Predicting the habits of sellers tends to be a shot in the dark in today’s market, but it doesn’t hurt to give an educated guess. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, forecasts some expected trends from sellers in 2023.
Already Selling: There are three types of sellers in this category. They typically range from casually invested, uninterested, and completely vested in the lake real estate market.
“Steady as She Goes”
Under-reactive
Proactive
New Sellers: This category also holds three types of sellers, most of which are proactive. What differs about them is the motivation behind selling their property.
“Steady as She Goes”
Proactive-Economic Concerns
Proactive-Liquidate
From speculative to motivated, sellers come in all types, and understanding their patterns is key to buying or selling a lake home. Be sure to take these seller types into consideration before entering the lake homes market!
Before embarking on your lake real estate journey, you have to set some groundwork. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, presents five ways to prepare yourself in order to find your dream lake home.
Know What You Seek: Clearly define what you want in your lake home. It’s extremely difficult to find the right home if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Know What You DO NOT Want: Knowing what you don’t want will help narrow your search to more promising homes.
Long Time-Frames: Lake homes are discretionary purchases, which results in a slower moving process than traditional residential real estate. Prepare to be patient for the home that you want.
LakeHomes.com Email Alerts: To stay on top of the lake homes that match your criteria, sign up for email alerts at LakeHomes.com.
Lake Expert Agents: Be proactive in communicating with a lake expert agent. Doing so will help them find the best lake home for you.
Setting the foundation for a smooth home-search process will make all the difference. Find your dream home with confidence after adding these steps to your checklist!
Is demanding everything you want worth it if you still own your lake home in the end? Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, shares 3 reasons why you should be more flexible as a seller.
Overpriced for Current Market: One of the first indicators that you are about to ‘buy’ your own lake home, is overpricing it. While your home may feel priceless, its valuation has to match the market. Are the phrases below clouding your pricing judgment?
What I’ve got in it
I used to be an agent
My ‘Friend’ said
I read on the Internet
My neighbor’s house…
I need this much
Failure to Counter Every Offer: No matter the offer, you should never take it personally. Always consider countering in order to take advantage of all opportunities.
Looking to Conquer: Be willing to consult with a lake expert, and accept that you may not get everything you want out of the deal. The best chance you have to sell your home is when you are realistic.
Don’t let your personal attachment to your home force you to own it forever. Let the market and your lake agent, guide you when you’re ready to sell!
Winter may seem like an unusual time to purchase a lake home, but now is a great time to determine if a home is right for your year-round. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, offers 4 reasons why you should continue your lake home search through the off-season.
Understand Seasonal Water: Water levels tend to vary depending on the season. Getting a good idea of how the winter water will prevent surprises.
Understand Community: You’ll get a good idea of what local life is like outside of the overactive summer crowd.
Possible Price Advantages: While winter won’t have an outstanding effect on overall market pricing, the lowered frenzy in demand may help you get a better deal.
Availability of Best Agents: Summer is the busiest time for lake real estate specialists. The off-season allows those lake experts to dedicate more time to your dream home journey.
Summer is the ideal season to buy a lake property, but waiting until winter has its advantages. Don’t let the chilly weather stop you from finding your dream home!
When thinking of lake houses, visions of blue-green waters, sparkling with sunlight, may come to mind. The concept of greywater is probably last on the list. Although this isn’t the type of water that draws us to the lake lifestyle, it’s necessary to learn about as a lake homeowner who wants to stay sustainable. With more people using greywater systems, the demand for freshwater reduces, relieving the pressure on global water resources. To help you become more informed, we’ve consulted experts in the field to cover all the basics of greywater systems.
Ever wonder what happens to the water you use for showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry? A greywater system is a plumbing system that allows you to recycle this water. After installing one in your home, this wastewater gets reused in sinks, toilets, and showers. Volodymyr Barabakh, co-founder and director of the Chicago-based real estate development company, Fortress Home, adds: “Greywater systems filter out water to make sure that water has been contaminated with bodily fluids is not reused in the home.” As such, your recycled water won’t be contaminated when it’s reused.
Let’s start with the simplest solution — a bucket. Also known as a manual refill system, this is the simplest greywater system solution that requires little skill. Rick Hoskins, founder of Filter King explains, “Instead of letting your greywater disappear down the drain, put it in the bucket. When the bucket is full, take it into the garden and water your flowers.”
