“Today, when it comes to upgrades for your home, it’s all about bang for the buck. Homeowners are looking for the best return on investment as well as simple, inexpensive ways to make dramatic improvements to their homes,” says Leigh Brown, real estate broker in Charlotte, N.C. “Outdoor living spaces, landscaping, decks and patios all make a big difference — not only in how comfortable your current home is now, but how buyers see it when you’re ready to sell.”

The trend in outdoor living space has moved toward creating outdoor living “rooms,” and the options available to homeowners have grown with the number of available products on the market.

“When you’re looking at homes in a certain price range, you tend to see a lot of the same things. The features that make a home stand out and make people want to live there are often the outdoor spaces,” Brown says.

Chris Fox, marketing manager for Universal Forest Products of Grand Rapids, Mich., says his company’s outdoor living products, including composite lumber decking and deck and fence accessories, have continued to sell well in this economy, even as new construction has slowed.

“Our decking products, such as Latitudes Composite Decking, continue to be desirable for homeowners who are staying put and updating their existing homes rather than moving. Deck updates and upgrades are projects that make sense in this economy and that create added value for the future, as well as enjoyment and added living space for right now,” Fox says.

Composite decking products are low maintenance and eco-friendly. Latitudes is made from 70 percent recycled materials. Brown says “green” home improvements can make a difference when buyers are comparing properties.

Homeowners who already have decks find that swapping out balusters or adding decorative post caps or lights can also make a dramatic difference that adds beauty as well as value to their outdoor living space.

Deckorators offers aluminum and glass balusters in a variety of styles to accent virtually any architectural look. Deck railing balusters can be installed on a new deck or can be used to update the look of an old one.

“In neighborhoods where every home has a deck, the nicer decks sell the home faster. Typically, it’s about the details even more than the size. Designer rails, lights and finishes make all the difference,” Brown says.

Dino Perelli, a real estate agent who specializes in lake property in Texas, says that deck and dock upgrades are one way his clients are setting their properties apart from the many others on the market.

“Homes are sitting on the market longer, and that causes property owners to look for things they can do to set their property apart. In our area, that means adding more living space to docks or replacing tired-looking wood decks with long-lasting composite material,” Perelli says.

Whether looking to update an existing home for personal enjoyment or preparing it for sale, outdoor living spaces present opportunities for improvement. Turning a generic deck into an inviting and attractive space to spend time sets a home apart, which is what real estate experts say home buyers will look for when the real estate market improves.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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When the sun is shining and the summer breezes are blowing, it’s difficult to resist the call to relax outdoors. But if you have a blank canvas of grass or a cement slab, it doesn’t exactly call to mind visions of barbeques and family gatherings. Don’t stare longingly out the windows this summer when you can expand your living space to include the outdoors in just a few simple steps.

Outdoor living spaces are the next best thing to adding square footage onto your home. Whether you’re looking for a simple outdoor seating area or a larger space to entertain, there are a few things to pay attention to before you start.

Keep the scale of your space in mind. If you have a large yard, small furniture will be dwarfed. Create a focal point, whether it’s your dining table, an outdoor fireplace or a water feature. Carry over your indoor style to your outdoor spaces to make them feel like an extension of your home.

A stylish outdoor living space doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Figure out what you’ll use the space for most and create a plan that covers the main elements of your outdoor space.

Patio
If you don’t have a deck or cement patio, it can be an expensive home improvement project. If you’re not ready for the work or the investment, try ready-made patio blocks that make it easy to have a sunny and stable outdoor space in minutes. You can recreate the look of expensive stone without breaking the budget.

Seating Area
Create your own outdoor cafe with a patio set. You can find sets in every style from simple to ornate and in materials from weather-resistant and easy-to-maintain resin to substantial cast iron. The three-piece Crown Bistro set from Seventh Avenue is an affordable way to add outdoor seating no matter what size your space is. Add an umbrella for extra style and to shade out the sun. If you’ve got room, add several cozy chairs with outdoor cushions to create a seating area separate from the dining space.

Lighting
Candles or white string lights are often all you need to create a festive or intimate mood on a warm summer night. But for walkways and paths, make sure to keep it safe with low-voltage or solar lighting. Lights powered by the sun are not only earth-friendly, they make it easy to illuminate spaces that don’t easily accommodate hard wiring. You can light up a children’s play area with whimsical glowing flowers or add polish to your front sidewalk with classic lanterns.

Outdoor Cooking
Making your space into an outdoor kitchen is as easy as adding a grill. Whether charcoal or gas, cooking outdoors during the summer is a great way to entertain but also keeps your house cool because you won’t have to use the oven.

Wildlife
Don’t forget to make space for your feathered friends. Bird houses and bird feeders are a wonderful way to welcome nature into your outdoor space and bird watching can quickly become a favorite family pastime. Remember to keep your bird feeder filled with seed once you place it out. Birds recognize familiar food sources and come to rely on them.

For more stylish and affordable ideas for outdoor spaces, visit SeventhAvenue.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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