Have you always dreamed of owning a home by the lake? Maybe you’ve only recently begun to entertain such thoughts. You’re getting older and are ready to retire. Then again, perhaps your family is young and starting to expand. You might be a business owner who is looking for a place to host retreats or conferences and team-building experiences. You might even be thinking of hosting your next family reunion. Either way, you can envision both quiet evenings on the dock or weekend gatherings with friends and family, which is why you are scouring through online ads for Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale and need a lakefront real estate expert.

A Lakefront Real Estate Expert Can Help Streamline Your Search

When you’re searching for Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale in South Carolina, there could be numerous options available that you’ll never know about, unless you work alongside a lakefront real estate expert. Licensed agents have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which gives them access to Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale that have been formally listed on the market.

Having access to the MLS system also enables a lakefront real estate expert to review valuable information regarding comparative analyses, otherwise known as “comp sales.” This information lets a lakefront real estate expert compare various Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale in your region to those in similar locations that have recently sold. This is a valuable tool because it helps you recognize fair and competitive list prices, as opposed to homes that might be over-priced. This type of information comes in handy whether you’re buying or selling a home.

You’ll Want the Knowledge a Lakefront Real Estate Expert Has

If you’re in the market for Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale, you’re bound to have a lot of questions about the location and community surrounding a particular home. For instance, there might be rules or restrictions regarding that particular area of the lake. For example, you might need permission to build, renovate or make repairs if the structure in mind extends to the shoreline.

In addition to restrictions or rules, you might also be interested to learn about the water levels on a specific section of Lake Keowee and what you can expect as far as typical usage of the lake area goes. Do other people have access to the water by the house you’re considering buying? Do you have direct access? Is there a shared path or access road?

Any number of questions might enter your mind as you tour Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale. While you might be able to track down answers to your questions with a lot of time and effort, a lakefront real estate expert is likely going to be able to answer most, if not all, of your questions on the spot. Any questions an agent specializing in lakefront sales can’t answer, he or she would certainly be able to find the answer faster than the average buyer might, or, at least, provide resources to help you gather information.

Can’t Any Real Estate Agent Do the Same?

You might wonder why it’s best to connect with a lakefront real estate expert as opposed to an agent who focuses on residential homes. After all, they are both licensed professionals, right? The fact is, a residential agent is probably not going to possess all the relevant lakefront knowledge that a lakefront real estate expert typically has. Trying to answer questions about Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale as a residential agent wouldn’t be much different than a buyer trying to answer lake questions on his or her own.

Someone who is focused on the niche of lakefront homes, in particular, Lake Keowee, is going to be a font of information regarding specific homes, as well as pertinent info about the lake area where the home is located. For instance, what type of fish are indigenous to the area? Has there ever been a flood? If you’re considering living full-time in a lakefront home or visiting several times per year, you’ll definitely want to know the answers to such questions, and a lakefront real estate expert is the best resource for learning about a particular property and area.

A Lakefront Real Estate Expert Understands the Pros and Cons

Especially if you have never before stayed at or lived in a waterfront home, there are pros and cons to Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale that you might wish to consider before making an offer on one. An agent who specializes in this area of real estate can discuss helpful information, including the pros and cons shown in the following list:

Pros:

• Excellent investment because waterfront adds value to property
• Serene environment feels like a perpetual vacation
• Great location for water sports

Cons:

• Waterway might be owned by a third party
• Too many visitors
• Water causing wear and tear on the home

If you hire a real estate agent who is used to selling residential or commercial properties, and who has never lived by a lake, he or she isn’t going to have a full scope of understanding of waterfront living. On the contrary, a lakefront real estate expert who specializes in Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale can share helpful information regarding the pros and cons of lakefront living. It’s a depth of understanding that comes from experience. When you’re thinking of making a large investment for a new home, you want to be able to make informed decisions.

Sellers benefit from a lakefront real estate expert

Perhaps you came across this post online, but you’re not in the market as a buyer for Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale. Maybe you have a home on Keowee that you want to sell. A lakefront real estate expert is a great asset for people in your situation. One of the issues that cause Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale to linger on the market is poor pricing. Sellers often make the mistake of basing a list price on their emotions and the sentimental value of a home, rather than conducting strategic research and reviewing comparative analyses to determine an attractive list price.

