If you’re looking for unique and thoughtful gifts that capture the beauty and serenity of lake life, Etsy is a treasure trove of lake-inspired finds. From handcrafted home décor to personalized accessories, there’s something for everyone who cherishes time spent by the water. Whether you’re shopping for a lake lover, a cabin owner, or someone who simply enjoys nature, these Etsy gift ideas will bring the peaceful, refreshing spirit of the lake right into their home. Let’s dive into some of the best lake-inspired gifts available!
A custom lake map is not only a personalized gift but also a meaningful way to celebrate a love for the water. In fact, these beautifully crafted maps, by GebraCrafters, capture the unique shape and intricate details of your favorite lake. Whether it’s a cherished family vacation spot or your own lake property, each map is meticulously designed. Additionally, these maps showcase the lake’s contours and surrounding landmarks, often available in various styles and sizes to match any décor. With customizable options for text, coordinates, and framing, a custom lake map adds a personal, meaningful touch to any home, making it a standout piece for any lake enthusiast.
This set of six leatherette coasters by CompanyTwentySix is perfect for celebrating the lake lifestyle. Crafted from durable faux leather, these coasters provide easy cleaning and maintenance and the sueded fabric backing on each coaster protects your tabletops from scratches and spills. Each set is laser engraved with lake-themed designs. You can choose between six assorted designs or six of any one design. Whether you prefer round or square, each coaster measures approximately 4 inches. The set includes a coordinating leatherette holder for easy storage.
Transform your lake home’s entrance with these stunning custom UV printed doormats from creativeintheclouds! Crafted from 100% coir, these doormats offer a perfect blend of style and functionality, providing a natural aesthetic while effectively trapping dirt and debris. With an anti-slip backing, you can step confidently into your home, knowing safety is a priority. The vibrant, long-lasting UV-printed designs add a personalized, lake living touch, making these doormats a standout addition to any home decor.
This personalized, 100% cotton, Lake Life Woven Blanket from TripleHug effortlessly brings the beauty of the outdoors into your home. It features detailed lake-inspired images like a boat, acorns, wild berries, a goose, and a deer and allows for personalization with your family name, lake name, or a special date. With its timeless design and intricate weaves, this blanket is the perfect gift for any lake enthusiast. Whether used as lake wall decor, a cozy throw, or a thoughtful gift, this blanket adds warmth and charm to any space, making it a versatile and cherished item.
Enhance your lake house décor or gift-giving experience with a custom engraved bourbon decanter set from Glass Lake Engraving. Featuring the lake of your choice etched into both the decanter and glasses, this timeless set adds a unique, personalized touch. Furthermore, it’s perfect for creating a memorable housewarming or holiday gift for lake enthusiasts. With high-quality laser engraving that’s both permanent and dishwasher-safe, the design will remain vivid for years. In addition, the decanter holds a standard 750ml bottle of whiskey, scotch, or bourbon, and you have the option to include two or four engraved glasses for a complete set.
Incorporating personalized lake-themed gifts into your holiday shopping list is a great way to celebrate the lake lover in your life. Each thoughtfully crafted piece will not only enhance their lake home décor but will also be cherished for years to come.
Are you in the process of selling your lake home? If so, one thing you want to avoid is the stress and suffering that can follow by not taking proper steps for a smooth process. Two main reasons lake homes typically don’t sell are lack of exposure and price. Lake Homes Realty CEO Glenn Phillips explains how to maximize this suffering; that way, you can hopefully avoid these mistakes when pricing your home!
After Exposure, Price Fixes Everything – This refers to the price at which the house is sold.
Overprice: If you think of pricing the house because of things you put into it or anything along those lines, think again. That has nothing to do with the market; these are simply wants due to emotional attachment.
Planning “The Haggle”: If you plan to go high so the buyer offers lower, resulting in a middle-ground number you’d still be happy with, you should reconsider it. Our data tells us that homes that are appropriately priced come in at the list price or slightly above. If it’s overpriced, they tend to drop significantly over time.
“Test the Market”: Generally when people test the market, they never figure out how they are going to score it. What is the test? Is it one week? Two weeks? Testing the market usually ends up being an excuse to overprice, and the test almost always fails.
DOM (Days on Market): The longer the home sits on the market, the longer it becomes a problem for consumers.
“Death Spiral”: Consumers are more informed now than at any other time in history. The more things you use, the more likely you are to be caught in this death spiral that is hard to escape.
