 hours...will take them. On a good day, two hours can get you to Mille Lacs Lake or Alexandria, depending on which part of the metro area you are beginning your trip from. But on a Friday afternoon, it might only get you from Eagan to Maple Grove! That will definitely cut into your play time at the lake.
Many of the buyers I talk with tell me that they want an "up north feel." Of course, many of the residents around Minneapolis and St. Paul came from up north because there was not a lot of opportunity for jobs in their home towns - or they were hired by a Twin Cities company out of college. Now they have young kids, and they are hoping to give them some of the same experiences they had from growing up around those northern lakes.
But many of these younger families live in the suburbs on the south side of The Cities, which makes it a little tougher to get "up north." Although, if you live on the north side of The Cities, some of the suburbs there seem to keep growing, and are almost up north already!
The other thing I hear most often is that they want to stay within a 2 hour radius of their home. Combining a 2 hour radius with an up north feel is really hard if you live in Lakeville. And if you work typical weekday hours, it won't be much easier at 3 hours. So......what does a person do?
Well, first of all decide what you really want out of a lake place. I find that most people who say they want a certain type of property, or a particular area, only do it because that is what they are most familiar with. Decide on the size lake you want for the type of recreational activities you enjoy the most, and other factors such as proximity to nearby towns for shopping or restaurants. And decide how far you can realistically drive without giving up precious family time at your new cabin.
The next thing you need to do is define several of the potential areas that might work for you. Just by looking at a state map you can see groupings of lakes that will fit into your desired drive time. If you live in Apple Valley and want to stay within about two hours of home, check out the lakes around Mankato and New Ulm to the south, and then look at areas like Litchfield and Willmar to the west for the most waterfront opportunities. You may also find some good offerings near Amery or Siren, Wisconsin. But by going directly north from the southern suburbs, you may only end up in the outskirts of the ever-expanding metro area, and you may not find the type of surroundings that will feel as much like you are "away from it all." Also, because you will not be much further out than commuting range, many of the lake places will be year-round residents and the prices will tend to be higher.
Here is another important thing go keep in mind as you scan the maps for possible lakes to choose from: there will be many other water bodies spread throughout your chosen drive time that might not be as easy to find, but they could be very good candidates for your perfect lake place. In fact, sometimes these smaller and less-known lakes are hidden gems that offer more privacy and solitude the their busier and more popular counterparts. You can often find these by doing some searches on various real estate websites for the general geographic area you have in mind.
After you figure out what is most important in these aspects, then you need to be honest with yourself (and your real estate agent) on how much you are willing to spend. If you have a price of $300,000 in the back of your mind, you will probably not be happy with what you see at $225,000. And if you are going to be driving 2-3 hours to look at these properties, you will be wasting a lot of your time in the process.
It is much better to tell your agent that you want to spend between $200,000 and $300,000, and that you would like to see properties throughout this range to get a good feel for value. As far as I know, it is still illegal for real estate agents to force someone to pay a higher price than that person wants to for property...and if they aren't able or willing to educate you on a wide range of possible values, find a new agent!
One more thing you should know about real estate agents is that most of them tend to work quite geographically, and may not be familiar with lake properties over a wide ranging area unless that is their true specialty. It is not a bad idea to ask them about lake property values in some neighboring market areas to see if you have a good feel for their ability to represent you properly in your search. A good agent will refer you to another real estate professional who can provide the best service for your needs, unless they personally have a strong comfort level in assisting you.
Owning a weekend lake cabin can be one of the most enjoyable experiences for you and your family. If you like having friends and relatives around, you will have no shortage of them coming to visit, and you'll gain a boatload of good memories to carry with you through the years. If you would rather just get away from everyone and spend your free time reading and recharging your mental batteries, that works too.
But make sure to be open-minded in your hunt for your perfect cabin. Minnesota and Wisconsin have good lakes everywhere, and you just have to be a little more adventurous to find them. "Up North" might actually be a couple hours south...and you are going to have a lot more time to enjoy it!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Waterfront Sales are Picking Up
The cold weather seems to keep dragging on, but I caught a glimpse of the weather report this morning and the temperatures may be looking up for the weekend. It seems, though, that a few waterfront buyers aren't waiting for the thaw, as there are some decent sales starting to come in from several of our agents across Minnesota.
