With three seasons of outdoor weather, and a waning pandemic keeping us home more, homeowners and those looking for St. Louis real estate desire usable outdoor spaces at home. Expanding your living space into the outdoors makes a home more pleasurable and more valuable to home buyers. We’d like to share what types of outdoor spaces we’re seeing at homes and what homebuyers are currently looking for.
Space to Lounge
A designated place to sit and lounge outside of your home is important in today’s housing market. A deck, patio or even paver patio will increase the usability of your home’s outdoor space and can increase the appraised value of the home. There are great new materials available in pavers or you could even use flagstones to create your own patio if you don’t want to pour concrete. Additionally, there are alternative materials to create long-lasting decks with as well.
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| Great use of different materials for an outdoor space. |
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| This stone patio looks posh. |
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| Textured concrete creates a great look. |
Space for Dining
There’s something about a table and chairs that makes the outdoors feel homey. Take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy a meal outside. While you can easily find picnic tables or great outdoor dining sets, don’t forget to consider thrift shop finds, or repurposed interior furniture to really bring indoor dining outside.
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| This spacious deck has plenty of space for dining. |
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| Work or dine outdoors for long hours with comfy seating. |
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| Bringing indoor furniture into an outdoor space creates a homey feeling. |
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| This vintage sewing machine makes a great outdoor table. |
Space for Grilling
Tis the season to grill in the St. Louis area. Take an evening walk in your neighborhood and you’ll surely smell the smoke of someone grilling. A designated space for a grill that’s at least three feet away from the home provides a safe space to cook outdoors.
As grills get bigger more space for them may be needed.
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| This outdoor fireplace and gathering area can function as a grill or fire pit. |
Space with Shade
It can get really hot on St. Louis summer afternoons, so if you want to be able to enjoy your outdoor space during these times you’ll definitely value shade. Shade also allows you to see a computer screen if you want to work or be on your tablet or phone outside. Patio umbrellas, awnings, arbors, sails or even large trees can provide shade. Setting up part of your outdoor space in a shaded area will increase your ability to enjoy the outdoors at home.
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| This custom covered porch provides high-end shaded gathering space. |
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| An extended roof overhang provides a shady patio. |
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| Trees and other landscaping can provide a shady lounge area. |
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| A structural arbor ads a bit of shade and great architecture to an outdoor space. |
Space for Pets
Are you one of the many people who adopted a pet over the past year? It turns out that the pandemic was great for animal shelters as more people adopted pets than ever. This means more homebuyers than ever are looking for fenced yards for their home. The most popular types of fencing are wood, but with the price of wood going up dramatically it’s worth considering the great vinyl fencing options currently available. You can even have vinyl fencing painted to match your house.
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| Vinyl fencing is a great alternative to wood. |
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| Corrugated metal can be made into stylish fencing. |
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| Wood fencing can be painted to compliment an outdoor space. |
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| Grab some inspiration from the creative fence on the left of this photo. |
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These are the types of valuable outdoor spaces homeowners are currently looking for. We hope you’ve found some inspiration for your outdoor space in this article. Or, if you’re looking for a new home with more outdoor space for you and your family, contact The Boehmer Team to help you find the perfect home. We’re here for you and understand the challenges that today’s buyers face as well as how to overcome them.
