Even though there’s an arguably large, practically insatiable market for waterfront homes, it can still be a challenge getting your home off your hands if you don’t know the right way to go about it. To better understand what will help your waterfront home sell faster — and for more — read on.
Understand your buyer
Real estate brokers who specialize in waterfront properties will be the first to tell you that dealing with the sale of a home near the water is significantly different from putting a traditional home up for sale. For one thing, because they’re located by or near the water, waterfront homes provide potential buyers with the promise of wonderful recreational opportunities not available in landlocked locations. Waterfront homes are also often found in more secluded areas farther away from city centers, making them a magnet for those who seek privacy.
Pinpointing exactly what appeals to potential buyers can help in marketing a home. Highlight the positive aspects of your home that meet with buyer expectations. Which of your home’s features are most likely to appeal? Is its location attractive, or is it a sticking point?
Price your waterfront home competitively
Due to their location, desirability, and proximity to the water, waterfront homes are often significantly more expensive than inland properties. Be that as it may, overpricing your home can still lead to buyers losing interest in your home. It could be why your home has stayed on the market longer than you had hoped for.
When pricing your waterfront home, you need to take into consideration its location, features, and the prices of similar waterfront homes in your area. Price can also vary depending on the view the home offers and its proximity to the water.
Make sure that the water is accessible
Access to the water is essential to waterfront home buyers. Go outside and walk to the edge of the water. Observe the path getting there. How easy was it to get to the water? Is the path covered with weeds and bushes? Is there a steep drop at water’s edge? Is there a dock, or will adding steps help with accessibility?
Clean your windows
It’s not uncommon for waterfront homes to have less-than-clean windows. Water, dirt, sand, and salt tends to build grime on the exterior of waterfront homes, especially on the windows. Salt from the ocean breeze, in particular, can leave a white residue if it isn’t cleaned off right away. You don’t want your buyer to look out of your windows and fail to get a clear view.
Clean your windows regularly by using undiluted white vinegar. Using a spray bottle, spray the whole glass surface and wait for the vinegar to dissolve the buildup. Scrub the window with a nylon sponge, wipe off, and spray again as necessary.
Prepare both your home’s interior and exterior
Improving on the appearance of your waterfront home is crucial to its sale. Curb appeal can make or break you. To boost your home’s curb appeal, consider replacing your front door with a nice upgrade or splash on a fresh coat of paint. Add outdoor lighting that will spotlight your home’s finer points and make its decorative details stand out.
Highlight the great views from the home. Rearrange large furniture so that seating arrangements favor your great views of the beach or of the water. Chop down trees or trim bushes that may spoil the view or block it entirely.
Hire a professional real estate photographer
Before listing your home for sale, hire a professional real estate photographer to take pictures of your property both from inside the home as well as outside. Someone with skill and experience in waterfront home photography will know best how to take the high-quality photos you need to showcase the best features of your home. They will also know which angles to take photos from to put your home in the best possible light.
When looking for a real estate photographer, make sure he’s got relevant experience in photographing waterfront homes. Doing so can make all the difference when marketing your home for sale.
Choose a qualified real estate agent
Last, make sure that you work with a real estate agent with waterfront home selling experience. Your agent must know how to market your home properly and sell the waterfront lifestyle it offers.
Qualified real estate agents are those who are more than familiar with the ins-and-outs of selling homes by the water, including how much similar homes sell for in your area and the type of buyers you may want to attract.
Wondering how to sell luxury real estate on Long Beach Island? Let Craig and Sharon Stefanoni of Berkshire Hathaway Zack Shore Realtors guide you. This established real estate team has more than 30 years of real estate experience when it comes to selling homes in the stunning, 18-mile barrier island.
Contact the team at 609.432.1104 or CStefanoni(at)ZackShore(dotted)com today. You may also get in touch with them here.