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Living by the seaside in your own waterfront home is a dream for quite a few people. And, given the chance, who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to experience this kind of life? However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to go through with this. Being by the water brings its own set of problems you’ll have to deal with in the long run. As such, it’s important to be properly prepared to own a beach home before deciding to commit to it. If you’re not you leave yourself open to a lot of issues, legal and otherwise. So, in order to help you out, we’ve put together a list of 5 things to know before buying a beach house.
- Proximity to water and flood risk
One of the most important factors to consider before buying a beach house is how close you want to be to the water. Being close to the water is what most people want, as it’s both convenient and great for property value. On the other hand, the closer you are to the water, the higher the risk of flooding gets. Needless to say, flooding is a serious problem for any waterfront property, and you need to be prepared for it. But if you don’t want to deal with the potential risk. You’re better off with a home that’s a little further from the shore. Water damage is often the most expensive thing to repair, so make sure you research flood risks before committing to a property. Also, learn to recognize when you need a plumber, as water damage can also come from inside, and prevention is the best choice.
- Construction of the home
The make-up of your home’s construction is very important when it comes to waterfront properties. This is because a beach house needs to be fully weather-proof in order to be safe. In certain states especially, for example in Florida, you have to think about things such as hurricanes. So, needless to say, you need to make sure the beach house can actually survive this kind of weather. So, having a solid foundation is vital, and making sure the materials used in the construction of it are weather and flood-proof. Also, to use Florida as an example again, the house also needs to be prepared for high temperatures. And when it comes to safety, when moving into your new home, proper organization is key. It’s easy to damage your home and household items during the move. Being organized helps avoid these risks, so make sure you have a moving plan.
- HOA fees and regulations
When buying a beach house, you should know the exact details of the HOA fees and regulations in the area. These can vary quite a bit from state to state, so doing some research on your own is fairly important. For example, the HOA regulations can be completely different between Florida and California. But these rules can also differ from county to county, so realistically, you first need to decide where exactly you want to own a beach home. However, if your beach house isn’t going to be your primary residence, the HOA can actually help you quite a bit, by taking care of maintenance while you’re away. And when it comes to maintenance, remember to give your roof more attention than usual. If you see that your roof needs restoration, don’t delay it. since a beach house needs to be fully weather-proof, maintaining the roof is rather vital.
- Prepare for higher insurance rates
Needless to say, home insurance rates are much higher for beach houses compared to regular homes. These rates vary from state to state, so you’ll have to do some research when you decide where you want to buy the home. However, you also have to remember that flood insurance is also a requirement in some places. In Florida, for example, you can expect to pay around $10,000 for flood insurance. As such, shopping around for insurance is the best call, as you want to get the best rates. Additionally, we always recommend talking to experts if you’re unsure about something and need help. Also, experts from muvnow.com note that you should also get moving insurance. As we already mentioned, it’s easy for things to get damaged in transit. As such, getting moving insurance can give you peace of mind in case something does go wrong during the move.
- Make sure your neighbors aren’t a problem
If you want your beach house to be a peaceful place for relaxation, you don’t want to have loud neighbors. So, researching the properties around your home is a great idea if you want to avoid this. After all, the last thing you want is to be stuck next to a frat house when all you want to do is relax. So, take the time to properly look into the surrounding properties and make sure your neighbors won’t ruin your experience. Additionally, look into the neighborhood overall, as you want to make sure you live in a good neighborhood. At the end of the day, preventing burglary should always be a concern, but being in a safe neighborhood can give some peace of mind. Of course, making your home safer is never a bad thing, but it’s better overall if the home defenses don’t need to be used.
5 things to know before buying a beach house – final thoughts
Owning a beach house is a dream for a lot of people, and if you’re one of them, make sure you’re well prepared. Beach houses come with a lot more maintenance and (in certain states) risks. As such, having the knowledge to properly prepare for this is vital if you want to own a beach house. Of course, we always recommend doing your own research and consulting experts about things you’re unsure about. We hope that this list of 5 things to know before buying a beach house helps you out, and we wish you a great rest of your day.
KW: buying a beach house
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