Nobody wants to maximize their suffering when it comes to selling. If you stick with these different steps, it’ll definitely happen. One of the best ways to avoid this is to price appropriately. If you aren’t sure the best way to go about that, reach out to a lake agent at LakeHomes.com. They would love to be involved in the process with you.
One of the great joys of lake home living is strolling with friends and family to the water’s edge, gazing out at the waves from the side of a pier, and wrapping up the day by watching the sunset. It is a time of bonding and relaxation—special moments that entice many people to purchase a lake home in the first place. Unfortunately, such leisurely recreation is often difficult for the elderly or those with disabilities. It is challenging enough just to navigate the uneven ground between a house and the lake when using a wheelchair or walker. But piers can be narrow, docks can be uneven, and suddenly the whole thing becomes a stressful experience. The blissful waterside sunset gathering is no longer enjoyable or even possible.
“It’s not just about being able to get around in your home. It’s also about being able to access what’s outside your home, which, at the lake, can be a fishing pier or a boat dock,” says Rebecca Williams, an official with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Center. “You should be able to participate in your life, wherever it may be. And that includes recreation.”
Indeed, spending time along the water provides all manner of curative effects, regardless of one’s physical ability. Take away access to the lake, and you are just left with a house that could be located anywhere.
“Being in nature and enjoying the views has such a positive impact on people,” says Taylor Davis, a Birmingham-based architect who specializes in creating housing design for older adults with accessibility issues. “It gives you a sense of calm—a contemplative feeling—when you can connect with the outdoors. It’s not always easy to provide access, but it is important.”
David Jones, founder and director of SportsAbility Alliance in Florida, discovered the importance of outdoor access to his mental well-being after he was involved in an accident that left him unable to walk.
“One of the things I learned during the rehab process is how much I valued my outdoor recreation and what a source of comfort and motivation it was for me,” Jones said. “My mother’s house was on Lake Talquin in the Tallahassee area, and they built a sidewalk down a steep hill to the dock. They also widened the door of the pontoon boat, so my wheelchair would fit onto it and built a little platform to get into the boat.”
Such efforts are not common, however. According to a report released by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies analyzing the 2019 American Housing Survey, less than 4 percent of homes in the United States contain more than two basic accessibility features, such as no-step entry, wide halls and doors, elevated electrical plugs, etc. More elaborate features, such as ramps and lifts, are even rarer. And though the study does not specify lake homes, the remote location and sporadic use of many of these houses likely reduce the percentage of accessible homes even further. But as Williams points out, lake homes actually are ideal candidates for enhanced accessibility features since they often are used by people at or near retirement age who eventually will begin to have mobility issues.
“For most people, if you buy a house at a lake, your intention is to be there at least part-time for the rest of your life,” Williams says. “So if you acquire a disability and all those things you enjoyed before are no longer accessible, then maybe you don’t want to live in your dream home anymore. But with some additional features, you still can.”
The U.S. Access Board provides a list of the ADA Accessibility Standards on its website, including details for piers, gangway slopes, handrails, and boat slips. While these standards are required only for public facilities, Williams says they can also be used as guidelines for private homes.
The most obvious issue facing lake homes is the bumpy ground around the house and the elevation change toward the lake. Installing a ramp is the simplest solution, though Davis notes that if the elevation change is substantial, then a single ramp might be too long and steep. If that is the case, she suggests finding an area approximately halfway along the ramp path that can provide a landing space before continuing the rest of the way.
As for steps, Davis says to make them deeper and wider than average so they can be used more easily by someone with a walker or cane. In addition, she says a stair lift is also a possibility, even if it is installed outside in the elements.
“There are plenty of lifts made specifically for exterior use,” Davis says. “And there are ways to install and design around them to make them less intrusive. For example, they can be screened with landscaping. So, building a small path to a lift is a great way to (gain lake access) without having to build a long ramp that sticks out into the landscape. They can be very unobtrusive, effective, and easy to use.
For enjoying those sunset views (or any views) on the pier, make sure there is a flat area at least 4 feet deep and 3 feet wide where a wheelchair or scooter can be parked. “That way, they can roll up there and sit next to their family,” Williams says. “So rather than staying behind at the house, they can sit beside their family and watch the sunset with them.”
Williams suggests including a small space along the pier where the railing is lower so a person in a wheelchair can easily see over it. She says this space is also ideal for casting a rod if the disabled person enjoys fishing.
Keep all exterior pathways well-lit, preferably with long-lasting LED bulbs that rarely have to be replaced. “Lighting is extremely important if you have folks trying to navigate tricky terrain with a cane or walker,” Davis says.
