Tag: lake living

Environmental Impact: Easy DIY Tips to Boost Sustainability In Your Lake Home

Posted on Jeanne Delathouder

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

illustration of an eco-friendly and sustainable lake home
Photo courtesy of UGREEN

Sustainability isn’t a buzzword for lake homeowners—it’s a practical necessity. Whether your retreat is tucked along the tree-lined shores of the Adirondacks, perched above a misty lake in the Pacific Northwest, or sun-drenched in a Texas Gulf basin, energy efficiency and environmental stewardship go hand-in-hand with lakeside living. Seasonal temperature swings, regional biodiversity, and water proximity offer challenges and opportunities.

Thankfully, sustainable upgrades don’t require major renovations or specialized crews. Thoughtful, easy-to-implement DIY projects can yield a meaningful environmental impact. They lower utility costs, conserve resources, and preserve the natural surroundings that drew you to the lake in the first place. From rainwater collection to smart appliance integration, these manageable sustainability updates can be tailored to suit regional climates, home styles, and homeowner schedules. The key is choosing enhancements that are affordable, replicable, and impactful. Below are seven smart and regionally appropriate DIY ideas. These will make your lake home more eco-conscious while still functional and inviting.

Install a Rain Barrel Collection System

Rain Barrel collection system by a brick home with flowers and green lawn in foreground
Photo courtesy of FCMP Outdoor

Rainwater harvesting is one of the simplest and most regionally adaptive sustainability upgrades. This is especially true in areas with regular rainfall like the Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northern lake regions. A rain barrel placed beneath a roof downspout can capture runoff and store it for non-potable uses. Uses include watering gardens, rinsing outdoor gear, or maintaining landscape beds. Systems like the FCMP Outdoor Rain Barrel are homeowner-friendly and equipped with overflow valves and fine-mesh screens to prevent debris buildup. With minimal effort, you reduce demand on well or municipal water and make use of a renewable source already flowing across your roof.

Upgrade to Smart Thermostats

Google Nest Learning Thermostat being installed with a hand
Photo courtesy of Google

Installing a smart thermostat can significantly reduce unnecessary energy use. This is especially helpful in lake homes that may sit unoccupied for stretches during the off-season. For properties in the Upper East, Southeast, or California lake regions, where seasonal temperature changes drive HVAC use, an upgrade to a device like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat lets you monitor and adjust your home’s temperature remotely. These systems adapt to your schedule over time and often provide suggestions for maximizing efficiency. Installation typically takes under an hour. It immediately improves energy control without sacrificing comfort when you return to the lake.

Add Weather Stripping and Door Sweeps

weather stripping being applied to a door
Photo courtesy of Bob Vila

Older lake homes, especially in the Northern and Mid-Atlantic regions, are prone to air leaks around windows and doors. This leads to drafts and higher heating or cooling costs. Applying self-adhesive weather stripping to window frames and attaching under-door sweeps can drastically reduce air infiltration. Products like the 3M Indoor Weather Sealing Kit provide a fast and cost-effective solution. It adds an extra layer of insulation without the need for replacement windows. This simple DIY can be completed in an afternoon, improving thermal efficiency year-round.

Convert to LED Lighting with Solar Additions

Ring Smart Solar Lights applied to an outdoor environment with landscaping, and people in the background at the door
Photo courtesy of Ring

Switching to LED bulbs indoors and adding solar-powered fixtures outdoors is a smart and low-effort strategy to lower electricity use. This is especially valuable in sunny regions like the Southeast and Texas Gulf. Solar lighting can reliably illuminate walkways, porches, and docks without drawing from the grid. Indoors, LED bulbs last longer and consume a fraction of the energy of incandescent models. Consider solar units such as Ring Smart Solar Lights. They integrate motion sensors and weather-resistant designs for dependable outdoor lighting and sustainability that complements the lake lifestyle.

Install Window Shades

Solar window shades applied in windows overlooking the water and landscape
Photo courtesy of The Shade Store

Energy-efficient window treatments can help regulate indoor temperature. They keep spaces cool in the summer and insulated in the winter. This is particularly useful in lake homes regions, including the Southeast, California, and the Upper East. Solar heat gain or cold drafts can impact comfort and utility costs here. Installing reflective or cellular window shades is a straightforward project. It offers outsized returns, both in energy savings and light control. Options such as SelectBlinds Cordless Cellular Shades come in various sizes and finishes. They offer DIY installation that requires only basic tools and no professional help.

