A waterfront home is a dream for many. The sound of rolling waves breaking along the shoreline, boats are gliding through open water, and salt in the air. For anyone planning to move into their waterfront property, there are a few things to consider before taking on this new challenge. Whether you are looking at building or purchasing a waterfront home, many things to consider before taking the plunge. Will my existing home sell quickly enough? Can I afford to take on a project of this size? Does it make financial sense to build from scratch, or should I renovate my existing home? The following is a guideline about how to create the perfect waterfront home.
Hire a Great Contractor
Would you like to live next to the water? Of course, you would. Who wouldn’t? Yet, homes on the water are significantly more expensive than homes not located near any body of water. That being said, the price tag usually comes with some perks that are well worth the extra investment to create the perfect waterfront home. When designing your house, keep in mind the general contractor you would like to hire. This way, you can ensure that all of your needs are met from start to finish. When searching general contractors in your area, if a particular name pops up more than once or twice, it may be a good idea to look into them further. However, to create the perfect waterfront home, it is vital to note that contractors are not just general contractors. General sub-contractors are good for turning your general contractor’s vision into a reality but cannot do it alone. It would be best to consider many general sub-contractors when designing your home.
For instance, general framing, general electrical work, general HVAC work, general plumbing, general drywall, and general stucco. When hiring general sub-contractors, be sure to research their track records with previous clients just as if you were hiring a general contractor themselves. It is important to find one specializing in your particular undertaking when finding your general contractors.
Get Your Plumbing Sorted
To create the perfect waterfront home, look into repairing your plumbing system. Plumbing is a great thing not to have to worry about. Many tools and tricks can help you fix almost any plumbing issue without calling a plumbing expert. Try these if you encounter trouble. If you deal with noisy pipes, it is most likely an issue concerning the water pressure in the pipes. The easiest way to remedy this problem is to call a professional and have them come out and handle the situation. Plumbing services experts have the equipment necessary to increase your water pressure. To avoid frozen pipes in your home, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, ideally at about forty degrees Fahrenheit. Any rooms below this temperature run the risk of experiencing frozen pipes. Taking a warm shower is good for your pipes, operating at this temperature.
Do not try to fix any plumbing problems yourself if you are not sure what you are doing. It could end up causing a bigger problem that will cost you even more money. The best thing you can do is hire a professional plumber who knows what he is doing. No matter what, clogged toilets are a plumbing issue that you will need to handle sooner or later. To unclog your toilet, try pouring warm water into the bowl from waist level if the blockage is not too severe. If this does not work, find the drill in your toolbox and use it to dislodge whatever is causing the blockage.
If you want to keep your kitchen drains from getting clogged up, do not pour grease down them. As it cools and congeals on the sides of your sink, it can trap other food or waste particles, which over time can slow the draining of water and even form a clog that will not be easy to remove. If your home gets well water and you start seeing orange or pink stains in your bathtub and other fixtures, this is most likely caused by iron in the water. Luckily, this is easily remedied by using a water softener, which you can purchase at a store or have a company come out and handle it for you.
Invest in Garage Renovations
To create the perfect waterfront home, one must first invest in garage renovations. This is because having a garage that houses the car and other large items sets the tone for how the rest of your house will look. People common garage renovation choose to replace their old, beat-up garage door with a brand-new garage door. A new garage door makes a huge difference to the house’s entire look, and installing one is not very expensive compared to other renovations. Another common renovation that will help create the perfect waterfront home is epoxy floors in the garage. The garage does just about everything for many people, from entertaining guests to storing items later in the home. With high traffic and lots of messes, it is important to have garage floors that are easy to maintain and stand up to anything. Epoxy floors provide this exact service because the area beneath them is sealed completely and does not absorb liquids like grout or concrete.
Replace Old Docks
Creating the perfect waterfront home can be a challenging and rewarding process. It is important to consider whether or not your property offers the potential to create great spaces where you and your family will want to spend time. Many properties offer amazing views but may lack areas that allow for outdoor socializing and entertainment.