Another option is a greywater diversion device (GDD). This automated system redirects the water away from the drain and into the garden. Depending on the location, it can be powered either with pumps or gravity. Of the two, the gravity pump system is the most simple. Of course, this process assumes that your house is atop a downward slope. By contrast, a pump system is much more expensive. Usually installed within a home or underground, they rely on mechanical or electric pumps to transport water to the desired location.
Finally, a Greywater Treatment System (GTS) is the most complex option. This system could be likened to having your own private water treatment plant. Rick adds, “The greywater is purified to the point where you could use it for surface-level irrigation.”
The cost of a greywater system will depend on the type of system you choose. Volodymyr says, “Gravity-based greywater systems can be relatively cheap, starting at $800 for materials if you were to do it yourself. Getting it installed professionally will probably cost around double this, so $1500.” By contrast, pump systems cost much more. It’s not uncommon for these to cost anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000. The most expensive choice is the GTS system, which would be at least $10,000 out of pocket.
What Should Lake Homeowners Know about Greywater Systems?
Being a lake homeowner comes with additional considerations when it comes to greywater. First and foremost, you’ll want to keep the lake contaminant-free. Rick comments, “Graywater should not be released into lakes and rivers. The nutrients in greywater, which plants love, are pollutants in freshwater. If you produce more greywater than you need, add a switch that lets you easily send the excess down the drain.” Additionally, constructed wetlands can help create a filter between your irrigation zone and the lake.
At Lake Homes, we’re all about sustainability! Recycling used water from your lake house is one of the best ways to give back to your garden. We hope this information helps get you started!
Selling your lake home isn’t an easy decision, but it may be the right one for you. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, offers 3 ways to know if it’s time to list your lake home.
Ignore Seasons: Don’t let the change in season deter you from listing your home because the lake real estate market is active year-round. For most buyers, this is a discretionary purchase, meaning, they are not dependent on a time frame.
Personal Goals: Revisit your purpose for owning your lake home, and determine if it’s still servicing your needs. If not, it may be time to make a change
Financial Goals: If generating the maximum return on your investment is important to you, now’s the time to consider putting your home on the market within the next few months.
It can be difficult to decipher the best time to sell your lake home, but with the help of these tips, it’s not impossible. Now you can take on your new real estate journey with confidence!
One of the most appealing aspects of this lakeside cabin nestled within New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region is its 1950s camp-style charm. Originally constructed as a summer cottage, the dwelling was desperate for some long-overdue TLC and a modern update to allow the current owners, who live in New York City, to enjoy all four seasons on the lake. So when they enlisted architect Katie Cassidy Sutherland of kcs ARCHITECTS, their primary goal was to preserve nearly every facet of the original cabin, particularly the rustic ceiling beams, the knotty pine wallboards, and the surrounding mature trees—even those that partially obstructed the breathtaking water view.
“Snowshoeing and ice fishing are popular winter lake pastimes on New Hampshire lakes,” says Katie, “and this is certainly a place where winter and summer alike can be enjoyed. So first, we created a coat of continuous insulation around the building walls and roof to take the chill off. We then put new wood board siding—vertical Alaskan yellow cedar sheathing paired with red asphalt roof shingles—characteristic of New Hampshire camps, but with more contemporary details and much larger windows,” she adds.
This allowed the inside to maintain the same cottage feel with exposed framing and wood boards, also distinctive of summer lake cottages in New Hampshire. In addition, all windows were replaced with insulated glass casements, which are much more airtight than the existing original single-glazed double-hung windows.
“A large two-story opening was created to open up views to the lake from the main living space and primary bedroom above,” Katie continues. “The house was built in the 50s as a summer camp and now retains that rustic New Hampshire vibe with a stronger visual connection to the trees and lake.”
Sign Language
The cabin’s original signature mark—a colorful hex sign—lends a unique artistic embellishment to the lake-facing façade. Since the original had deteriorated, the owners commissioned Claypoole Hexsigns in Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania, to recreate it. The symbol means “good luck in all four seasons of the year.”
“To enhance up the exterior, we detailed wood plank doors outside some of the glass doors to serve as storm doors in the colder winter months,” says Katie. “They are installed with old-school hook and eye hardware to keep them held open in the summer months.”
Effortless Entry
Sunlight streams through the living room’s main seating area via a wall of windows and a pair of glassed doors flanking either side. Matching Heywood Wakefield chairs from Strictly Hey-Wake in Hagerstown, Maryland—near the wife’s childhood home—immediately capture the 50s vibe that flows throughout the entire home. “We intentionally kept all the details very minimal, says Katie, “to celebrate the 1950s modernism.”
