A waterfront home offers surroundings unlike any other. Their prime locale and stunning views virtually guarantee a lifetime of relaxation, waterfront get-togethers, and summer nights under the stars. Waterfront homes have great potential as investment properties as well. But for all the perks waterfront homeownership offers, it comes with its own set of responsibilities, too.

Should I buy a waterfront home?

Beyond the lifestyle benefits, owning a waterfront home also has a significant financial upside. Because waterfront properties are more scarce than landlocked homes and their location is highly desirable, the buyer demand is generally high. As a homeowner of these special properties, you can rest assured that a well-maintained waterfront home will generate significant buyer interest when you’re ready to sell. A property with any combination of water views, boat slips, docks, and water access is a recipe for appreciation over time.

A waterfront property is a popular choice for homeowners who are in the market for a second home, or even as a primary residence for those looking to eventually move into their vacation home when the time is right. They’re also primed for converting into a short-term rental. Due to their location, they have a competitive advantage over many other short-term rentals. Depending on the local laws and any relevant Homeowners Association rules, waterfront homes can be rented out year-round or seasonally. For example, if you decide to rent out your home during the summer, you’re able to capitalize on seasonal demand.

• Designing Your Rental to Feel Like Home

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Owning a waterfront property also comes with extra risks you’ll need to keep in mind. Weather conditions can be extra harsh on these homes, given the fact that they’re situated face to face with nature in a way most homes aren’t. Make sure you have proper coverage through your homeowners insurance policy and inquire about the need to purchase additional wind, flood, or hazard coverage. Local climate dictates what a comprehensive coverage plan will look like for your home, but what’s important is that you’re fully covered.

Something else to keep in mind is that beyond the typical tasks associated with owning a home, waterfront structures like retaining walls, boat lifts, and docks require a certain amount of ongoing maintenance. As the seasons change, so will your responsibilities as a homeowner. Properly winterizing a waterfront property requires a few additional steps beyond the typical routine, depending on how low temperatures dip during winter in your area.

For more advice on home maintenance, repairs, remodeling and more, visit the Living section of our blog:

Windermere Blog – Living

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To reduce your carbon footprint, increase your household’s sustainability, and add value to your property, solar power may be right for you. Understanding how solar works and how to maximize its benefits are key first steps in your journey to becoming a solar energy-producing household.

How does solar power work?

The technology that turns your house into a solar energy-harnessing hub is called photovoltaics, more commonly known as PV. PV works by fielding direct sunlight and absorbing its photons into the solar panels’ cells, which then creates electricity that provides energy for your home. This energy reduces your home’s output of carbon and other pollutants, which translates to cleaner air and water.

With the sun as your power source, the majority of the power generation occurs during the middle of the day, making summer the highest producing season. Rooftop panels work best when they are exposed to sunlight, free of shade or shadow from nearby trees or structures. Given the sun’s east-to-west path, south-facing roofs are best-suited for maximizing your solar power. To see if your roof is set up for success, consult a mapping service or solar calculator to establish your roof’s suitability. If your roof isn’t up to standard, you can explore alternatives such as ground mount solar installations and community solar gardens.

Components of Solar Power

• Solar Panels: Capture the sun’s energy
• Inverter: Converts the sun’s energy to a form that powers devices
• Racking: The foundation that holds your solar system in place
• Batteries: Store the energy generated
• Charge Controller: Controls how quickly the batteries charge

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What are the benefits of solar power?

Sustainability: Having a renewable source of energy coursing through your home reduces your household’s carbon footprint by converting a significant portion of your home’s energy to solar power.

Save Money: How much money you save by going solar depends largely on how much energy your household consumes and the energy output of your solar panels. The cost of solar power has steadily decreased over time, so you are more likely to save as time goes on. For information on state incentives and tax breaks, explore what options apply to your home by visiting DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®).

