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Health & Fitness

The Great Outdoors: Tips to Create a Functional Backyard

With summer fast approaching and temperatures rising, it’s no wonder homeowners are revamping backyards and moving living spaces outdoors. 

According to the 2014 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, outdoor living spaces are in high demand for homeowners, with a 92 percent popularity rating.  

At Renovation Realty, we’ve seen a growing demand from buyers who want functional outdoor spaces when conducting their search for the perfect house. By creating backyard retreats as an extension of the home, from adding decks and patios to outdoor dining spaces and garden sitting areas, homeowners can add value and increase the enjoyment of their property.

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For many people, though, the thought of embarking on a major home improvement project - indoor or outdoor - is an intimidating prospect.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to put in an outdoor barbecue station, a fire pit, deck or patio cover, but aren’t sure where to start. Consult online videos, relevant websites and expert information that explain the ins and outs of each project. Take into consideration the cost of buying tools, which could make the project more expensive than simply bringing in an expert, and calculate how much time it will take to complete the project yourself (this summer or next!).

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To help with your outdoor improvements, the team at Renovation Realty has prepared the following tips: 

·         Get Decked Out: Making the deck and backyard space more appealing increases interest from prospective buyers when you decide to sell. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2014 Cost vs. Value report, 87.4 percent of the cost of building a wooden deck can be recouped when selling. Building a deck creates additional functional space that’s less expensive than adding on a room and buyers will see the extra living space as an extension of the home that adds value. 

·         Patio on a Budget: Enjoy dining alfresco and a few backyard parties this year by creating a not-so-pricey patio. Look for a level area of land in your backyard and get creative. By installing stepping-stones, wooden beams or bricks, you can easily create a space to fill with patio furniture, fire pits, foliage and more. Hanging lanterns from trees or installing tiki torches around the space will instantly add to the ambiance. Look for older items around the house, such as a rusted wheelbarrow or clay pots, and fill with soil and seeds to create an attractive visual centerpiece. 

·         Grow a Garden: Get out your green thumb and put it to work this year. It isn’t any secret that landscaping your yard and creating a garden are great ways to add beauty and value to your home. From planting vibrant flowers to growing your own vegetables, your garden can be whatever you visually see fit to match the look and feel of your home. If you would like to add a little Zen to your yard, think about building a small pond or installing a water feature; to achieve a modern look, opt for a structured plant palette. Not sure where to begin? Better Homes and Garden shares nine starter tips on how to build a garden from scratch. 

·         Add a Sunroom: If being exposed to creatures of the night or rubbing elbows with squirrels doesn’t appeal to you, consider adding on a sunroom. You can comfortably enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors while technically being indoors. Sunrooms can also reduce energy bills each month by naturally warming your home from absorbing the sun’s heat. According to HowStuffWorks.com, adding a sunroom is noted as one of the top 10 ways to add value to your home and is generally half the cost of adding a standard room.

 

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