Zero-Step Entrances
Photo courtesy of Nicholas Snyder Via DwellPhoto courtesy of Joe Fletcher Via Dwell
Make sure there is at least one easily accessible entrance to the house that does not have any steps or elevated threshold. “Even a 4-inch curb can be really hard to navigate if you’re in a wheelchair,” Davis says. “So one little zero-step entrance can make all the difference in the world in somebody’s ability to even get outside in the first place.”
Bathrooms can be hazardous for people with disabilities, so consider creating a zero-step entrance to the shower with enough space for a wheelchair to navigate. Lower shower fixtures and built-in open shelving also create a more accessible experience for those with mobility issues or reliant on a wheelchair.
Storage areas are vital at lake homes since many of them are not used on a daily basis. So Davis says to make sure that all storage areas are accessible. In addition, since everybody needs to keep their cell phones charged these days, install at least two or three plugs that are elevated off the baseboard and can be easily reached.
“All these are things that may not necessarily be needed today, but you need to make sure it’s something you’re thinking about for the long term,” Davis says. “You need to go ahead and create those opportunities that allow you to be outside in a way that fits whatever your physical realities may become.
“Because oftentimes, lake homes are generational homes. These get passed down from family to family, and there can be many generations that utilize that home on any given weekend. So thinking about access to these places in a more expansive way is really important, especially considering the investment that people make in lake homes.”
Doing so will ensure the sun never sets on your good times at the lake.
Living life at the lake provides fun, laughter, memories, and more! Even when it comes time to sell, memories will be made in the process. Glenn Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty, goes into detail on why you shouldn’t price in those memories when selling.
“Gateway to Memories”: People buying these lake homes can already picture their own memories that they will be making at the house. Buying a lake home doesn’t come from the need of simply having shelter. It comes from the desire to have these amazing experiences that come along with it.
Whose Memories?: You, as the seller, have important memories at that lake home. While they are important to you, they aren’t that important to the buyer. The buyers are wanting to create their own memories. However, you have an emotional attachment as the seller, making you think it has more financial value. Try to separate that due to the buyer not having that attachment.
Selling? Depersonalize (and Protect!): You have many things in the house that bring memories. You might want to put these things away; that way, it gives buyers a different feel to the home. You should also protect those valuables. You don’t want something happening to them while buyers look at your home.
Buying is Desire: You want to do things to where you aren’t pricing in memories. However, make it a way for the buyers to imagine creating their own memories in the house.
Selling is a Business Transaction: Think of your lake property as a stock. If you bought a stock at a certain price, it doesn’t necessarily matter. At the end of the day, it’s what the market says it’ll pay. You can always enjoy the memories later and not price how you feel depending on the memories.
Pricing a lake home can be difficult, especially when you begin to think of all the memories made there. If you’re still struggling with this today, reach out to one of our lake market experts at LakeHomes.com. They know the ins and outs and would be more than willing to help you in the process.
When you think of selling a lake home, or any home for that matter, you probably think of negotiating. Whether you’re great at it or if your skills could use a little practice, it’ll probably come into play. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, goes over 5 key tips for when the time of negotiating arrives.
Any Offer is Better than NO Offer!: Don’t get upset because somebody made a low offer. The people you should be upset with are the ones who didn’t make an offer at all. Having a low offer just means you have some started.
Don’t Get “Stuck” on Single Points: In negotiations, don’t let one thing hold you up. You should let it ebb and flow.
Agent Commission: You want an agent who brings their value.
Seller’s Compensation: If the buyer has made an offer and wants some compensation to help cover costs, figure out how that fits in.
Closing Costs: Similar to the seller’s compensation, find out how this will fit in with the negotiations.
Personal Property: Is there a boat, interior decor, whatever it might be, there is a way to find opportunities to help make the other party happy.
Cash Only Means Less Closing Risk: If the buyer makes a big deal about it being a cash offer, from the seller’s perspective, cash offers only matter if it is de-risking the deal. If you’re selling, you’re getting cash from somebody regardless.
Restructure Offers: Being able to find ways to work with the offer or make it mutually beneficial can help more than people might realize.
Be Creative: You can come up with some angle for a home that people might not think of. There are plenty of ways to be creative to help everyone.
Negotiating is something that comes along with buying or selling a home. However, if you take these tips into consideration, it can truly help with the process. As always, if you’re looking for more information regarding negotiating or have any other real estate questions, reach out to one of our lake experts at LakeHomes.com.
Has your house been sitting on the market for some time? Have you also been questioning if it’s the price, the exposure, or maybe even the agent you’re working with? When it comes down to it, it could be the agent, or it might not be. Glenn Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty, breaks down the 2 main reasons your house might still be on the market.