Utilities: Whether your utility company charges a flat rate for electricity or charges variable rates throughout the day based on electricity production—i.e., higher rates in the afternoon, lower rates at night—solar power offsets the price you are charged for electricity. It becomes even more valuable during those higher-rate periods or during seasonal fluctuations in utilities costs.

Sell Solar Power Back: Homeowners can sell their solar energy back to utilities through “Net-metering” plans. When your power generation rate is greater than your household’s consumption rate, the end result on your electric bill is a net energy consumption. Refer to DSIRE for region-specific regulations and policies.

Home Value: Studies have shown that buyers are willing to pay more for homes with solar panels. The Appraisal Journal, published by the industry-leading appraisers association The Appraisal Institute, found that homes with solar PV systems increased their home value by $20 for every $1 saved on utility bills annually.

Although the right solar solution looks different for each household, what remains true across the board is that solar power creates more sustainable homes while increasing home value. Taking all this information into your solar power plans will help to improve your home’s renewable energy output and reduce your carbon footprint.

For more information on sustainable living, homeowner tips and more, visit the Living section of our blog:

Windermere Blog – Living

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Owning real estate is an efficient and productive addition to your investment portfolio. For an investment property that you don’t plan to live in, whether it’s your second home or you’ve done this a few times before, you’re faced with decisions about how to best use that investment for your goals.

Some investors will remodel their new property and sell it for a return. Others will use it for their vacation home, rent it to other vacationers, or both! But if your goal is to earn income over the long term from this property, you’re likely asking yourself, now what?

Renting to long-term tenants is a great strategy to build your wealth, but it is by no means a passive endeavor. From finding tenants, to managing the property, to finding new tenants again, you’ll need to weigh your options of taking on all the responsibilities or hiring a professional property manager. Managing your own rental takes time, money, and organization that can get in the way of life’s other responsibilities. Between accounting, adhering to local laws and regulations, property maintenance, and creating procedures for working with tenants, your plate will be full. If these responsibilities are too much to handle, the commission charged by a property management company may be a welcomed expense.

Your Local Landlord Tenant Laws and Regulations

The laws and regulations for rental properties differs across states, counties, and cities. Some locations are more regulated than others and whoever manages the property will need to be an expert in each.

If you decide to do it yourself, you’ll need to make sure you’re aware of the responsibilities and requirements for landlords in leasing, property maintenance, and payments. Check your local government’s website for more information and consider joining a local landlord association who provides support and updates for its members. To avoid getting into legal trouble, you’ll want to make sure your procedures are within the law, including how you tour and ask tenants to apply. It’s also recommended that you have a lawyer review your lease contract before accepting tenant applications.

Most professional property managers are aware and practiced in the local laws and regulations. They will also likely have a lease template that has been reviewed by lawyers, so they know it’s legal and enforceable. When talking with your local Windermere Property Management office, be sure to ask them about their processes for following the local laws, including their leasing procedures.

Investment Property: Managing the Money

Another important consideration is how you’ll manage the monies for your investment property. You’ll need to manage the security deposit, any fees you plan to charge, a way to take the monthly rent payment, and a savings account for property maintenance.

If you plan to manage the unit yourself, you’ll need to set up bank accounts in accordance with the local laws and keep track of the accounting for tax season. You’ll also want to make it easy for your tenants to pay rent. Check to see if your bank offers some form of ACH that you can set up or inquire about where tenants can send checks for deposit.

Professional management companies will have an accountant who manages the funds and tracks the income and expenses for property owners. You’ll likely set up a deposit and withdrawal agreement to make it easy to get your monthly check and pay any invoices. You can imagine the amount of time this saves!

When interviewing with a property manager, ask them where they hold deposits and their systems for rent payments. Oftentimes they’ll have software that makes it easy for tenants to pay online and track the monies they receive from tenants. Be sure to understand how you get paid as well and when you can expect those payments to be made each month.

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Moving In Tenants and Investment Property Maintenance

The beginning of a tenancy can set the tone for the rest of the lease. Build trust and respect with your tenants from day one; be upfront with your expectations for communication, especially about maintenance issues. It all starts with a move-in condition report.

