5 Outdoor Living Spaces Homebuyers Want And Homeowners Love

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.

 

Great use of different materials for an outdoor space.

This stone patio looks posh.

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. 

 

This spacious deck has plenty of space for dining.

 

Work or dine outdoors for long hours with comfy seating.

 

Bringing indoor furniture into an outdoor space creates a homey feeling.

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.

This built-in grill makes for a more high-end space.

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.

 

This custom covered porch provides high-end shaded gathering space.

An extended roof overhang provides a shady patio.

Trees and other landscaping can provide a shady lounge area.

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.

 

Vinyl fencing is a great alternative to wood.

Corrugated metal can be made into stylish fencing.

Wood fencing can be painted to compliment an outdoor space.

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. 

 

Creating Garage Envy

A garage is a sought after feature for a home, especially in a town like St. Louis where we experience all types of weather conditions. With years of experience in St. Louis real estate, The Boehmer Team members have seen all types of garages. We’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly as well as garages that one would really envy. Here we’ll discuss the types, sizes and details that we see frequently to help clear up common questions we get as well as show some envious additional options and features for garages.

 

Oversized Garage

First of all, let’s talk oversized garage. Typical garages are anywhere from 18 to 20 feet in width and length. (A 20’ x 19’ garage one frequently sees in real estate listings is not an oversized garage.) So what is considered an oversize garage? An oversized garage is not necessarily any particular size dimension. However it does include additional space, usually on one side or toward the back of the garage, but not enough space for another car.

When listing a home, The Boehmer Team considers a garage that is 22 feet or deeper as oversized. In addition, our local multiple listing system, MARIS, now allows garage dimensions to be entered in the system. This helps agents when searching for a specific garage size. If The Boehmer Team refer to a garage as oversized, we almost always put the dimensions in Maris. 

 

Tandem Garage

A tandem garage has a long interior space. This allows for two cars to park end to end (or front to back) rather than the traditional side by side. This garage type might be great for someone who has additional vehicles or needs a lot of extra garage storage. One thing you may want to consider is that on a rare occasion, appraisers will not give full credit as an additional parking space.  We have had the rare occasion that an appraiser will only consider the number of garage doors when submitting an appraisal. So the appraiser can make a difference.

 

 

Heated and Insulated Garages

Although it is still considered an outside space, insulating a garage and garage door will help minimize extreme temperatures when the garage door is closed. If the garage has insulation, drywall and drywall tape, the tape seams will hold up better if the garage walls and ceiling are insulated. In most municipalities, it is not code compliant to run duct work and vent the garage with the HVAC system used in the home. Allowing fumes and air from the garage to enter the home is extremely dangerous and against safety codes in most areas. An additional heater may be installed that runs independently from the HVAC system in the home in some cases. 

 

If you use your garage for a workshop or spend a lot of time in it, insulation and heating are going to be worth considering. Also, insulation and heating in a garage brings more value to a home overall.

 

Upgrading the Garage Interior

A garage door opener is a garage upgrade that most homebuyers expect in a garage and will notice if there isn’t one. If you’re selling a home with a garage, make sure your garage opener is in good working condition. 

 

 

Other ways to upgrade the garage include putting up drywall and painting it to improve the look and feel as well as insulating it. Adding shelving and storage for common garage items is another way to upgrade the garage and make it more appealing. 

 

Creative garage storage made with a pallet.

 

Additional in-garage upgrades include lighting, additional electrical outlets, low voltage additions, workbenches, a bar, a refrigerator, a hangout area, a gym and more. We’ve certainly seen some pretty cool garage upgrades like these below in our time in real estate.

Garage Storage

Garage Workshop

Garage Gym

Garage Lounge

Garage Game Room

Garage Man Cave

 

Garage Curb Appeal

As part of your property, the look of your garage can add or detract from the property’s total value. The exterior or curb appeal of the garage is what most people will notice about it. Having garage doors that are in good condition will help maintain the value of your home. 

 

There are many choices in material, color, style, window options, insulation types and hardware for garage doors. With so many options, we suggest speaking with your local garage door sales company for help picking out the best garage door type, style and hardware for your budget and your home. Here are some pictures of great looking garage exteriors to draw inspiration from.

 

We love these wood garage doors with arch windows.

Garage doors painted in a matching accent color look great.

This garage has great exterior lighting and brick driveway divider.

The hardware is great on this garage.

Looking for a home with more garage space? Contact The Boehmer Team to help you find a home with the garage needs that work for you. We help homebuyers find homes with the details they want and help sellers with highly customized homes find the right buyers. If St. Louis real estate is on your mind, The Boehmer Team is here for you.

 

 

 

Picking the Perfect Lot

To be perfectly honest, the phrase “perfect” rarely applies to a lot. It really comes down to what features make it perfect or most favorable for the buyer. Choosing the lot or home site where a home will be built is an important part of deciding to build a new home and should be one of a buyer's first considerations. 

