Even before the pandemic, but especially now, buyers are looking for homes with great outdoor spaces. They want a place they can enjoy the open air on their own terms. Many homeowners are now adding amenities to their outdoor spaces that were closed to them during the pandemic including putting greens, basketball and sport courts, and even backyard hobby shacks such as bar sheds.
Owners and buyers alike are wanting outdoor spaces they can utilize as an extension of their inside home. Since outdoor spaces are in such high demand, even home builders are including great outdoor spaces in new construction homes.
Adding amenities to an outdoor space on your property could help to increase your home’s value and may even become a selling point of the home. According to reports some buyers are willing to pay between $5,000 and $10,000 more for a home with a functional outdoor space they can imagine themselves utilizing. It is a smart idea for homeowners to create outdoor “living” spaces in their yards to help sell their home, but sellers should also be careful not to “over-improve.”
Here are some tips for designing and maintaining outdoor spaces that will appeal to buyers.
Low Maintenance Yet Lush Landscaping is Key
You can stage an outdoor sitting area in your yard with some chairs and a table, but it won’t be a desirable place to hang out unless the landscaping that surrounds it is beautiful and well taken care of. Don’t just go out and buy all of the most beautiful and high-end plants to drop into a flower bed. Make sure that what you choose is right for the spot in the yard you will be planting it and is easy to take care of. Buyers want lush landscaping, but they do not want a yard that requires them to be in it all the time to keep it looking that way or to have an added expense of paying someone to do it.
Go to the local nursery and ask the advice of a master gardener. Take some pictures of your yard and tell them your main objective of adding lush low maintenance plants. Don’t forget about the importance of a few pops of color for easy added visual interest. Or, if you have the budget, hire a professional landscaper.
Create a Seating Area
Now that you have a great backdrop that is green and a bit colorful and pleasant on the eyes, create a space that will say come and hang out and relax in the beautiful surroundings. If you have a deck or patio, these of course are obvious places to stage some outdoor living spaces. Set up some chairs with cushions/pillows/blankets in colors that coordinate with the inside of the home. If you have enough space consider an outdoor dining space or a fire pit area.
Set Up Activities
Set up some lawn games to set the stage even further, or if you want to go all out install that putting green or sport court. May we suggest only considering the latter of the two if you plan to stay in the home a little while and enjoy these types of items or you live in a neighborhood where most homes have these types of amenities and they have come to be expected from buyers purchasing homes in your neighborhood. Otherwise, you will more than likely end up paying more to improve your yard than you will see the value of your home increase.
If you have a great outdoor space that could use a boost in helping buyers to see its full potential, asking the advice of an experienced real estate agent is a good idea. They know what appeals to buyers and can help you to stage your yard to help sell your home.
People in Florida love getting outside, this is the Sunshine State after all. Showcasing an outdoor space where buyers can enjoy some of the best weather in the country is a great idea when selling a home.
For more information on selling a home in Eastpoint, Florida and other areas of the Forgotten Coast please contact us at any time.