Craig Mische, from our Alexandria Office, sent in a couple new sales this morning totalling nearly $1,000,000. Mike Stanwood has also had some very nice sales over the last few months - even in the dead of winter - up in the Breezy Point and Whitefish Chain area. His average price seems to be holding in the $500,000 range also, so it sees that the price reductions in the half million to $750,000 range properties have brought a lot of interest. We have noticed an increase in emails from prospective buyers in Grand Rapids, the Northern Twin Cities and Rainy Lake - and Brainerd, Bemidji and Ely leads have remained fairly steady.
On the listing end of the market, Chris Dubose has had quite a few calls over the last week from lake property owners around Chisago Lakes and Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, who are trying to beat the rush by getting their lake places on the market. And Sandra Ortman and Terri Haapoja added this interesting lake property on Little Wabana Lake just north of Grand Rapids with over 70 acres on the water. I also just listed this great lake home a few miles out of Grand Rapids on Prairie Lake, with 800' on the water and its own peninsula.
All in all, we are seeing quite a bit of activity on both the listing and purchasing end of the market for waterfront properties. Let's hope it continues, because having a balanced market this year would be good for everyone!
Craig Mische, from our Alexandria Office, sent in a couple new sales this morning totalling nearly $1,000,000. Mike Stanwood has also had some very nice sales over the last few months - even in the dead of winter - up in the Breezy Point and Whitefish Chain area. His average price seems to be holding in the $500,000 range also, so it sees that the price reductions in the half million to $750,000 range properties have brought a lot of interest. We have noticed an increase in emails from prospective buyers in Grand Rapids, the Northern Twin Cities and Rainy Lake - and Brainerd, Bemidji and Ely leads have remained fairly steady.
On the listing end of the market, Chris Dubose has had quite a few calls over the last week from lake property owners around Chisago Lakes and Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, who are trying to beat the rush by getting their lake places on the market. And Sandra Ortman and Terri Haapoja added this interesting lake property on Little Wabana Lake just north of Grand Rapids with over 70 acres on the water. I also just listed this great lake home a few miles out of Grand Rapids on Prairie Lake, with 800' on the water and its own peninsula.
All in all, we are seeing quite a bit of activity on both the listing and purchasing end of the market for waterfront properties. Let's hope it continues, because having a balanced market this year would be good for everyone!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Lull Before the Storm
I don't know if everything will go gangbusters as soon as the weather warms up a bit, but for now it seems that buyers are in a bit of a holding pattern on even going outside. You can hardly blame them: who would want to be out looking at unheated cabins when it is 20 degrees below zero outside...and 30 below inside those doors?
February gets to be a bit of a drag for all of us in the Northland, but we always seem to make it through. In just a couple weeks it will be March 1st, and that is about the time the sun starts throwing off some of its warmth. The skating rinks will be closing up shop until next December, and the ice on the lakes won't be too far behind. And best of all, it is a time for everyone's spirits to get an uplift - and that normally brings a lot of buyers back out from their winter naps.
If you are thinking of putting your lake place on the market, it is not a bad idea to get it ready for this early spring rush. These are the buyers who want to be in by the Fishing Opener, so they are a little bit more motivated. If I were going to sell my lake place, now is the time I would put in on the market!
February gets to be a bit of a drag for all of us in the Northland, but we always seem to make it through. In just a couple weeks it will be March 1st, and that is about the time the sun starts throwing off some of its warmth. The skating rinks will be closing up shop until next December, and the ice on the lakes won't be too far behind. And best of all, it is a time for everyone's spirits to get an uplift - and that normally brings a lot of buyers back out from their winter naps.
If you are thinking of putting your lake place on the market, it is not a bad idea to get it ready for this early spring rush. These are the buyers who want to be in by the Fishing Opener, so they are a little bit more motivated. If I were going to sell my lake place, now is the time I would put in on the market!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Part 1 of Series..."Hints for Waterfront Sellers"
I figured that since I created an ongoing series for waterfront buyers, it would only be fair to help out sellers with some of the things I've noticed over the years. When you live in any home, you tend to place things where they are comfortable for you. But sometimes those same items may be impeding your ability to get your property sold. People make decisions emotionally when shopping for real estate, and lakeshore homes and cabins are probably even more likely to bring out those emotions...for better or worse! The first article in this series is on creating the best water views.
Part 1: Where's the View?
Lakeshore buyers have a variety of things to think about in their search for the best home or cabin to meet their needs. Not only does the structure have to fit their desired size and style, but they also need to picture themselves enjoying the property and the lake as much as they would the house. It's not that off-water buyers aren't concerned about the overall setting and its surroundings, but waterfront real estate just seems to have a unique ability to mesmerize potential buyers in a way that other types of properties don't.