 

If you’re building new construction real estate in the St. Louis or St. Charles county area, find a lot you can appreciate for years as well as one that will appreciate in value. When considering features that make one lot better than another, there are a variety of things that may be important.

 

Quick Summary: How to pick the perfect lot.

To choose the perfect lot to build a new home, one needs to consider: location, size, direction, elevation, drainage plan, surrounding areas, utility pedestals, lot premiums, and what builder options there are for the lot among other details. A local Realtor experienced in new construction can help you address these considerations and guide you through the process of building a new home.

Location

The home site one buys is likely where you are going to live. If you have children in school you’ll need to pay attention to area school district boundaries. If you work outside the home you’ll need to factor in your preferred commute time. Check if the lot is close to shopping, parks or restaurants that you frequent. If the lot is in a new neighborhood being built, you’ll want to consider the neighborhood amenities and/or HOA fees. It's a good idea to check with the municipality you are considering to see if there are specific rules or guidelines that apply. 

 

The Direction of the Lot

We understand that the direction a home will face is often important to buyers. Whatever the reason, the direction a home faces is often considered to be one of the most important factors that buyers consider. Be sure your Realtor and homebuilder know if the direction of the lot it of upmost importance to you.

 

 

Hilly Versus Level Lots

Do you prefer a level lot or a home built into a hill with a backside of windows to see the view? Think about what you want and what you might be willing to work with.  After all, a truly level lot does not even exist. Due to grading plans and required drainage swails, completely level lots pose a variety of issues and challenges.  While a lot may be mostly level, there are sure to be areas that have slight elevations. 

Lot Premiums

Homebuilders may charge a lot premium or additional charge based on lot features and location within a community. Lots with more space, that offer a good view, or something that sets them apart from other lots may draw a lot premium.

 

Builder Options for a Particular Lot

The choice of homebuilder options may be different based on the lot you choose. If you have a piece of land in mind that you want to build on, you may have a variety of home builders that will help you build develop on the land. If you purchase a lot within a particular neighborhood, you’ll likely only get to use the homebuilder who is developing that neighborhood. So if the homebuilder is important to you, check to see if they can build on your chosen lot or what lots they have available.

 

See our list of Preferred Builders in the St. Louis area.

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If you want a home crafted for you with the latest building technologies, The Boehmer Team can help. We’ve assisted hundreds of new construction buyers in the St Louis and St. Charles area as well as helped many sell their current homes. From budget to builder, to lot and material selections, to final paperwork and closing, we represent and protect the interest of new construction homebuyers to make the process go smoothly. Thinking of building or buying new construction? Contact us or visit BuyNewAndNow.com to see a list of new homes that are currently for sale.

 

 

Kitchen Island Dreaming

Dreaming of a beautiful kitchen island to expand your kitchen workspace and storage? You’re not alone. Throughout the St. Louis and St. Charles county areas, the real estate market is seeing plenty of requests for this amenity. Also, it is one of the most common requests made to home remodelers when updating a kitchen. 

Islands look inviting and offer extra storage and functionality. In most cases, an island becomes a gathering space or focal point in the home. They can even create an overall impression of a more luxury-grade kitchen. Even if you’re not planning on selling right now, adding a kitchen island can make your home more attractive while increasing its value in the long-term.

 

The Value of a Kitchen Island

Speaking of value, did you now that most small kitchen remodel projects (like adding an island) will recoup an average of 83% of their cost when the home is eventually sold?  That’s actually higher than the return on investment from most other remodeling projects.

 

The Cost of a Kitchen Island

So what does a kitchen island cost? That depends on several factors including the size, materials, and features, for example a bar, a sink/drain and any built-in appliances. But on average, the cost of a kitchen island ranges from $3,000 to $5,000 with less expensive models as little as $100 and more expensive, custom-built options as much as $10,000 or more.

Why not have MULTIPLE kitchen islands?

Ready-Made or Repurposed Furniture Kitchen Islands

Great ways to add a kitchen island on a budget is to purchase a ready-made island or to repurpose another piece of furniture like a desk or table to create an island. This allows you some creativity. However, it’s a good idea to match your island with the look and feel of the rest of your kitchen and home.

 

See more repurposed island ideas at: theshabbycreekcottage.com

Custom-Built Kitchen Islands

Building a custom kitchen island will ensure you get exactly what you want for the space your kitchen has. The island can be built with cabinets that match the rest of your cabinetry for a seamless look.  You can choose your materials, counters, and whether it has electricity, appliances or running water.  Of course, the more options you choose, the higher the price. But you could build the kitchen island of your dreams and your home would be more valuable for it.  

 

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If you are wondering whether you should add a kitchen island before selling your home, contact The Boehmer Team. We may be able to help you decide if it’s the right project to improve the value of your home before a sale. Or we may be able to recommend a contractor to assist with your project. Have a real estate question? Contact us any time.

