For many people, owning a waterfront home woud be a dream come true. The thought of being able to fish and row a little boat on your waterfront property is an exciting one. However, many waterfront homes come with surprises that the average person doesn’t notice until it is too late. That’s why Fairfax Transfer and Storage, one of the many movers DC area residents trust, are here to help. With our list of questions to ask before buying a waterfront home in Virginia, you won’t fall victim to a poorly planned purchase. Buying a regular house alone requires lots of thinking and financing, let alone buying a waterfront one. With our help, however, purchasing a waterfront property won’t be any different from a buying a regular house. After you sit down and take some notes, you’ll be able to buy a waterfront house in no time.
An important question concerns the water quality
If your potential waterfront home’s water quality isn’t great, don’t worry. Nutrient overload can be caused by a number of things, such as fertilizers, detergents, rainwater, and malfunctioning septic systems. Preventing these pollutants from getting into the water can help maintain or improve its quality. These pollutants can be filtered out before they enter the water by creating a 20- to 30-foot buffer zone of undeveloped land between the house and the body of water. So, before you give up on hiring residential movers in Northern VA to move you, consider all the options you have.
Facts about water quality you should know
For example, excess nitrogen and phosphorus in a body of water encourage the overgrowth of aquatic wildlife. Native aquatic plants are essential for coastal stabilization and ecosystem enrichment, but weeds can quickly encroach on them, creating issues. When weeds take over, they may push out wildlife, slow fish growth, and make recreational access to the water difficult or hazardous. On top of that, everyone prefers having their home looking at a clean lake with a pristine surface. Although the body of water is part of nature, it’s also a big part of your waterfront home. That’s why it’s in your best interest to ask about your potential home’s water quality.
The health of the water is reflected in its quality, which also impacts the value of homes near water. Usually, the Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association conducts routine water quality checks. Whether the home has a healthy waterfront or not is determined by looking over the test results. All of this, however, brings us to our next important question you should ask when buying a waterfront home.
What are some expenses that come with owning a waterfront home?
Even though it’s no secret that waterfront homes can be costly, there’s a catch. Waterfront homes can also sometimes come with additional, hidden costs that don’t come up until after you’ve moved in. Owning any kind of house will cost you a lot, but a waterfront property will require both more money and responsibility. For instance, one of the major costs of owning a waterfront home is maintenance, and the cost of maintaining one on a month-to-month basis may exceed your budget. Some of the expenses that come with owning a waterfront home include:
- Maintaining the property’s seawall or bulkhead, and installing one if you don’t have one,
- Dock maintenance and repairs (if it comes with a dock or you decide to build one),
- Boat storage (of course, if you have a boat),
- Flood insurance, because we all know nature is unpredictable,
- Lake association dues, and so on and so forth.
Prior to your decision to buy waterfront property, you must take all of these expenses into account. Having an open discussion with your real estate agent and financial advisor can be of great help. They’ll aid you in developing a plan and figuring out your budget before submitting an offer on a waterfront home. Once you figure out all the numbers and buy your dream waterfront home, you can hire one of the best long distance moving companies Northern VA has to offer.
Other important questions to ask when buying a waterfront home
Of course, there’s no such thing as too many questions, or stupid questions for that matter. A waterfront home is a big investment, so you want to make sure you’re putting your money into something good. It’s only natural to want to know more about the home you’ll live in, so we’ve gathered a few more questions that can come in handy.
- What are the size and boundaries of the waterfront home? Are you going to need a company that offers many a delivery service Northern Virginia relies on for downsizing or delicate items?
- Has the home you’re planning to buy flooded in the past? Floods can cause long-term damage to a home, be it a regular house or a waterfront one.
- Do you need a permit to build a dock, and can you build a dock on your waterfront property in the first place?
- What is the condition of the shoreline during different times of the year?
- Are there any limits on recreational activities in or around the body of water your home is on?
- Is the lake water level controlled in any shape or form?
All you have to do now is do research and make a decision
With this list of questions to ask before buying a waterfront home in Virginia in mind, you’re now ready to dive into the market. Searching for the perfect waterfront home will take a while. Don’t feel discouraged if you don’t find the right home right away. Once you decide and have to plan the move, we have another solution. Ask Fairfax Transfer and Storage to move you to your new home! We’re efficient and fast, and we’ll take good care of your items. Help is just a moving quote away. Call us today!
