What to Expect When You Live on the Water  

Ahhh the sites, sounds and smells of waterfront living. We all love it...the sand between your toes...the sounds of the water crashing over the rip rap...the smell of the salt air. All of the combined with the crazy low prices we are seeing today and you might just be tempted to jump in the deep in and pick up your own little piece of heaven.   Before you make that leap however... you need to know what to expect when you live on the water.

  ** Preventative Maintenance.Most of the water in the Northern Neck of Virginia is brackish. The closer to the Bay you are the higher the salinity. This means docks, piers, decks, windows, siding, locks etc...will take a beating. Expect annual maintenance and likely complete renovations every couple of years if you have a pier on the river. Creek docks are a little more protected but still require the annual maintenance. Anything wood(decks, window trim, siding, etc) will need an annual painting. Even deck chairs will likely need a new coat of paint every year. Metal items such as door locks will need to be oiled every year to keep corrosion at bay.  

** Shifting Sands. The shore is constantly moving. One weekend you may have a 75 ft beach and when you come back the next weekend you may have a 125ft beach. Always remember your property line can change...expect it.  You may want to check with neighbors and local government to see what erosion problems the area has before you buy.  

**  Double of everything.One thing many people tend to forget is when you have a second home...you also have a second of everything else. Beyond the basics(beds, couches, tvs), you'll also need extra tools for household chores, extra lawnmower, dishes, silverware, coffeepots, utility bills...pretty much double everything. The costs can quickly add up- just make sure you plan for it.  

**  Friends, Friends and more Friends. You'll never realize how many friends you have until you buy a house on the water. Expect drive-by visitors, family and friends asking to visit for the weekend. You may even get requests to use it for weddings. Most of us who have a waterfront home also enjoy entertaining... so this may not be an issue. Just expect it.  

**  Windy days.One of the wonderful parts about living on the water is the constant breeze. The dog days of Summer aren't nearly so bad with the constant bay breeze. But there's a downside to that wind. Even the smallest of storms can wreak havoc on homes by the water. Hurricane shutters are a great way to counter the wind's powerful force but expect to pay from $10- 45 a sq ft for hurricane shutters. The other great thing about hurricane shutters is they keep out the sun's heat during the week when you aren't at the home...saving on energy usage.  

As long as you know all of this before you buy...you'll have no surprises... and your waterfront home ownership will be an amazing experience. Welcome to the club...