 

 

Want more info on kitchen islands? Click one of the links throughout this article for more in depth information on aspects of kitchen islands.

 

The Pros and Cons of Painting Brick

Thanks to a history of clay mining and bricklaying, the St. Louis area is full of homes wrapped in durable brick. However as years go by and home designs change, the brick look goes in and out of style. While some homeowners opt to paint their brick façade, others are reluctant. If you are considering painting your brick home exterior, we’ve put a list together of pros and cons to help you decide.

Painting a Brick House

PRO: Style. If the old brick is outdated and tacky, painting it can increase curb appeal and home value.

CON: It’s expensive and difficult to go back to unpainted brick should you want to. Also, painting brick can be expensive to have it done right. Look to see if there other areas on the home’s exterior that could better use the money for maintenance or improvements.

PRO: Protection. The right exterior paint can protect old, damaged bricks and mortar and seal cracks.

CON: If done wrong, paint could trap moisture and further damage the brick. Also, paint does not last forever and the effects of sun, wind, rain and hail will slowly chip away at the paint so touch ups and/or repainting will eventually be needed.

PRO: The right color could make your home the envy of the neighborhood.

CON: You may be destroying history by painting brick. Also, your color choice may not appeal to some potential homebuyers.

 

Not Painting a Brick House

PRO: Some people really value classic brick and just don’t like painted brick.

CON: Any potential homebuyers that dislike the old brick may need to take the cost of painting it into consideration if they are thinking of buying your home.

PRO: Upkeep is easier. You don’t have to maintain the paint on the brick.

CON: You’ll want to make sure the rest of the exterior of your home is well maintained and looks nice to distract from outdated brick colors or styles.

PRO: You’ll preserve the original exterior of the home and won’t have to worry if a potential buyer doesn’t like the color you chose to paint your brick.

CON: You may want to invest in landscaping, roof updates or other exterior painting and maintenance to bring the eye away from the outdated brick.

 

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Unless you got lucky and your home has brick in a color that is current by today’s style standards, you may decide to paint the brick on your home to make it appear more modern. Or you may choose to update your landscaping, roof, windows or other exterior items to make a home with old brick look updated.  If you are considering painting brick to help sell a St. Louis area home, contact The Boehmer Team first. We may be able to help you determine whether painting your brick will be the best course of action to bring more value to your home sale. 

 

Unusual Fall 2020 Real Estate Activity

St. Louis and St. Charles County area real estate in fall 2020 has been as unusual as, well most of 2020. Real estate this autumn has been unusually active. In fact some real estate agents are referring to this fall as second spring. Herein we’ll discuss some of the reasons why real estate this fall has been so unusual.

The Pandemic

The Covid-19 virus has kept many people closer to home for longer and more often than previously. Folks are now working from home, going to school at home and moving many in-person events online. This has created more time to look closely at one’s living situation and decide if it is the best fit. Also, some people are moving from more concentrated, populous cities to our area. 

 

Demand Versus Inventory

After a slow spring of quarantines, the busy summer market barely slowed down for fall. With so many buyers wanting to move to better home situations and some sellers unsure about making any changes at all, there has been a higher demand for homes for sale than there have been homeowners listing their homes. This is causing a lower inventory of homes for sale along with rising home values as multiple offers are being made on well-maintained, market-value homes. This doesn’t mean there aren’t homes for sale, it just means that homebuyers may have to look a little longer or at different options to buy a home.  It also means that buyers need to be prepared and ready to move quickly if the perfect home comes on the market.

 

Low Mortgage Rates

At time of writing this, the 30 year conventional mortgage rate sits around 2.5% and the 15 year conventional mortgage rate sits around 2%. These low rates mean that you can get a lot more home for you money than you could a few years ago. And for those who aren’t moving, it’s a great time to refinance.  These rates are historically low and when they are gone it is hard to imagine when they will return.  

 

Increased New Construction Activity is Helping

We help several quality local home builders market their homes and we know the new construction home market very well. We’ve been able to find solutions in the new construction market for many homebuyers. While builders have been doing a great job constructing quality new homes, they are feeling the pressure to keep up with the demand.  New construction should always be considered when searching for a new home.  It affords buyers to be the first owner, select finishes specific to their tastes, select options specific to their needs and to enjoy the benefits of an environmentally friendly and energy efficient home.

- Options for Buying New Construction -

Despite the unusual fall 2020 real estate market we continue to assist homebuyers and sellers to face, understand and prepare for these unusual times every single day.  Despite the challenges, business for The Boehmer Team is up 28% from 2019 and going strong.  If you are thinking of buying a home, building a home, or selling your current home, contact The Boehmer Team. Let us implement decades of combined experience to answer your questions, find solutions for your needs and provide full service as we do to all of our dedicated clients.