View Finder
“Our design concept was to open the house up more to the lake in front of it and create more living space with a primary view to the shore,” Katie explains. “We added a lot of larger insulated glass openings and doors to better connect the experience to its beautiful setting. In the living room, fixed bottom windows are combined with tilt-and-turn top windows,” she sums.
Modern Hues, Cabin Charm
“We wanted to push the modern details, colors, and patterns inside,” Katie explains. “The clients were heavily involved with furniture and fabric selection as well as the overall vision. We wanted to have a couple of different colors to create playful movement, so we designed teal concrete counters to pick up on the summer hues outside. Splashes of sunny yellow and a mix of natural wood and white cabinet doors complement the 50s look,” she notes.
Katie designed a small addition on the cabin’s south side to include a dining area featuring sliding doors that open to the lake. She incorporated a steel support beam to allow the kitchen to flow directly into the new dining room. She also removed the drop ceiling to expose the original structural wood beams and installed Juno track lights that are cleverly tucked between them. A delightfully distressed picnic table, where the family enjoys games and puzzles, was reclaimed from the original owners.
“The family drives in from the city to enjoy their home primarily in the summers and during school holidays throughout the year,” says Katie. “They are avid hikers, campers, and kayakers, and I must say, they are culinary geniuses as well. I relish every dinner invitation,” she laughs. “The kitchen is well used and a perfect spot to bring friends together near and far.”
Happy Meals
The newly created dining area continues the kitchen’s whimsical midcentury-modern vibe with cheery yellow cushioned banquettes that wrap the room and provide plenty of seating space for guests. Splashes of teal from the countertops are echoed in the overhead pendant light and table lamp. The wife, a talented photographer and avid Gillian Welch fan, purchased the colorful silkscreen prints above the banquette.
Suite Dreams
On the second level, which was once an attic-like storage space, Katie designed an open and airy private suite for the homeowners with a beautiful birch plywood floor and sweeping views of the lake. To retain the room’s quirky camp-cabin feel, she left the pine wall boards that don’t quite reach the ceiling intact. A Haiku fan light from Big Ass Fans accentuates the soaring ceiling height and provides cool ventilation in the summer.
Sleek Simplicity
The couple’s bathroom, located behind their bedroom, features a skylight that Katie added to brighten the space. Kohler Purist fixtures complement a custom maple vanity with a white concrete top. Rain Gloss glass Roku wall tile by Walter Zanger strikes a visually satisfying contrast against the textured Original Style Moonbeam penny-round ceramic floor tile.
A plank door is a replica of one of the cabin’s original doors. “I love the juxtaposition of the modern frameless glass shower and glass tiles with the rustic repurposed 1950s-style plank door,” Katie says. “It is one of my favorite detail moments in the interior.”
Bunk Bliss
The existing bunk rooms on either end of the home were lovingly restored for the owners’ daughter and son. They both retain the original bunk beds and natural pine boards. Katie installed larger windows so the kids could experience magical views of the lake.
Easy Access
On top of the dining addition, Katie designed a new deck on the cabin’s south side accessible from the couple’s private suite. “I love that they can go directly from the lake right up to their bathroom,” she says. “Since our renovation, the family spends summers and winter holidays here. The homeowners were thoughtful and meticulous about creating a four-season retreat with modern sensibilities and vibrant midcentury-modern style,” she adds. “Working with such creative clients—a photographer and her husband, an attorney who plays the cello beautifully—really made for an inspiring and enjoyable design collaboration.”
To buy or to build, that is the question. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, offers 5 factors to consider before deciding which path to take.
What is your goal?: Take the time to access what you want from your lake home before making your next move. Buying and building both come with their own set of limitations, so it’s important to determine which route will lead you to your end goal.
Timeframe: After pinpointing what you want, ask yourself how long you’d be willing to wait for it. Are you comfortable with the estimated timeframe?
Inventory of Homes: The number of homes for sale, that meet your requirement, may be lacking. This can play a big part in your timeline, and therefore, your final decision.
Lot Availability: Before you can even consider building your home, there has to be a lot available. Research what’s available in your preferred area before abandoning the idea of buying.
Builder’s Schedules: There are a plethora of factors that can alter the availability of builders. The supply shortage due to the effects of the pandemic and the war in Europe will play a major role.
