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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Maximize Outdoor Living


Arguably we only have about 4-5 months of warm weather in Western NY. If you have an outdoor space, now is the time to play it up and add value to your property. Whether it is a porch, patio or deck there are simple ways to make these treasured outdoor spaces more homey and inviting and therefore more appealing to buyers.

For a porch or covered patio think about adding a swing. Cover the floor with a rug that has an appealing pattern. Add lighting such as candle lanterns. Beautify and add privacy on the porch by strategically hanging planted baskets from the eaves. For maximum impact, choose lush and trailing plants.

For a patio add a sense of enclosure with a row of potted plants. Put colorful outdoor pillows on furniture for comfort. If your patio or deck is next to an exterior wall of your home, hang sconces or a mirror on the outside of your home to create a feeling of homeyness outside. Add texture to siding with trellises.

For decks low enough not to require a railing, build a bench seat around the perimeter. Harmonize the deck color to that off the house to make the transition from indoors to outdoors seamless. Create an instant "roof" with a drop cloth and four bamboo poles.

It doesn't take much money to spruce up an outdoor area. Making a potential buyer feel like they can "live" in the yard or outdoor area will offer them more space and opportunity to entertain and enjoy the home.

*image from Gant-Construction.com