Search Results for: DIY — 103 articles

The Lake Home Essentials Checklist

Preparing to stay for a while at your lake home can be hectic, and the last thing you want is to forget the toilet paper or toothpaste. While it’s easy to let the little things slip your mind, going without some lake home essentials can make for a miserable experience. Having a good, solid list of the things you’ll need makes the process run so much smoother, and the headaches a lot less frequent. So here’s a checklist of the most important lake home essentials to help you stay organized. Kitchen There’s no better pair than the lake and good food. …

Lake Home Tips: Kitchen Upgrades to Make Your Space Feel Bigger

To be honest, most of the time spent at your lake home is spent outdoors – as it should be. But the second-most popular place at your lake home is inside: It’s your kitchen, and when you’re entertaining your family and friends, a cramped space just won’t do. Construction crews aside, there are many simple ways to make your kitchen feel bigger. Take a look at the few examples below to see how you can update your space this lake season! White and Wood Lightening up the color of your kitchen may sound simple, but it’s effective. Lighter colors, such as…

Family-Friendly Traditions to Start This Summer

Visiting the family lake house is a classic summer pastime, and to some, it’s a long-running tradition. Some traditions, however, can lose their shine over time. Mix things up with these fun, family-friendly ideas that everyone will love. DIY Slip n’ Slide A larger-than-life-sized water slide is foolproof fun the entire family can enjoy. The tools you need to make one yourself are minimal. Materials: One box of marine boat wrap (For an example, click here) Note: It’s important to use a thick, puncture-proof, tarp like product to prevent injury or malfunction Tent pegs Dish soap A water sprinkler or…

Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Lake House

Anyone buying or remodeling a lake home has a myriad of decisions to make. Many times, flooring is one of the last things you want to think about. Even so, lake home flooring is a very important decision! If you are buying or remodeling a lake home, chances are you are already familiar with the effects of the elements. Lake homes withstand a huge amount of moisture, humidity and wear and tear. Here are the most common flooring types and how they stack up against those elements. Carpet Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms, upstairs hallwaysWorst for: Kitchens, bathrooms, entryways Many people…

Winning the Fight Against Allergies at the Lake

More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Most of these are from harmless outdoor plants. But good luck trying to tell your sinuses that! If your allergies are keeping you indoors at your lake house, they can all but ruin your summer. Here are some helpful tips on making a battle plan to beat lake allergies.   Know your Enemy The most common culprits for lake allergies are pollen, dust, mold, animal dander and chemicals, such as tobacco smoke. If you suffer from regular allergy attacks, consider talking…

Building and Maintaining a Seawall on the Lake

Seawalls protect the land from erosion by a body of water. If you have seen a seawall on the beach, just know that seawalls on the lake serve the same purpose. Just on a much, much smaller scale! A seawall is usually made of wood, stone, steel or concrete. In recent years, synthetic materials have become more popular. These structures serve three distinct purposes on the lake. First of all, they protect property from erosion, flooding or poor drainage. Secondly, a seawall helps maintain water depth. This is especially important if you enjoy boating, fishing, or other similar activities on your piece of…

Spring Cleaning at Your Lake Home

As the weather warms up, homeowners everywhere are throwing open the front doors, opening the windows, and pulling on the gloves for a little spring cleaning. Here are some tips to help you tackle that task! Kitchens and Bathrooms Before vacuuming, replace your vacuum cleaner bag. Clean the dust cup, and replace or wash the filters if you can. Snip any threads or hair snarled in the roller brush with scissors or a seam ripper. Clean out the fridge! Spring is the perfect time to get rid of any forgotten leftovers. Check the expiration dates on any sauces or frozen…

Home Not Selling? The Two Real Reasons Why (and How to Avoid Them)

Every real estate market, in any economy, has a number of homeowners dismayed about their home not selling. These houses just sit on the market. They become stale inventory, frustrating the home seller, real estate agents, and even buyers (yes, buyers). Over the last three years, I’ve had the very unique opportunity to travel to a number of states and have multi-hour, face-to-face conversations about local real estate markets with scores of real estate agents. Some work with our brokerage, many with other brokerages. These agents may work in urban, suburban, or rural markets. A lot of these agents work in my niche of real…

Tips to Optimize Outdoor Space at Lake Homes

If you like to host barbecues, birthday parties, anniversary parties and more at your lake home, you will love learning to optimize your outdoor living space with these expert tips! Double Decker Dock Double decker docks give you twice the amount of space within the same area. These two story docks allow families to spread out and have fun by providing a second tier for dining, board games and sunbathing. Some lake home owners install a diving board, slide or rope to increase the fun of splashing into the lake. Families can also enjoy a more aerial view when barbecuing from the top story.…