Invest in a Whole-Home Dehumidifier

Home image illustrating clean air with a sunflower in foreground
Photo courtesy of AprilAire

For lake properties in humid regions—particularly the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Texas Gulf—a whole-home dehumidifier can protect the structural integrity of your home while improving air quality. High humidity encourages mold growth and strains your HVAC system. However, a dedicated unit like the Aprilaire E100 Dehumidifier can efficiently pull moisture from the air across large areas. While some models require professional integration, many high-capacity systems can be installed in basements, crawl spaces, or attics with minimal guidance. This makes it a worthwhile sustainability project to tackle as the humidity season approaches.

Rethink Your Appliances

smart appliances in a modern kitchen, including smart refrigerator, freezer, faucet, and ovens
Photo courtesy of Grapes AI

Outdated appliances often consume far more electricity and water than necessary, undermining other sustainability efforts. You can dramatically improve your home’s overall efficiency by replacing just one high-use item, such as a refrigerator, washer, or dishwasher. Focus on Energy Star-certified options available through the Energy Star Product Finder, which offers vetted appliances across every major category. While upgrading appliances isn’t the lowest-cost DIY, it is one of the most impactful in the long term. This is especially true for full-time residents or seasonal homeowners who host large gatherings and rely heavily on kitchen or laundry equipment.

Sustainable living at the lake isn’t limited to off-grid solutions or full-scale renovations. Simple, regionally appropriate DIYs like rain barrels, weatherproofing, dehumidifiers, and appliance upgrades allow homeowners to reduce their ecological footprint meaningfully. These projects are low-barrier, low-maintenance, and—when chosen wisely—pay off quickly in savings and performance. Whether weekend retreating in the Northeast or living year-round in the Pacific Northwest, these enhancements strengthen your connection to the landscape and safeguard the water, air, and wildlife that define lake life. Small choices, tailored to local climates and property needs, are a powerful way to align comfort and conservation. For more home improvements for your lake home, visit Lake Homes Lifestyles.

[Haven Lifestyles] 5 Distinctive Texas Homes Offering Luxury, Space, and Serenity

Posted on Linda Thach

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

488 Eastgate Park, Livingston, TX

From luxurious mansions close to Houston to peaceful lakefront getaways in Livingston, these five Texas residences set new standards for high-end living. With spacious floor plans, top-of-the-line furnishings, and luxurious amenities reminiscent of a resort, each home presents a distinct combination of opulence and coziness perfect for entertaining or unwinding in elegance.

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[Haven Lifestyles] 9 Exclusive Luxury Retreats Across North Carolina’s Scenic Landscapes

Posted on Linda Thach

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

992 Estate Road, Semora, NC 27343

Explore a collection of nine incredible homes in North Carolina that showcase top-of-the-line luxury, seclusion, and architectural elegance. Whether you prefer tranquil mountain retreats, picturesque lakeside havens, or exclusive golf course residences, each home is meticulously designed to deliver upscale living amidst the state’s most breathtaking landscapes. Delve into the epitome of what North Carolina has to offer.

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Whiteboard Topics: What Lake Homes Sellers Expect That Rarely Helps

Posted on Zac Parnell

Expectations are a part of everything in life. Real estate is not exempt from having expectations either. When selling your home, you might have certain expectations from your real estate agent in order to get your home sold. Glenn Phillips, Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, discusses the different things a seller might expect that don’t always help.

  1. Open Houses: Typically, when it comes to lake real estate, the buyer is many miles away. They might even be in a completely different state. These buyers will schedule a showing to see that house if they are interested. An open house, on the other hand, typically attracts people who come by to view the house, usually without any intention to buy.
  2. “Just Listed” postcards: Who would you be sending these to? You don’t really need to send them to your neighbors because they already live at the lake. It doesn’t logically make sense to send these across the country, but it makes the seller feel good when sending them out. That doesn’t inherently mean anything will come from it.
  3. “Just Listed” social media: This is related to the “Just Listed” postcards. Not only that, but the algorithms don’t typically like these kinds of posts. If it shows up to an audience, it will more than likely show up on a family or friend’s feed.
  4. “For Sale” signs: Most lake homebuyers start their search online. Going back to the first point, many buyers might not even live in the state you’re in, having a for sale sign doesn’t really help as much as you think.