Lakeshore buyers like views - there is no doubt about that! Many sellers hurt themselves right off the bat here, and it starts from the second the prospective buyers enter the door. Let's start with a walk through the house....
Think about how many people use back doors, garages, or side entrances to go in and out of their homes because that is generally the best place to put shoes when entering the house, and it works great for throwing all the extra clutter. Almost all of us do it, and it works just fine in everyday life. However, we also assume that we should bring the buyers in this way, so they won't dirty up the floor around our main entrance - or maybe we just don't have a key for that door anymore. What does it matter anyway; they can look around once they get in the house?
So they get routed through a dark garage, into a dark mud room, and then down a dark hall before they can get a view of the water. It is kind of like calling a company about a problem, only to get re-directed to three more people before you find the answer you need. Probably not the best experience, and unfortunately that is what the buyers will remember once they leave.
Instead, let's assume your entrance is bright and has immediate views - or at least easy access to views - of the lake. Let's assume the windows are clean, void of dark curtains, and are easy to approach without tripping over kids toys or having to peek around a stuffed moose. What then tends to happen is that the buyers are pulled through the house directly to those outdoor views...kind of like a scene from a zombie movie. So now that we have them there, what's next?
Generally, the next thing they want to do is get outside to the deck to get a better look. Of course, this is sometimes difficult because of the three of four locks from the top of the patio door to the bottom, along with the sawed-off broomstick jammed in tightly to keep out intruders. And many times there is a curtain, or some type of funky shade, hiding all those security devices.
Once they finally find their way to the deck, things are looking up - except for the sign that says: "Rotten Boards, Please Stay Off!" Well OK, we can just send the buyers around the house once they get their shoes back on. By the way, a note here: It is a bad idea to ask lakeshore buyers to take off their shoes - because they do like to walk through the house and go outside to see the lake right away. You are interrupting their natural flow when you send them back to get their shoes.
But you already knew about all these things - about staging your home and creating nice traffic flows - so these buyers were excited when they entered your immaculate waterfront home. The curb appeal was great, the lights were on for added brightness, and the shades were all open...but something was still wrong!
You always liked your privacy and hated boats watching you from the water. Your house wasn't that far from the lake, but you let all your trees and brush grow thick to create a barrier from all that activity. And there was no way you were going to change that, because what if your house didn't sell?
Well, I will tell you that you will have a lot better chance not selling it if the buyers can't see the water. Sure they can take down trees once they move in - based on local governing codes - but remember that they buy emotionally, and this is not an emotional draw for most of them.
Of course, as Realtors we hear those same types of reasons all the time for why sellers don't want to improve certain aspects of their property to help create a quicker sale. They don't want to change carpets because buyers may want a different color, they don't want to replace a broken garage door because buyers may want a different style, or they may not want to put down some grass seed because the buyers may pave that area over. And, they don't want to clean out any brush or trim any branches because the buyers might want the added privacy. They might...but then again, the odds aren't with you on that!
Part 1: Where's the View?
Lakeshore buyers have a variety of things to think about in their search for the best home or cabin to meet their needs. Not only does the structure have to fit their desired size and style, but they also need to picture themselves enjoying the property and the lake as much as they would the house. It's not that off-water buyers aren't concerned about the overall setting and its surroundings, but waterfront real estate just seems to have a unique ability to mesmerize potential buyers in a way that other types of properties don't.
Lakeshore buyers like views - there is no doubt about that! Many sellers hurt themselves right off the bat here, and it starts from the second the prospective buyers enter the door. Let's start with a walk through the house....
Think about how many people use back doors, garages, or side entrances to go in and out of their homes because that is generally the best place to put shoes when entering the house, and it works great for throwing all the extra clutter. Almost all of us do it, and it works just fine in everyday life. However, we also assume that we should bring the buyers in this way, so they won't dirty up the floor around our main entrance - or maybe we just don't have a key for that door anymore. What does it matter anyway; they can look around once they get in the house?
So they get routed through a dark garage, into a dark mud room, and then down a dark hall before they can get a view of the water. It is kind of like calling a company about a problem, only to get re-directed to three more people before you find the answer you need. Probably not the best experience, and unfortunately that is what the buyers will remember once they leave.
Instead, let's assume your entrance is bright and has immediate views - or at least easy access to views - of the lake. Let's assume the windows are clean, void of dark curtains, and are easy to approach without tripping over kids toys or having to peek around a stuffed moose. What then tends to happen is that the buyers are pulled through the house directly to those outdoor views...kind of like a scene from a zombie movie. So now that we have them there, what's next?
