Outdoor Space in Real Estate

The hot summer is coming to a close, and cooler, more moderate weather is just around the corner. What better time to enjoy the great outdoors? How about without even leaving your home? Outdoor space is a big selling point in the real estate market here in Atlanta – and many places. More and more people are putting that on their “wish list” for homes.

The key for a homeowner – not just for resale – but for their own enjoyment, is making the best possible use of the outdoor space that their home has to offer. Homeowners and potential buyers tend to be interested in less grass and more “living space” than ever before. Creating good, usable outdoor living space helps create a great environment for entertaining and just relaxing at home.

Outdoor rooms are very popular right now, whether they be open, screened, or glassed-in. People want to feel that they’re bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out. Clearly, the most cost-effective outdoor space is a deck or patio, but having it covered enables it to be used in more types of weather.

And there’s nothing like relaxing on a screened porch on a rainy day. In a heavily forested area like Atlanta, where there are more mosquitoes, screened porches are the way to go. My friends Fritz and Bill have a screened porch on their home right here in Brookhaven that is both striking and functional.

Many people, depending on the climate where they live, choose to make the room usable all year, by having large windows that can be open in good weather and closed during the colder months. These outdoor rooms can go from very basic designs to luxurious living areas with fireplaces, lighting, TVs, a fridge, or mini kitchen and more. Obviously, a higher-end space would be more appropriate for a higher-priced home.

Homeowners are also taking just about any amenity or room outside, creating elaborate outdoor kitchens, outdoor showers, outdoor bars, and more. The climate for the area certainly affects the amount of time one can expect to use these spaces, which in turn will determine how much money to spend on this type of amenity, as does the starting price point of the home.

For instance, you would not want to over-invest in outdoor spaces at a lower price point, and can spend more on outdoor spaces at higher price points. Still, any investment you make in outdoor spaces – from a pocket garden or amping up the landscaping to a great outdoor “room” might just be the factor that sets your home apart for resale. And, in the meantime, you get to enjoy it.