A lot of the time, an agent will do these things out of habit or to make their sellers happy. However, that doesn’t mean it will sell the home. If you’d like to discuss these topics or anything else with an agent, please contact one today at https://www.lakehomes.com/.

Whiteboard Topics: Overpricing Your Lake Home Is Easy!

Posted on Zac Parnell

What comes to mind when you’re getting ready to sell your home? Pricing! Knowing how to and what to price your lake home is crucial in the selling process. If you go too high, more than likely, it will sit on the market longer than you’d like. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, delves into the importance of proper pricing and how easy it is to accidentally overprice.

  1. “What I have in it”: This is the concept of what you, as the owner, have financially put into the home. However, buyers do not care about this. The market is the market. When you were the buyer, you didn’t ask the seller what they had put into the home. The same goes for your potential buyers; they don’t care. The market sets the price.
  2. “What I ‘need’…”: At the end of the day, need has nothing to do with it. Need is market-independent and not relevant to any of the buyers.
  3. “I just ‘feel’ it is worth this”: There have been many studies that indicate we value our own possessions a lot more than other people’s possessions. This is something you need to be mindful of. It’s very easy to justify why you think your property is worth a certain amount.
  4. “The neighbor’s house sold for…”: That might be a true statement, or it might be a rumor someone has made up. If it is factual, there are many factors that could have been at play, such as selling when the market was hot. Having an agent who can pull a market analysis is more beneficial than basing pricing on the neighbor’s home.
  5. “The house nearby is listed for…”: “Listed for” is exactly what it sounds like, a listing. That house is still on the market.
  6. “If I can get this much, then I’ll sell”: This means you are not actively trying to sell the home. If something were to come along at a price you like, then you might. Something like this wastes time for all parties.

Having the correct pricing is truly the most important thing if you’re trying to sell. However, as mentioned above, it’s very easy to overprice a lake home. If you’re trying to figure out how to get accurate pricing, reach out to our lake experts at https://www.lakehomes.com/.

Porch Perfect: Elevate Your Curb Appeal with a Front Porch Refresh

Posted on Jeanne Delathouder

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Contemporary front porch design with vaulted roof, slatted wood ceiling, natural stained wood doors, planters, greenery, decorative tile stair platform for Oregon lake home
Photo Courtesy of Bend Magazine

A front porch is more than just an entryway—it’s the heart and soul of your beloved lake dwelling. It sets the tone for your home’s personality. Just as it symbolizes home to you and yours, it welcomes guests with warmth and hospitality. Whether you have a cozy cottage or a grand lakefront estate, your porch should complement the architectural style of your home. It should also maximize available space and prioritize safety, particularly for households with children. Materials play a key role in enhancing durability and aesthetic appeal, with options like natural wood, composite decking, stone, and brick all offering distinct advantages depending on your regional climate.

For lake home properties across the U.S., different front porch styles cater to various environmental and aesthetic needs. From simple enhancements like bold lighting fixtures to more substantial upgrades such as screened enclosures or folding front doors, numerous ways can elevate your home’s curb appeal. Here are seven impactful front porch ideas suited to different lake regions for inspiration. These ideas provide functional and aesthetic benefits tailored to specific climates and lifestyles.

Incorporate a Folding Door for Ultimate Flexibility

NanaWall folding door leading to covered front porch of lake property
Photo courtesy of NanaWall

A folding front door can be a game-changer for homeowners in California and the Pacific Northwest lake regions, where mild climates encourage open-air living. Additionally, their flexibility makes them suitable for almost any lake climate. This unique element expands your living space. It creates an airy transition between the interior and exterior, perfect for entertaining or enjoying serene lake views.

Enhance Farmhouse Style with PVC or DIY Column Wraps

farm house style lake home with pvc column wraps on front porch to enhance architectural design; brick paved motorcourt in foreground
Photo courtesy of One Kindesign

Adding PVC or DIY column wraps is an affordable and impactful way to upgrade the look of your front porch. This approach is practical for farm-style homes popular in the Midwest, Upper East, and Mid-Atlantic lake regions. These areas blend classic Americana aesthetics with modern convenience. These wraps provide the look of traditional wood without the maintenance, ensuring long-term durability against seasonal weather fluctuations.