A move-in condition report is a detailed document that notes the state of the property before the tenants have lived in it so that you can compare that to its condition when they move out. This helps you understand what damage, if any, is the tenant’s responsibility and what comes out of your pocket.

If you plan to manage the property yourself, you’ll want to find resources online or from your local landlord association about the best practices for move-in to make sure you don’t miss anything important as you inspect the exterior and interior of your rental property with the tenants.

Professional property managers have a wide range of services, which means even if you don’t hire one to handle every aspect of the rental, they may offer support with move-in. Their experience and knowledge will come in handy, along with their tried and tested procedures, leaving less to chance when the tenants move out.

Maintaining the property will differ for each investor depending on the condition of the home, the appliances, and your local laws that outline responsibilities for all parties involved. In some cases, you may never hear from a tenant about an issue or request, while other cases will require more hands-on work.

As a landlord, it’s a good practice to have a list of vendors you trust to handle common issues and emergencies. You also have the option to do the handiwork yourself if you are nearby and equipped to do so. Be sure your tenants know and understand how you’ll handle maintenance requests and work with them to schedule appointments.

Property managers usually already have a list of preferred vendors who they have worked with before. They will likely have someone at the ready for a wide range of issues which comes in handy, especially in the wake of large incidents that can book up the service providers in the area.

When interviewing professionals, be sure to ask them about their experience with moving tenants in, and their procedure and vendor list for maintenance requests. You’ll also want to know how they’ll communicate with you and manage payment for the invoices.

Which One Is Right For You?

After taking these factors into consideration, it’s up to you to determine what makes the most sense for your needs and lifestyle. If you feel comfortable managing your investment property and you know you have the time and ability to handle maintenance requests in a timely manner (especially emergencies), then being a landlord is right for you.

However, if you prefer to be more hands off and use the property for passive income with less effort on your part, hiring a professional for a commission might be worth it.

Windermere Property Management

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What would life be like without appliances? Our reliance on our dishwashers, laundry machines, etc. makes them an integral part of our homes. They keep the house clean and ensure that the well-oiled machine that is your home life continues to run smoothly. Fortunately, Energy Star appliances are more sustainable than others and can save you money on your utility bills.

What are Energy Star appliances?

Energy Star products use less energy than other home appliances. Because they are more energy efficient, they help to protect the environment by reducing harmful emissions. These products adhere to strict guidelines set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy. Over the lifespan of these home appliances, you can save significantly on energy costs.

You’ll find the Energy Star badge on common home appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers, but over the years, the program has expanded to other systems throughout the home including HVAC systems, water heaters, TV sets, and more.

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These appliances accomplish improvements in sustainability through various product features. Here are just a few examples of their efficiency gains compared to non-certified appliances, courtesy of the Energy Star Appliances Brochure.

• Certified refrigerators are about 15% more energy-efficient
• Certified freezers use about 10% less energy
• Certified dehumidifiers use 15% less energy (roughly $175 lifetime savings)
• Certified air cleaners are 40% more energy-efficient (roughly $25 annual utility bills savings)
• Certified dishwashers are 10% more energy-efficient and 20% more water-efficient (average 1,900 gallons of water savings over product lifetime)
• On average, certified laundry machines can cut energy costs by one-third and water costs by more than half

To truly make improvements in your energy output, it’s helpful to establish a baseline. By sorting through your utility bills, you’ll gain an understanding of how your household’s energy output is distributed, allowing you to identify areas for improvement. Using these special appliances is just one way to accomplish more sustainable living at home. By combining these products with other eco-friendly practices, you’ll see your energy expenses decrease while feeling a sense of pride that you’re doing your part to protect the environment.

To maximize your appliances, it’s important to keep them clean. Read the following blog post on appliance cleaning tips to keep them highly efficient for their entire life cycle.

7 Tips for Cleaning Your Appliances

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