If your lake home is on the market or if you will be listing it for sale soon, I have some thoughts on how to improve its image in the eyes of prospective buyers. This is the time of year when the lake home inventory is at the highest point so there is more competition for your lake home and to sell and obtain the highest sale price possible you need to make the home stand out.
Step one, detach yourself from your lake home and walk up to the front door with your buyer goggles on and think about the first impression. If some landscaping around the front door is necessary or the door needs painting or a new door knob, take care of it. It is money or time well spent. You are dealing with impressions and you want the impression of a property that has been care for for with pride.
Inside, make sure sliding glass doors are sliding smoothly and that there are no holes in screens. Then look for things like paint that has been chipped or unappealing light switch covers. If light switch or outlet covers are dirty or look dated, buy new ones at a hardware store, WalMart or Home Depot. They are very cheap. Next, take a look at the furniture in your rooms. You want people to be able to move around easily (think roomy) but also show the purpose of the room and make it feel comfortable.
White works wonders. I have said it many times, white is especially good at the lake. White has a clean feel to it and also makes rooms feel larger. If you have some bright or odd colored rooms, consider painting them white. Add color in different ways such as adding pillows or flowers in a vase. Speaking of flowers, it doesn’t hurt to put out fresh flowers prior to a showing. I had a listing a few years ago where a seller had a project manager that would put out fresh flowers and/or fresh fruit in a bowl prior to each showing. It did make a difference. And in regards to showings, turn on every light in the home even if it is a bright, sunny day. It continues to amaze me how many dark, closed up homes I enter with prospective buyers. Not a good first impression.
