After spending the past year stuck inside our homes, isolated from one another, the news that this summer could have fewer restrictions is amazing! As more people get vaccinated, the greater the chance we have of being able to break out the grills and having a huge cookout with friends and family. Yet, if your backyard has seen better days or you just want to make the yard more suitable for entertaining, we have some top agent insights regarding what backyard upgrades you may want to tackle first.
Seating area with a firepit
Backyard entertaining is the perks of owning your own home and homeowners can make their yard more suitable by adding a seating area with a firepit. This particular upgrade is so desirable, 76.8% of real estate agents say they have buyers who have this on their “wants” list.
To make a cozy seating area, you could use benches or outdoor couches but any type of seat will work. This should go without saying, be mindful of how close the furniture is and the type of material the furniture is made out of.
Outdoor lighting
A firepit can brighten up the seating area, but if you live in a development where firepits are a no-no, you can still create a cozy outdoor entertaining space by using various lighting solutions. Lanterns, string lights, spotlights and even recessed lights are great options – especially if the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down!
Built-in grills
Say goodbye to the outdated charcoal grill and give the master griller in the household a new built-in grill or outdoor kitchen. Either of these options are fantastic additions to upgrade your backyard because you can still whip up delicious meals without worrying about missing out on the fun.
Pools
Backyards with pools are the envy of every neighborhood – especially if it’s an inground pool with a slide or hottub! The beauty of having a pool in the backyard is that you’ll have a place to cool down during the hottest days in summer, it’s a great way to keep the kids entertained, and it increases your property value depending on the region. For example, homeowners in the Pacific love hot tub upgrades, while homeowners in the Mountain region opt for waterfalls or water walls.
Word to the wise, if you’re on the fence about installing a pool, you’ll want to remember that not only are pools expensive to install, they’re expensive to maintain. You could spend anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 per year on maintenance. Also, your homeowner’s insurance may go up significantly, so keep that in mind as well.
Space for yard games
Whether your family loves to play games like cornhole or horseshoes, backyards with enough space for yard games are primed for lots of entertainment. This space could just be a large open space with luscious grass, or it could be a mulched area off to the side. If you have children, you might want to erect a playset so the kids are entertained while the adults are playing their own games.There’s still a few months left before summer hits and in that time, you could turn your boring backyard into something amazing. If you’re thinking about buying a house, a fully landscaped yard with the aforementioned upgrades can increase the home’s value. So, while you used a home affordability calculator to get an idea about what you can afford, you’ll need to speak to your real estate agent to see if a home with the backyard of your dreams is within budget. We recommend chatting with your agent first before looking at houses because you don’t want to fall in love with a house that’s outside of your budget.