Last Updated on November 10, 2022 by Eric
When you’re buying a lake house, you know that it’s about more than just the house itself. It’s about the location, the community, the views, and yes—the lake lifestyle.
This is especially true in the Upstate, where lake living is a way of life for many people. Homes for sale on Lake Keowee, Lake Hartwell, Lake Jocassee, and others are highly sought-after, and rightly so.
But when it comes time to sell your lake home, you may be wondering how to best prepare a lakefront home for sale. After all, you want to make sure that prospective buyers can see the potential in your home and appreciate all that lake life has to offer.
That’s why, when you’re ready to sell your lakefront home, it’s important to remember that you’re not just selling a physical structure—you’re selling a lifestyle.
You need to market your home in a way that highlights all the best aspects of life on the lake, from the fishing and swimming to the boating and watersports. And of course, you need to make sure your home is in tip-top shape before listing it on the market.
This isn’t a complete guide to staging or selling a home of course—these are just a few tips that apply specifically to lake houses. Particularly those in South Carolina’s beautiful “Golden Corner.”
With that, here are 3 tips to help you prepare your lake home for sale:
1. Start with a good cleaning.
This is true of listing any home on the market, but it’s especially important with a lake home. After all, potential buyers are going to be focused on those big, beautiful windows with views of the water—so you want to make sure they’re sparkling clean. Don’t forget to dust and polish all surfaces, inside and out, for a truly polished look (no pun intended).
Now is also a good time to make sure your deck(s) and dock(s) are safe for visitors—repair any loose boards or slippery surfaces that could present a safety hazard before potential buyers come to tour your home.
2. Focus on the path to the water.
One thing is almost for certain: prospective buyers looking for their dream home for sale on Lake Keowee aren’t going to check out the closets, the appliances, or even the primary bedroom first. No, their focus will be on the water. So make sure your walkway, dock, and any other outdoor spaces are in good condition and definitely free of debris. Spruce up your landscaping around this area, too, for added curb appeal.
People considering buying a lakefront home want to see that view as soon as possible, so make sure the path to the water is clear and inviting. This is going to be their first impression of your home, so you want to make sure it’s a spectacular one!
(Fortunately, you won’t have to do much to enhance the view if the home for sale is on Lake Keowee—the breathtakingly clean water and dramatic blue mountain backdrop are sure to impress—no added shrubbery necessary.)
3. Stage the lake home for lifestyle as well as looks.
When you’re selling a waterfront home on one of the “Great Lakes” of upstate South Carolina, it’s important to focus on lake life as well as the looks. Living in a luxurious lakefront home on Lake Keowee is much more than just owning a physical structure—it’s a lifestyle, and your home should reflect that! Prospective buyers need to be able to envision themselves enjoying all that lake living has to offer, so make sure your home is staged in a way that highlights its best features.
- If you have a dock, consider staging it with lounge chairs, towels, rattan furniture, umbrellas, and other items that make it look and feel like a lakeside resort—the perfect place to relax and unwind on a sunny day.
- If you have a boathouse, stage it with kayaks, paddle-boards, life jackets, or even fishing equipment to remind potential buyers about all the fun they will have on the water.
If you’re willing to use a little bit of creativity and a little bit of effort, you can stage your lake home in a way that really highlights the lifestyle and gets potential buyers truly excited about the possibility of moving to the lake. You can be assured that your lake home is ready for sale and that prospective buyers will see all the potential that it has to offer them.
You’re sure to find the perfect buyer who will fall in love with your home—and the lake lifestyle that comes with it!
