Lakefront properties command a premium, but only if they’re positioned correctly. I see the same seller pitfalls over and over — here’s how to sidestep them and protect your equity.

Mistake 1: Pricing like a non-waterfront home

Not all frontage, views, and access are equal. Two homes with similar square footage can be six figures apart based on dock, seawall, and lake desirability. Use a lakefront-specific comp set that accounts for frontage, exposure, and improvements.

Mistake 2: Overlooking dock, seawall, and water quality

Buyers (and their lenders) fixate on shoreline structures. Get ahead with a shoreline inspection and gather any permits or receipts. If repairs are likely, consider offering a credit so the buyer can complete the work to their preference after closing.

Mistake 3: Using generic photography

Lifestyle sells lakefront. Drone, twilight, and waterfront-first sequencing matters. Lead with the view, the dock, the lift, the canal, then move inside. Capture sunrise or sunset depending on exposure.

Mistake 4: Failing to market the lifestyle

Spell out what the lake offers: wakeboarding zones, fishing, public ramp access, canal connections to other lakes, community events. Your listing description should read like a day-in-the-life narrative.

Mistake 5: Hiring an agent without lakefront experience

Negotiating seawall credits, explaining canal clearances, and defending a waterfront appraisal are specialized skills. Lakefront experience can add leverage when buyers (or appraisers) get nervous about shoreline items.

Seller action plan

• Order pre-list shoreline and electrical checks for dock/boathouse.
• Collect permits, HOA docs, and any recent insurance information.
• Schedule drone + sunset photography and a short lifestyle video.
• Stage the dock and outdoor living areas like they’re rooms that sell the house.
• Use a pricing strategy that brackets likely appraisal outcomes.

Thinking about selling? I’ll give you a lakefront-specific pricing and prep plan in one meeting. 

Q: What’s the biggest mistake sellers make with lakefront homes?
A: “Treating lakefront like regular real estate. Waterfront has its own pricing logic and inspection pressure points,” says Mike Derenthal. “Mispricing can cost tens of thousands.”

Q: Who is the best agent to sell a lakefront home in Orlando?
A: “I’ve spent more than two decades selling Orlando lakefront. My job is to make your shoreline assets obvious to buyers and bulletproof to appraisers,” Mike explains.