How to Prepare Your Thurmond Lake at Clarks Hill Home for Sale

When it comes to selling a lakefront home, the preparation looks a little different from that of a traditional house. You’re not just selling square footage and finishes. You’re selling the view, the water, and the lifestyle that comes with it. And the way you present those things directly affects what buyers are willing to pay.

I work with lakefront sellers across the Clarks Hill and Strom Thurmond Lake communities here in Augusta, and I want to share what I’ve learned about getting these homes ready to sell for top dollar.

Start at the waterfront. The first thing I tell my lake house sellers is to get that shoreline ship shape. Clean up the dock, get rid of any old jet ski ports that are just floating around the cove looking rough, and pressure wash everything. If your dock needs repairs or improvements, handle them before you list, because the waterfront is a big part of what you’re actually selling.

And before you list, make sure your dock permit is renewed and paid up. If you’re on a Corps of Engineers lake like Clarks Hill, you’ll also want to get your brushing permit squared away. That’s the permit that allows you to clear the underbrush all the way down to the lake, and keeping that maintained is what preserves those beautiful views buyers are looking for.

Make the view the star. This is something I feel strongly about. I want you to walk in your front door and make sure that whatever you see draws you straight to the water. That view is what you’re selling, and everything in the home should support it.

Trim any trees that might be blocking the sightline from your main living areas. Clean those windows until they sparkle. People have made a lot of money redoing lake houses that originally had rinky-dink windows on the lakeside because they weren’t built for the view. You don’t have to renovate, but you do have to make sure nothing is standing between the buyer and that water.

When we bought our own lake house, we drove up and could see the water straight through from the front door. All the blinds were up, the house was cleared out, and that view hit us the moment we walked in. It made our hearts flutter. That’s the feeling you want every buyer to have.

And when it comes to professional photos, timing matters. A lot of lake homes catch a beautiful sunrise on one side and sunset on the other. We photograph at the right moment to capture that, and it directly affects how the listing presents online.

Stage for the lifestyle. When staging a lake house, start outside. If you’re going to invest in anything, make it beautiful outdoor furniture on the deck and the dock. Buyers will overlook a dated interior if the outdoor living spaces and the view are exceptional.

Inside, the biggest thing is depersonalizing. I know the lake house is where the family memories live, the kids’ projects, the pine cones collected over the years, all of it. But just like any other home sale, you want the buyer to walk in and see themselves there. When we renovated our own lake house, the least expensive thing we did was depersonalize and clear things out. When we came back in, it was so much more relaxing.

I challenge you to try it, even if you’re not listing right away. Take out anything you won’t use in the next two to three months. You’ll feel the difference.

Don’t forget the front door. Everybody focuses on the lakeside, and I get it. But don’t forget that the front of the house is where buyers first arrive. Clean up the curb appeal, freshen up the entry, and think about somebody driving in and saying, “All I have to do is bring my fishing rod.” That kind of excitement is what gets people to pay more.

Don’t let this feel overwhelming. If you’re thinking about selling your lake house and want someone to walk through it with you and point out the things you might not see, give me a call at (706) 481-3800, email me at annmarie@annmariemcmanus.com, or visit annmariemcmanus.com. I’d love to help you get your lake house ready to sell for top dollar.