Generally, the next thing they want to do is get outside to the deck to get a better look. Of course, this is sometimes difficult because of the three of four locks from the top of the patio door to the bottom, along with the sawed-off broomstick jammed in tightly to keep out intruders. And many times there is a curtain, or some type of funky shade, hiding all those security devices.
Once they finally find their way to the deck, things are looking up - except for the sign that says: "Rotten Boards, Please Stay Off!" Well OK, we can just send the buyers around the house once they get their shoes back on. By the way, a note here: It is a bad idea to ask lakeshore buyers to take off their shoes - because they do like to walk through the house and go outside to see the lake right away. You are interrupting their natural flow when you send them back to get their shoes.
But you already knew about all these things - about staging your home and creating nice traffic flows - so these buyers were excited when they entered your immaculate waterfront home. The curb appeal was great, the lights were on for added brightness, and the shades were all open...but something was still wrong!
You always liked your privacy and hated boats watching you from the water. Your house wasn't that far from the lake, but you let all your trees and brush grow thick to create a barrier from all that activity. And there was no way you were going to change that, because what if your house didn't sell?
Well, I will tell you that you will have a lot better chance not selling it if the buyers can't see the water. Sure they can take down trees once they move in - based on local governing codes - but remember that they buy emotionally, and this is not an emotional draw for most of them.
Of course, as Realtors we hear those same types of reasons all the time for why sellers don't want to improve certain aspects of their property to help create a quicker sale. They don't want to change carpets because buyers may want a different color, they don't want to replace a broken garage door because buyers may want a different style, or they may not want to put down some grass seed because the buyers may pave that area over. And, they don't want to clean out any brush or trim any branches because the buyers might want the added privacy. They might...but then again, the odds aren't with you on that!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Part 3 of Series..."What to Think About When Buying Lakeshore"
Part 3: To Beach, or Not to Beach
Most everyone loves the idea of a sugar sand beach on their lakehore property. It's hard to dislike the sand running between your toes, and those balmy days of friends and family competing in games of beach volleyball. But before this dream gets too carried away, make sure to remember this isn't the Carribean!
Sand beaches are great; there's no doubt about it. But most Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes are quite limited on their availability of large beaches, and many of the best beaches still belong to the old well-established resorts or community parks. There definitely are private residences with great beaches, but be prepared to pay top dollar for these...if you are even able to get your hands on them at all.
It seems that about 80% of the prospective buyers I talk with ask about having some type of sandy shoreline. Some of this sand does extend a few feet onto the land, but rarely comes up much more than about ten or twenty feet. More likely, you will see a somewhat eroded sod shoreline dropping off a few feet onto some sand under the water. Sometimes buyers see this as an opportunity to dig out even more of their yard for a place to dump more sand - but beware of doing that, as it could lead to even more erosion of your property.
If you are willing to live with a nice hard bottom around your dock, without having to have a lot of sand up on the shore, you will find a pretty good variety of properties to choose from. When house shopping after ice-out, it is not a bad idea to wear some shorts or waders to take a little walk into the water and get a feel for the firmness of the sand, as it can be somewhat deceiving at times. However, if you see a lot of ripples in the sand, it is usually pretty firm. During the winter months you can always drill a couple of holes in the ice and push a pole of some kind into the bottom, or you can talk to a couple of the neighbors to get their perspective on the type of shoreline on that property.
Another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes sand only extends out to a depth of a few feet. From there, the bottom may turn rocky or mucky, so make sure you look a little bit past the edge of the dock if that is important to you. It is true that a lot of swimming, boating and recreational use around the dock will generally make for a more firm bottom, so if the other areas around there have not been used a lot there could still be some marginal soil.
Normally, the buyers who want some sand are concerned about kids and grandkids swimming pleasure. People sometimes believe that they can dump sand anywhere to create a "sand blanket," but it will usually not last a long time or have the same feel as a natural sand bottom. And remember that there are a lot of DNR restrictions these days on what you can and can't do past the high water mark.
If you can live without sand at all because your main concern is the beauty, serenity and access to the lake, you will be able to buy much property more for your money. This is where you need to sit down and really decide what is most important to you in your new lake property. If you keep seeing structures - or lakes - that don't meet your needs based on the price you want to spend, it is probably because you are also searching for the most expensive shoreline in the form of some type of sand. You will then most likely have to give up on either the sand beach, or the quality and size of the structure...or you may have to look at smaller, less expensive lakes.