Exposure: Is your property known? Are people able to find it on the market? If the property has been on the market for a minute and nothing seems to be moving, you need to look at the exposure and see if your agent has done what they need to.
A) Quality Staging & Photos?: You need genuine, quality photos. Not photos that can be misleading for potential buyers.
B) On The MLS?: You can’t sell a secret. If you’re not willing to make your property be viewed by the public, more than likely, it’ll be harder for it to sell.
C) Syndicated?: After your home is on the MLS, it being on other portals can significantly help with this. This will help reach a much wider audience.
D) On LakeHomes.com?: We’re members of MLSs all across the country and can extract data to put it on there. Listing homes with us, in turn, makes it a featured property on our website.
Price: If you’re utilizing all the above steps, the only other reason for it not selling is price. Price fixes every other problem besides exposure. It fixes location, repairs, water lines, location on the lake, etc.
A) Getting Offers?: If you’re getting offers, your agent has done well. It might not be the offer you want, but what you see in the value of your home.
B) Getting Showings?: If you’re getting showings, then your agent is getting people in the door. Ultimately, this also means the exposure is working.
C) Agent Getting Questions?: Again, this means the exposure is working. This comes back to your agent doing a good job, but it is coming down to price.
More Exposure Never Fixes Price: Just because you try to market better does not mean this will take away from it being a price issue.
The bottom line when it comes to selling, price fixes most things! When selling a lake home, it is key to have an appropriately priced home, along with good exposure tactics. If you would like guidance or even someone to ask questions about this, contact one of our lake experts at LakeHomes.com today!
There are many things that you should do when selling a lake home. It could be some updates around the house or even some bigger tasks to enhance curb appeal. However, you might be wondering if replacing the roof is worth it. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, discusses whether this task needs to be done.
Your Lake Home Needs a New Roof: Does your home actually need the roof replaced or is it just something you think needs to be done? Sometimes it might just be something you only believe is necessary.
New Roof Does NOT Increase Value: Some people might think if you replaced the roof you can add more money to the price. It doesn’t really work that way. Buyers are expecting a functional roof when looking for a home.
Old Roof Decrease Value: However, on the opposite side of things, having a roof that does need replacing or isn’t really functional will decrease the value of the home. Just because a new one doesn’t bring up the value doesn’t mean an old one can’t drop it.
Lenders May Require a New Roof: After a home inspection and appraisal, these lenders might require a new roof to be added. This lowers the risk of the asset.
Your Choice – Spend or Discount: When everything boils down to it, it’s ultimately your choice. You either spend the money on a new roof if needed or discount the price due to not replacing it.
At the end of the day, you might have more questions similar to this. One of the best ways to obtain this information is by reaching out to an expert at LakeHomes.com. They would love to provide the assistance you might need!
Someone’s real estate journey is more than likely going to warrant some questions. Even if you might have a good chunk of knowledge when it comes to real estate, the lake market can be different. Before you start any process of buying or selling, you should think about some questions you might have. Luckily, Glenn Phillips, Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, discusses what you should really be asking your lake real estate agents.
Which Agent…: Questions along these lines are some you might think you need to ask or get an answer for, but in actuality, they aren’t the important ones.
A) Has The Most Listings?: You might think finding the agent who has the most listings is the agent you want to work with. However, just because an agent has many listings doesn’t mean they’re being sold. You can find an agent who has a lot of listings while also selling those listings.
B) Do I Personally Like?: Everyone likes someone with whom they can get along, but that doesn’t mean that’s the agent for you. While you should find someone you can get along with, it’s more important to find an agent who will help guide you through this big transaction.
C) Has an Office Nearby?: This point is something that matters to sellers on occasion. But when it comes to buyers, they don’t necessarily care. Buyers are able to search online and don’t need an office to go into. A buyer wants to see the house, not an office.
Questions You Should Answer:
A) MOST Capable of Helping Achieve MY Goal?: One of the most important questions that should be answered is which agent will help you with your goal. You’re the one making the transactions and your goals are what’s important.
B) All Agents the Same?: Not all agents are the same. You should be looking for the ones who are equipped to handle your needs and what you are looking for.
C) Focused on Lake Real Estate?: Similarly to the previous point, find the ones who have the focus. Working with a lake market expert is what you want during this process. Any other agent you should exclude. Lake agents know the ins and outs that other agents simply wouldn’t know.