When you enter the lake real estate market, the big question is whether you should build or buy. The only way to make the best decision for you is to solidify what you want in your home in advance!
Cooking at your lake house can be a sheer pleasure if your kitchen is functional and well organized. But it can quickly become an annoyance if you’re forever short on space and you’ve let clutter get out of control and take over every square inch. If you’re constantly searching for more space in your kitchen—or even the proper cooking utensils—these brilliant storage solutions will instantly simplify your life and free up that coveted counter space we all crave. For most of us, our kitchens are the favorite gathering spot in the house—the heart of our homes. So, take the challenge this year, and tidy up this most beloved hangout to make your cooking and entertaining endeavors at the lake an absolute joy.
In this newly renovated lakeside home, a formerly dark-wood kitchen made the space appear closed in and dreary. Insufficient counter space and outdated cabinets only made the problem worse. After a fresh facelift, this little jewel of a kitchen feels bright, airy, and full of storage opportunities. The addition of rustic wood-beam open shelving on the walls—over the stovetop and on an empty wall next to the window—along with chicken wire installed on the cabinet fronts creates more storage space and makes the room feel open and breezy. A tip? Keep open shelf space neatly arranged with beautiful dishware and glasses that align with the kitchen’s overall color palette.
When you run out of horizontal space, go vertical with a handy tower countertop freestanding pot rack. This portable vertical shelving will enhance the useable space around your stovetop or anywhere you need some extra storage space atop your existing kitchen counters. This one is designed to hold all your vital kitchen tools, spices, and other basic cooking essentials. Handy hooks on the side store your hanging utensils within easy reach. Equipped with three spacious shelves, it also features gray pads on the bottom shelf that can double as trivets for hot pans fresh off the stove.
Maximize the functionality of your kitchen island by incorporating prep space, seating, and storage. Cabinets and drawers on the working side of your island make cooking a breeze and are within easy reach for the chef. On the seating side of your island, make room for some open shelving to store cookbooks, tableware, or other appealing kitchen items you don’t mind having on display. In addition, installing glass-front cabinets is also an innovative way to open up your space visually. They instantly create a light and airy sense of spaciousness you can’t get from solid-front cabinetry.
Corral your spices and oils with a miniature lazy Susan along with some clear storage bins to organize your pantry in a snap. All from Squared Away ä, this divided cabinet turntable and stackable cabinet organizers are both made of shatter-resistant plastic, ensuring long-lasting use. Ideal for a lake house, where cabinet space is often limited to essentials, these transparent storage solutions will keep your items orderly and in clear view—a beautiful sight indeed. And don’t forget to add them to the cabinet below your sink to store dish detergent and other cleaning products.
Take advantage of every square inch in your kitchen by installing a hinge-mounted shelving unit inside the pantry doors. These clever organizers can store spices, oils, and other baking goods to save space inside the pantry for larger, bulkier items. With an endless array of styles to choose from, you’re bound to find one that fits your needs, taste, and dimensions. For example, check out this one we found on Etsy that includes a full-size spice rack with baskets below for onions, potatoes, and awkward items like foil and plastic wrap.
Bring function and a touch of elegance to your counter space with this sleekly designed over-the-sink cutting board. Created by StoneWon Designs Co., the board is handmade from thick American wood that has been coated and waxed with a vegan-friendly mixture made from mineral oil, beeswax, and coconut oils. Available from West Elm in mahogany, ambrosia maple, and walnut, this clever kitchen necessity features a built-in mesh strainer that’s perfect for prepping fruits and veggies. Choose from 30-inch and 36-inch widths, depending on the size of your kitchen sink. After use, wash it clean and store it in an easy-to-reach kitchen cabinet, preferably right below your sink. Beautifully crafted and brilliant!
Magnetic Attraction
Photo courtesy of Food 52 via Architectural Digest
An ingenious space-saving solution to be sure, this steel magnetic spice rack can attach right to the side of your refrigerator—or any other metal surface. This stream-lined Japanese design by Yamazaki can hold up to five spice jars, depending on their size. Perfect for smaller lakeside cabins, this magnificent and versatile little gem will keep your most-used spices within quick and easy reach. The shelf measures 4 inches deep by 10 inches wide and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
For more clever kitchen storage ideas to create that luxurious space you never knew you had, check out these smart kitchen solutions. From all of us at Lake Homes, cheers to a carefree—and clutter-free—life on the lake!