If you price too high, you won’t get offers. Your house will sit on the market for a long time. What usually happens in cases like this is that the seller winds up dropping the initial price. However, that sometimes backfires. From a buyer’s perspective, when they see that a house wasn’t selling, then had a substantial price drop, they start to suspect that something is wrong with the home and they pass it by without even scheduling a showing.

You also want to avoid under-pricing your lake house. Regardless of the specific reasons you’re selling, such as relocating because of a new job or downsizing in retirement, etc., when you’re the seller, you want to get the best return on your investment (ROI) that you can. If you list your house on the market for less than it’s worth, your ROI won’t be as great as it may have been if you had sought guidance from a lakefront real estate expert.

Once you determine a list price, you will focus your efforts on preparing your home for showings. Someone who is experienced in lakefront property sales can recommend staging strategies to help you create a welcoming environment that is clean and tidy and attractive to buyers. A buyer touring the home should be able to imagine himself or herself living in it. An experienced lakefront sales agent knows how to accomplish this.

Attract the Right Buyers for Lake Keowee Lakefront Homes for Sale

Think about it this way. Every person who is in the market for Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale doesn’t necessarily live in South Carolina. Someone from a Midwest state might want to purchase a family vacation home. In fact, your Lake Keowee home might have prospective buyers throughout the country that you won’t know are there if you don’t hire a lakefront real estate expert to list your property for you.

A lakefront real estate expert knows how to use non-traditional marketing tactics to reach buyers all over the country. Such experts often have a strong support network in place that includes past clients (who have, perhaps moved away from South Carolina) and other real estate professionals. Referrals and word-of-mouth advertising go a long way in the real estate business, especially for specialty properties like Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale.

The more prospects that are in your buyers’ pool, the better. Many lakefront agents work under brokerages who advertise specialty services on waterfront homes. This type of partnership widens your playing field as a seller who is hoping to find the right buyer for a Lake Keowee lakefront home for sale.

Marketing Lake Keowee Lakefront Homes for Sale to Investors

There are many amenities and benefits to lakefront living, whether you’re a typical home buyer or a real estate investor. If you’re selling a home on Lake Keowee, a lakefront real estate expert can advertise your property to real estate investors who may be interested in purchasing a home in South Carolina.

The following list includes several reasons why lakefront homes are attractive to investors:

• Inventory is limited, which creates exclusivity.
• The resale value of Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale is high.
• Many investors want to buy homes with a view, and a lakefront home is the perfect choice.

Many real estate investors purchase Lake Keowee lakefront homes for sale to use as rental properties. In a prime location, a new homeowner/investor can acquire bookings throughout the year. They make back their initial investment on the property in no time, then continue to generate income. Having a lakefront real estate expert as your agent is the easiest way to reach out to investors.

Stellar Negotiation Skills Are the Key to Success

When it comes down to it, whether you’re the buyer or seller, you either want to net as much profit on the sale of your Lake Keowee home, or you want to get the best deal possible on a purchase for one. Either way, if you work with an agent who specializes in lakefront homes, you’re much likelier to achieve your goals. A listing agent or buyer’s agent who understands both the market and the target audience can provide much needed guidance and support when it comes to negotiations.

In some cases, it might be in your best interest to stand your ground. At other times, a little give and take is necessary to close a deal. A real estate agent who specializes in Lake Keowee properties will know when to hold and when to negotiate. An agent who knows the market can make suggestions and offer advice on any number of issues, such as pricing, contingencies, water access, home or dock repairs, and more. Your agent can do all the talking if you prefer it that way. When negotiations can make or break a deal for your dream house, you want an experienced representative, someone who knows how to protect your interests.

Finally, hiring a real estate agent who knows the ins and outs of lakefront homes is the best way to alleviate stress and streamline the paperwork process. In any home sale transaction, there is a ton of paperwork. A lakefront agent has read similar documents for waterfront homes many times over. If you hope to close a deal in the least amount of time possible, you’ll want someone on your side who is familiar with the paperwork.

There are no rules stating that you must hire a lakefront real estate expert when you are buying or selling a waterfront property in South Carolina. However, it’s worth considering if your goal is to secure the best deal possible.