If you find yourself in such a situation, it is time to discuss the replacement of the old docks with your waterfront home builder. Replacing your current dock to create the perfect waterfront home adds more space on which you and your family can relax while enjoying views of the water. Ideal materials for dock installation at your property include cedar or pressure-treated wood. Wood offers a natural beauty that will enhance the views from your waterfront property, and it can last for decades before requiring a replacement. Pressure-treated wood is a great option because it resists rot and other issues in humid environments, in addition to being a cost-effective alternative to cedar. Replacing old locks with new ones is an excellent way to add usable space to your property and increase the value of your home. You will also benefit from having an area where you and your family can relax and take in beautiful water views throughout the seasons.
Invest in Space Management
A perfect waterfront home is elusive, but it can be achieved. Create the perfect waterfront home with space management systems to make the most of your space and create the atmosphere you want. Space management systems for waterfront homes should include zoning. Create separate living quarters for family members who are not part of your daily life, such as college-aged children or out-of-town relatives. Create rooms for hobbies, such as sewing and woodworking, with adequate ventilation to protect against dust. Create rooms for guests to relax, like a sunroom or screened porch used only on the weekends or during summer vacation. Space management systems should also include storage space. Create space for garden tools, pool paraphernalia, camping gear, and other outdoor activity equipment. Create space to store food items, including fresh produce from the garden year-round. Create space for clothing storage by setting up a cramped closet in an out-of-the-way bedroom or off the family room that can be used when sleeping.
Create space for items with sentimental value, such as antique furniture or heirlooms. Create space for pet foods and supplies. Create space for family heirlooms and photographs, too. Create the perfect waterfront home by developing systems that meet your needs. Remember to create the atmosphere you want. Create zones strictly for sleeping and bathing, family time, outdoor recreation, and storage. Create an inventory of items you plan to store in your waterfront home so you can effectively manage the space when it is time to move.
Update Your Landscaping
As the warmer seasons approach, homeowners are looking for ways to spruce up their homes and yards. Whether you are looking into a new deck or want to freshen up your existing landscaping, hiring an arborist is a great way to make sure your trees and shrubs look as good as they possibly can this year and beyond. Hiring an arborist has many benefits as you look for ways to create the perfect waterfront home. Perhaps you are looking to have a new fence installed, or maybe you want to freshen up your landscaping with some additional shrubs or trees. Whatever the case may be, working closely with an experienced and knowledgeable arborist can make the process much easier. Working closely with an arborist will allow you to have peace of mind knowing that your trees and shrubs are receiving the attention they need to flourish. In addition, an arborist will also make sure that your property is being protected from any future hazards or damage that could occur.
Maintain Your Septic Tank
You dream of owning the perfect home, with the perfect dock and views on a pristine lake. A house that echoes your personality and lifestyle. When you think of this ideal home, do you also envision yourself watching the sunset on your deck as sailboats rock gently in their slips? Maybe you picture yourself fishing off the end of your pier or taking a refreshing dip in the lake? Your dream house deserves a waterfront location, but building on or near water involves special considerations. One of the considerations to help create the perfect waterfront home is maintaining your septic system. Septic systems do not work well with large amounts of soil saturation from the surrounding landscape.
It is no surprise that they also have problems pumping waste when the nearby soil becomes waterlogged. To create your perfect home, you need to protect your septic tank pump out system from harm caused by being in a wet environment so it can pump waste properly. Install pumps near the tank at ground level to lift waste when the soil is underwater. Even if the tanks are installed at ground level, you may want to install one or more pumps to reduce the amount of time they spend underwater. Also, avoid running water lines near your septic tank and drain field.
Organize Waste Removal
Creating a home along a waterfront does not come without a price. In addition to the costs of building on water, there are also significant costs attached to waste removal. More specifically, when you have a property on the coastline or in another high-risk area for storms and floods, waste removal services will need to become more specialized and perhaps even more frequent. A home on the coastline or in a flood-prone region has some unique challenges attached to it when it comes to waste removal. For you to keep your home safe from flooding, there are significant limitations put on the amount of garbage you will be allowed to keep in your home.
However, suppose you are looking to create the perfect waterfront home for you and your family. In that case, it is important not to focus too much on the limitations imposed by waste management services. It is far more important that you choose a coastal or flood-prone property based on how often you plan to use the house, rather than limiting yourself to a potential location because of waste removal.
What makes a home perfect is different for everyone. However, generally speaking, people want to relax by the water somehow. A waterfront home will have more value than a non-waterfront home. However, waterfront property is more about lifestyle issues for some. Follow the tips above to create the perfect waterfront home.
