Part 6 of Series..."What to Think About When Buying Lakeshore"

Part 6: Make Room for Mother...and Father

I thought that Mothers Day would be a fitting time to talk about a few of the concerns I've heard over the years, relating to space for the extra guests. Kids are generally quite easy; they can throw up a tent or sleep on the floor. But older guests many times need something a bit more comfortable than that.

When people start looking for lake cabins, many of them tend to create a picture in their minds about large gatherings of friends and family all enjoying the recreational opportunities available on and off the water. Oftentimes this does happen (unless of course you don't invite them), so if this is part of your plan you should consider things like sleeping arrangements, parking, access to the water, and even space needed to hide out on bad weather days. Of course you don't want to go overboard on these things just because you might have a party now and then, but I'll give you a few things to at least think about before you buy.

Bedroom space can be kind of a tough one. A lot of lake cabin buyers don't want to have a real big place because they already have one of those to take care of. They like the idea of having a more rustic getaway - the kind of place that feels like a cabin. That is probably the one comment I hear more than any other one.

Cabins, of course, come in all sizes. But unless they are decked out in a lot of interior wood and north woods furnishings - along with an open design that gives a more lodge-like ambiance - the larger ones can start to feel a lot more like lake homes than lake cabins. A cozy cabin with two or three bedrooms seems to fit a lot more of the buyers than the four or five-bedroom models.

Obviously, this lack of sleeping space can become an issue if you regularly have extra company, and when the parents come to visit they might like to have a little privacy. You can always do some temporary conversions like a sleeping porch, bunkhouse, or even closing off another area to create separation if you have room. Another good option is to have an extra camper or motorhome on the property to give you some added sleeping space for a lot less money than an addition. Just make sure you have a level area to park it in, otherwise you may see your guests rolling down the hill.

Steep lots can also be a problem for older guests...and for adults trying to keep an eye on younger ones. Treetop views offer great panoramas of the water below, but getting down to the beach - and back up again - can offer some challenges to the non-athletes. On some of the higher lots with more gradual slopes, there might be a path for a golf cart or four-wheeler that can make the trip up and down quite a bit more enjoyable. And it may make the difference between some of your guests being able to make it to the boat - or not - if you decide to purchase a lake place on one of these more elevated properties.

Parking is something that presents a bigger problem on some lake properties, just by the nature of how roads around lakes have been placed. Most everyone has taken a scenic drive along the lakeshore and seen how cabins are sometimes packed in against the road. Quite often there is not a lot of depth to these lots, so the only parking available off the road is in the driveway - which might only hold a couple of cars.

If the road is wide enough with ample shoulders, it might not be too big of a problem. But many roads around lakes can have a steady stream of traffic during the busier months, and because they tend to be quite narrow (often with no shoulders at all), it can create quite a problem when friends need a place to park.

Lake cabins can be a great place for solitude and to get away from the daily rush of life, but they can also bring a lot of enjoyment to you and your extended family and friends. Just make sure you will have enough space to accommodate all age groups that you envision coming out to share these good times with you.

And remember that even in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we usually get a few days that being outside can be a little miserable. Having twelve people in a two-room cabin might get a bit tight during these times...so try to think ahead.