One last thing to think about when purchasing homes and cabins with sand beaches is the quality of the lake. If the lake is clear, clean and for the most part weed free, there probably won't be a lot of maintenance involved in keeping your beach looking good. However, lakes that have a lot of weeds and debris floating around can be a constant source of work, and rotting weeds attract bugs and are sometimes littered with dead fish, so the smell can be an added problem.
Most everyone loves the idea of a sugar sand beach on their lakehore property. It's hard to dislike the sand running between your toes, and those balmy days of friends and family competing in games of beach volleyball. But before this dream gets too carried away, make sure to remember this isn't the Carribean!
Sand beaches are great; there's no doubt about it. But most Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes are quite limited on their availability of large beaches, and many of the best beaches still belong to the old well-established resorts or community parks. There definitely are private residences with great beaches, but be prepared to pay top dollar for these...if you are even able to get your hands on them at all.
It seems that about 80% of the prospective buyers I talk with ask about having some type of sandy shoreline. Some of this sand does extend a few feet onto the land, but rarely comes up much more than about ten or twenty feet. More likely, you will see a somewhat eroded sod shoreline dropping off a few feet onto some sand under the water. Sometimes buyers see this as an opportunity to dig out even more of their yard for a place to dump more sand - but beware of doing that, as it could lead to even more erosion of your property.
If you are willing to live with a nice hard bottom around your dock, without having to have a lot of sand up on the shore, you will find a pretty good variety of properties to choose from. When house shopping after ice-out, it is not a bad idea to wear some shorts or waders to take a little walk into the water and get a feel for the firmness of the sand, as it can be somewhat deceiving at times. However, if you see a lot of ripples in the sand, it is usually pretty firm. During the winter months you can always drill a couple of holes in the ice and push a pole of some kind into the bottom, or you can talk to a couple of the neighbors to get their perspective on the type of shoreline on that property.
Another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes sand only extends out to a depth of a few feet. From there, the bottom may turn rocky or mucky, so make sure you look a little bit past the edge of the dock if that is important to you. It is true that a lot of swimming, boating and recreational use around the dock will generally make for a more firm bottom, so if the other areas around there have not been used a lot there could still be some marginal soil.
Normally, the buyers who want some sand are concerned about kids and grandkids swimming pleasure. People sometimes believe that they can dump sand anywhere to create a "sand blanket," but it will usually not last a long time or have the same feel as a natural sand bottom. And remember that there are a lot of DNR restrictions these days on what you can and can't do past the high water mark.
If you can live without sand at all because your main concern is the beauty, serenity and access to the lake, you will be able to buy much property more for your money. This is where you need to sit down and really decide what is most important to you in your new lake property. If you keep seeing structures - or lakes - that don't meet your needs based on the price you want to spend, it is probably because you are also searching for the most expensive shoreline in the form of some type of sand. You will then most likely have to give up on either the sand beach, or the quality and size of the structure...or you may have to look at smaller, less expensive lakes.
One last thing to think about when purchasing homes and cabins with sand beaches is the quality of the lake. If the lake is clear, clean and for the most part weed free, there probably won't be a lot of maintenance involved in keeping your beach looking good. However, lakes that have a lot of weeds and debris floating around can be a constant source of work, and rotting weeds attract bugs and are sometimes littered with dead fish, so the smell can be an added problem.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Strong Website Activity
In addition to Lakehomes.com Realty, we also own the websites at LakehomesUSA.com, OceanhomesUSA.com and RiverhomesUSA.com. These are waterfront websites that show tens of thousands of lakefront, riverfront and oceanfront properties from across the country, and they can give us a good gauge of what is going on not only in Minnesota - but all across the United States.
This morning I'm out in Moorhead, Minnesota, waiting for my daughter's hockey tournament to get underway and I had a little extra time, so I checked our recent visits and page views on those sites. As it turns out, yesterday was a huge day for activity on those sites, with nearly 30,000 page views. If that is any indication of buyer interest and what will be happening up here in the northland, we should be in for a good year in waterfront real estate sales.
This morning I'm out in Moorhead, Minnesota, waiting for my daughter's hockey tournament to get underway and I had a little extra time, so I checked our recent visits and page views on those sites. As it turns out, yesterday was a huge day for activity on those sites, with nearly 30,000 page views. If that is any indication of buyer interest and what will be happening up here in the northland, we should be in for a good year in waterfront real estate sales.
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