COMMUNITIES
Buying a Home With a Dock? What to Look at Beyond the House
A dock can be one of the first things that gets your attention when you’re looking at waterfront property.
You picture walking out the back door, stepping onto the boat and heading out for the day.
But if boating is an important part of why you’re buying the property, the dock itself deserves almost as much attention as the house.
Start With Your Boat
A dock that works perfectly for one buyer may not work for another.
The size and type of boat you own — or plan to own — can affect everything from water depth to bridge clearance and the route you’ll take to reach open water.
Before you get too attached to a house, it helps to ask a very practical question:
Can my boat comfortably get from this dock to where I want to go?
That can save you from discovering an important limitation after you’ve already fallen in love with the property.
Water Depth Can Change
The water you see during a showing isn’t necessarily what you’ll have all day.
Tides matter.
A property may look like it has plenty of water under the dock when you visit, but that doesn’t tell you what happens at low tide.
If you have a boat with a deeper draft, understanding the depth at different stages of the tide becomes especially important.
Look at the Route, Not Just the Dock
How long does it take to get from the property to the bay or ocean?
Are there bridges along the way?
Does your boat fit under them?
Is the route straightforward, or are there narrow or shallow areas you’ll have to work around?
A beautiful dock can lose some of its appeal if getting out to the water you actually want to use becomes a project every time.
Think About Wind, Wakes and Exposure
Some waterfront locations are naturally more protected than others.
A dock along a quiet lagoon can behave very differently from one exposed to open water, prevailing winds or heavier boat traffic.
Think about what it will be like tying up the boat, loading people and gear, and leaving the boat there during changing weather.
Matt's take
When I’m looking at a waterfront property with a buyer, I don’t just look at the dock and say, “Great, you can keep a boat here.” I want to know what kind of boat they have, where they want to go and whether the route really works. Those details can completely change whether a property is a good fit.
Don’t Forget the Condition of the Waterfront Improvements
The house inspection is important, but waterfront improvements deserve attention too.
Depending on the property, that may include:
- dock condition
- pilings
- bulkhead
- boat lift
- electrical service at the dock
- water service
- access from the house to the dock
Repairs or replacement can be significant, so you want to understand what you’re buying.
The Best Waterfront Property Fits the Way You Boat
A dock is a great feature when it makes boating easier.
The goal isn’t simply to find a house with water behind it. It’s to find a property where the dock, access and location all work for the way you actually plan to use your boat.
Thinking about where you'd fit best at the Shore?
If you're weighing different towns, neighborhoods or types of properties, Matt can help you narrow down what makes the most sense for the way you want to live.
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