Transition Your Interior Style Outside

Living room style porch with cozy stone fireplace wall with television above, comfy cushioned furniture, fur throw over ottoman, rustic wooden coffee table and lake in backdrop
Photo courtesy of Beach Pretty

Bringing your interior design elements outdoors creates a seamless flow between your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Incorporate comfortable seating, side tables, outdoor rugs, pillows, and performance fabrics that resist moisture and fading. This idea works well in the Southeast and Texas Gulf lake regions, where extended warm seasons allow for outdoor living nearly year-round.

Add Bold, Eye-Catching Lighting Fixtures

Outdoor lantern-style sconces for your home's front porch exterior. potted plants flank front door and white pavers provide stepping stones over the green grass.
Photo Courtesy of Lowes

Statement lighting fixtures can instantly boost your home’s curb appeal while providing necessary illumination for safety and ambiance. Oversized lanterns, industrial-style sconces, or even string lights can add character to porches in the Northern and Upper East lake regions. Shorter daylight hours in these areas make proper lighting essential for year-round usability.

Screen in Your Porch for Comfort and Protection

Screened porch of lake home ensconced in greenery outside, comfy cushioned seating pieces, coffee table, and dog sleeping on floor
Photo courtesy of Kelly Marshall via Elle Decor

Screening in your porch can make outdoor relaxation more enjoyable in areas where mosquitos and other pests are a concern, such as the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast lake regions. A well-designed screened porch can blend seamlessly with your home’s architecture. It can also keep insects at bay and provide additional shade.

Install a Porch Swing or Swinging Daybed for a Tranquil Ambiance

Natural wood swing bed on front porch with potted plants, woven rug, and black trimmed windows
Photo courtesy of One Kindesign

Few things evoke relaxation like a porch swing or a cushioned daybed. This addition works beautifully in the Texas Gulf and Southeast lake regions. Gentle breezes and scenic views in these areas create the perfect setting for unwinding with a book or watching the sunset.

Upgrade Flooring and Ceiling for a Refreshed Look

Southern-style front porch with blue painted ceiling, ceiling fans, rocking chairs, and potted ferns. Brick walkway and hydrangea bushes in foreground
Photo courtesy of Stevie Simonson via Elle Decor

Elevating your porch’s aesthetic can be as simple as installing new flooring or painting the ceiling in an eye-catching hue. Classic blue ceilings, for example, are a staple in Southern lake homes. They are believed to deter insects while adding a charming, coastal touch. Meanwhile, natural wood or stone flooring provides a rustic, high-end feel in the Pacific Northwest and Northern lake regions.

Your front porch is an extension of your home’s personality and reflects your lifestyle. Whether you aim for a rustic retreat, a contemporary oasis, or a traditional charm, these porch enhancements can help maximize curb appeal. They can also improve functionality. By tailoring your porch style to your lake region’s climate and aesthetics, you can create a welcoming space that not only impresses visitors but also offers an inviting sanctuary for relaxation and enjoyment throughout the seasons. For more lake-inspired décor tips, visit Lake Home Lifestyles.

Whiteboard Topics: Lake Home Sellers Should Know These Buyer Traits

Posted on Zac Parnell

Are you selling your lake home? You, as a seller, have traits that most sellers exhibit. The same goes for lake home buyers. Because you are trying to sell your home, you should be aware of what these typical buyer traits are and how to spot them. Lake Home Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, discusses what some of these traits are and how to be on the lookout for them.

  1. Often Live >100 Miles Away: Most buyers who purchase lake property are looking for something they can move to in retirement or a place they can have as their getaway. Knowing that typical lake buyers are coming as far away as other states or cross country is important when it comes to marketing towards them.
  2. “Want What They Want”: It isn’t very common that your typical lake home buyer is looking for anything in a hurry. They don’t need a home immediately to ensure their kids can be in a certain school system or any other reason behind a quick move. They could spend months to years waiting to find exactly what it is they want.
  3. Willing to pay…but RARELY overpay: Most people who are buying lake property are smart with their money. You can see that the inventory has grown a lot in the past couple of months. These buyers aren’t willing to pay for a home that is overpriced, a more and more are becoming that.
  4. Unconcerned with school systems: The usual demographic is 55 and older. They might have grandkids coming to visit, but that doesn’t mean the specific school systems in the area are pertinent for these buyers.
  5. Hospital Reasonably Close: Like the previous point, the age demographic is a little older than your usual real estate market. Knowing you’re not too far away from a medical center is something that is being looked into when a buyer is considering moving to the lake.