D) Can Prove a Pipeline of Out of Town Buyers?: If the agent can show you that they have people coming from out of town to buy, you should keep note of that. This is a good thing as it brings people from outside the local market looking and buying.
Simply put, certain questions are more important to ask a lake agent. You might think you’re asking the correct ones, but some of them require a lot of expertise. If you’re ready to start asking the questions, reach out to a lake expert today at LakeHomes.com. They would love to help you on your real estate journey.
When you choose a lake home for you and your family, there are a million factors to consider. At Lake Homes Realty, our lake expert agents know that it’s not just the lake but also the surrounding community. On Lake Homes Lifestyles, we’ve talked about some important community-level aspects of lake living, such as nearby amenities, food, and boat clubs. However, while these attributes can easily be checked off a list, some qualities of lake towns are intangible. There’s no way to quantify the appeal of the small-town charm that encapsulates so many of our lake areas. Today, we’re taking a look at 10 quaint lake towns—and what draws lake homeowners to their endearing vibe.
To many, Austin is hardly a quaint town. The capital of the state and the largest city in Travis County, Austin is bustling with urban appeal. However, although Austin isn’t small, its quirky, artsy aesthetic makes it a top contender as a quaint lake town. Home to Lady Bird Lake, Lake Travis, and others, this city is full of people who appreciate a unique city and embrace the word “weird.”
This quaint lake town is home to Lake Minnetonka, one of the largest lakes in Minnesota. Its name derives from the Dakota Soix word for “great water,” which is certainly fitting. Although the town is small, it’s also luxurious. Minnetonka homes are ranked some of the most expensive in America. As Minnesota’s version of the Hamptons, you’ll find high-end restaurants, boutiques, and long stretches of beach peppered with gorgeous homes.
Known as the “Bahamas of the East,” Summersville is a small town in the center of West Virginia. Located on the pristine waters of the state’s largest lake, Lake Summersville, you can spend time scuba diving, paddleboarding, and whitewater rafting when you’re not busy exploring the town. Otherwise, check out some of the scenic wineries in the area, such as Kirkwood.
One of the most unique aspects of this quaint lake town is its proximity to six different bodies of water. In addition, the city of Okoboji is bordered by three lakes, West Okobji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, and Spirit Lake, which are also known as the Iowa Great Lakes. These beautiful, glacier-carved chains of lakes serve as the area’s year-round tourist attraction. Big Spirit Lake, Iowa’s largest natural lake, and West Okoboji, which is one of only three blue water lakes in the world, are both must-see natural wonders that have intrigued visitors from all over the world. These lakes are a central part of the thriving community, which also includes museums, amusement parks, and other exciting attractions.
Better get used to biking on Mackinac Island because there are no cars allowed. This small island on Lake Huron is known for its quaint charm. Bed and breakfasts, carriage tours, and ferry rides are the relaxing, luxury lifestyle that this town has to offer. While you’re in town, check out the world-renowned fudge shop for a bite of chocolatey goodness.
Both the name of the lake and the town, Lake Placid is one small town that won’t disappoint. Nestled in the picturesque Adirondack Mountains and just an hour’s drive from Lake Champlain, there’s no shortage of natural scenery to enjoy in this area. Lake Placid is also the former host of two Olympic games (1932 and 1980), marking it as an important historical spot.
Another instance where the town name matches the lake, Lake Lure has captured the attention of residents, visitors, and movie producers. Films like Dirty Dancing and Thunder Road have shot scenes on this lake, captivated by the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. This quaint resort town includes restaurants, museums, and parks for all ages.
Referred to as the oldest summer resort in America, this town, situated next to the stunning Lake Winnipesaukee, encapsulates New England charm. While you’re wandering the charming streets, you might run into one of many celebrities like Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon who own houses there!
This charming town of Lake Geneva is home to the stunning Geneva Lake. Due to its proximity to Milwaukee and Chicago, this lake town is a popular destination to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Known for its antique mansions that decorate the shoreline along the Shore Path, this lake is regarded as a summer paradise. This popular retreat city for Midwesterners also offers plentiful antique shopping, an award-winning magic show, and access to beautiful public beaches.
Whether you visit in the winter for skiing or the summer for wakeboarding, Burlington, Vermont, is the perfect town for spending time on the lake. Located along the shores of Lake Champlain, this quaint town offers plenty of shops and restaurants that line the walkable Church Street Marketplace.
These quaint lake towns provide the perfect balance of rural charm and city-life amenities where you’ll find picturesque storefronts, stunning foliage, and gorgeous lakeshores. In addition, these towns offer a sense of warmth and community that is emblematic of the lake lifestyle.
