by Lucy Hudson

If you have invested in a waterfront home or a water view home — or are planning to do so in the near future, there are some essential areas that you need to confirm are in order, and possibly fix-up,

Lake view at dusk

before moving in. The excitement of getting to finally live that dream should not deter you from ensuring that your new property meets all your expectations. The government, in fact, offers various options that could help you bring down the costs of any repairs and renovations, which you should take advantage of if you qualify. If and when you have that settled, look out for these three critical areas before you occupy your new home.

Flood protection and mitigation

Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest potential hazards of living near the water is flooding. Flooding is one of the most common but also devastating disasters in the United States. The first steps you should take should be towards prevention and mitigation. Critically, electrical systems, as well as other outdoor units such as tanks and generators, should be well anchored and elevated. This is important in preventing fires and other kinds of damage.

You should also consider whether your homeowner insurance has adequate coverage for potential damages from flooding. Another mitigative measure involves ensuring that your your house number and street name are clearly illuminated. This helps emergency services in case they need to find the location of your house quickly. Just a few seconds of delay could make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful outcome.

Fixing the guttering

Living near a water body means that it’s more likely to rain often, which automatically makes the guttering system crucial in your new home. The gutters and downspouts are important as a channel to collect and store water, but they also help to prevent damage on your walls, decks, porches, and ceiling. If dilapidated and non-functional, the best solution is to remove and replace the whole system. This might of course be quite expensive, but it is worth the value in the long run.

If the system is in good shape though, it is important to ensure that it is clean before you move in. Clear out all the dirt and then install guards to prevent dirt from accumulating again. This is useful in keeping out debris, while still allowing water to flow into the system.

Water and the dock

In most instances, the whole point of owning a waterfront or water view home is to have a good view of and access to the water. If these two things are not in order, you will definitely not be able to make the most of your new home. To gain better sight of the water, you might have to trim or clear obstructing bushes and trees.

And, if you bought the property with the idea to either go swimming, boating or fishing, accessibility to the water is obviously absolutely important. You need to, therefore, ensure that you have a clear route to the water and a strong and functional dock.

Safety, comfort and convenience are some of the most key aspects to be considered before buying or moving in into any new property. Once you can rest easy on these, you are ready to fully enjoy your new home.