A lot of the time, Lake Martin buyers don’t pay much attention to the docks at homes they visit.  I think that this can be a  mistake.  Quite often the whole dock system (stationary dock, floating pier, boat lift system) can be one of the most expensive components of a Lake Martin home.

I’m merely a real estate agent, so I always tell my clients to consult marine construction specialists like Lake Martin Dock Company or Docks Unlimited when considering the nuts and bolts of a dock system.  But I do know that to build something from scratch that includes a stationary dock, large floating dock and covered boat slips with boat lifts, can easily run $50,000 to $75,000.  You can add to this dollar figure if you want to trick it out with power and water hookups, and especially if you’re in deep water that will require your supporting poles to be installed under the water (as opposed to those whose docks are on dry land when water level is down in the winter) .

If you are buying a waterfront lot on Lake Martin, you need to figure this into the cost of your home.  If you’re neighborhood covenants will allow it, you need to consider whether you want a covered boat slip with a boat lift.  It certainly not required on Lake Martin, but I will add that I’ve never seen anyone tear a good one, just because they didn’t want it.

If you’re considering buying an existing waterfront home on Lake Martin, you don’t get off the hook.  I think it’s very smart to look at the docking system carefully – go beyond the obvious questions, like, “Is it in good repair?”  Does it match your lifestyle?  Do you need a place for  jet skis?  Is it on big water that will create big waves and therefore requires a boat lift to protect your boat?  Or, maybe you’re like my buddy, Tony, who likes to pull his wake board boat out of the water and wax it down after every use.  That means you also need a boat ramp.

In the above video, I go over a small portion of these considerations.  The house that I helped Ken and Judy find in the Real Island / Little Kowaliga area already had a covered boat lift, and I talk about how to change the boat lift chassis.  That could be an issue you encounter when buying on Lake Martin.

Almost every situation is unique, so I would defer to boat lift manufacturers and installers on the exact ways to customize your dock and boat lift on Lake Martin.  I can help you with your Lake Martin property search, however, so give me a call (334) 221-5862 or click here to contact me.  I’d be honored to help guide you through the process.