Knowing these buyer traits can benefit you if you’re beginning the selling process or have been in it for a minute. If you would like help with selling or simply more details about these traits, reach out to one of our lake agents today at https://www.lakehomes.com/. They would be more than willing to lend a helping hand.

Spring Boating Playlist for 2025

Posted on Zac Parnell

Spring is here, and there’s no better way to enjoy the lake than on a boat. While you’re out cruising, why not accompany your day with an awesome playlist? From oldie classics to today’s latest hits, we’ve got the best tunes to celebrate springtime out on the water.

  1. Spring is Here – Ella Fitzgerald
  2. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers
  3. As It Was – Harry Styles
  4. Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
  5. Brazil – Declan McKenna
  6. Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine
  7. Borderline – Tame Impala
  8. Riptide – Vance Joy
  9. Bubbly – Colbie Caillat
  10. You Are The Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
  11. Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
  12. Spring Vacation – The Beach Boys
  13. It Might as Well Be Spring – Frank Sinatra
  14. Happy – Pharrell Williams
  15. Feeling Good – Nina Simone
  16. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
  17. Dreams – The Cranberries
  18. Sunday Best – Surfaces
  19. Flowers – Miley Cyrus
  20. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
  21. I’m Like a Bird – Nelly Furtado
  22. On Top of The World – Imagine Dragons
  23. Mr. Blue Sky – ELO
  24. Sunshine on My Shoulders – John Denver
  25. My Girl – The Temptations
  26. Rosa – Grimes
  27. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
  28. Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bob Marley
  29. Spring Fever – Elvis Presley
  30. Butterflies – Kacey Musgraves

Want to listen to more? Be sure to check out our other playlists!

Whiteboard Topics: 7 Signs A Lake Home Is Unrealistically Priced

Posted on Zac Parnell

Pricing is an important factor when it comes to buying and selling a lake home. On the buyer’s side, you typically want to find a home that is within your budget and not something astronomically outrageous. From the seller’s side, pricing a home appropriately means more people are willing to look at it. Glenn Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty, breaks down 7 different signs that a lake home is not priced realistically.

  1. Days-on-Market (DOM): Transparency is important. If your home has been on the market longer than 60-90 days, specifically for lake properties, it typically indicates that something isn’t right about the transaction. If the home is priced about 10-15% or more up than what the market is realistically expecting, people won’t take the time to even look at the home.
  2. Big Appraisal Gap: This was a bigger deal during the COVID frenzy, where people were willing to pay a higher price for the home than the appraisal price. However, since we have shifted from that, people aren’t as willing to spend that money.
  3. “Back on the Market”: This could indicate a price problem, either an issue with the mortgage appraisal not matching or an issue with the house, and the buyer and seller couldn’t agree on how to solve it in terms of the price.
  4. Massive $ Increase: This relates to an increase in the price of the house from when it was initially purchased to now, and there hasn’t been much done or changed about the property. If the seller can’t explain why there would be such a price increase, it more than likely means the home is overpriced.
  5. Multiple Price Cuts: The home has a lot of days on the market, as well as multiple cuts in the price. They might not even be significant price cuts. However, a buyer can see this and expect more cuts to happen before even looking at the property.
  6. Sellers: No (or Few) Showings: Having nobody come to look at the property is a key indicator that the home is priced poorly. Having people come and view your home is something that should be happening.
  7. Sellers: No Offers (or Similarly Low): Having people come and look at the home is great, but receiving no offers or even low offers means the pricing is off. If you’re receiving low offers, it can often be the buyer trying to offer at a more accurate price point.

Having a home that sits on the market for months due to pricing is something no seller or buyer, for that matter, wants. Ensuring you have priced your lake home appropriately is key in ensuring you can sell it. If you’re struggling with pinpointing what price is right for your home, contact one of our lake agents today! They would be more than willing to help you out!