Now that the weather is warming up, and many Victorians are preparing for some much-needed time off, it’s an ideal time for homeowners to turn their attention to their outdoor living areas at home with the aim of maximizing their functionality and style.
Now some will be weighing up their outdoor living options with relaxed BBQs or family gatherings in mind. Others may be thinking about the value a well thought-out outdoor living zone can add to a property if you are thinking of selling soon. Either way, there are a few key points you might want to consider.
Alfresco cooking
Here in Australia, we are big fans of cooking outdoors, whether that involves your standard BBQ or a full-service outdoor kitchen complete with a sink, fridge, pizza oven and more. One thing that often gets overlooked in creating an alfresco kitchen is making them useable all year round, so make sure you consider added elements like retractable awnings, heaters and lighting. Privacy screens or hedges will also add to the appeal here. Last, but not least, make sure you consider the sun, rain and wind in selecting hard-wearing materials.
Go with the flow
In creating your new outdoor living zone, don’t forget that in most cases this area will be used alongside, and as an extension of, your indoor living zones. So, make sure you allow for smooth and easy flow between the two zones, rather than making them separate entities.
Make it multi-purpose
Your outdoor living zone should be designed to cater for a multitude of different uses. From a quiet spot to relax with a drink and a gathering place for friends on the weekend to a play area for children or even a spot for a family event, the more uses you can accommodate, the more value you will place on this part of your home.
And one last sustainable thought
Sustainability is a major topic among Australians right now. So, keep in mind the idea of integrating drought resistant plantings, solar powered lighting and an efficient irrigation system to minimize your impact on your environment.
Of course, as we often remind our readers in these posts, if you are thinking of making changes to your home with the aim of making it more saleable, be sure to chat with one of our team at Ian Reid Buyer and Vendor Advocates before you start. That way you can avoid making expensive mistakes, just like our advice in our FREE booklet “Fatal Real Estate Traps Exposed”.
You can give us a call this week if you like on 9430 0000.