Desire for outdoor amenities grows – Northwest Herald

Home no longer is just about personal retreat and comfort more and more, we are seeing people place a high value on how well it can serve and entertain family and friends. According to real estate agents across the mid-Atlantic, outdoor living and entertainment spaces are gaining momentum as the next big trend and must-have amenity for homes.

If youre looking to add value to your property before selling during the fall home-buying season, or you simply want to create a space for you and friends and family to enjoy, consider these features:

Outdoor kitchen

Outdoor dining used to be pretty simple a dining set and a grill was all you needed. Now, agents say as cooking and food preparation have become as much a part of entertaining as the meal itself, more and more buyers are seeking additional amenities, such as an outdoor refrigerator, sink and counter space.

In the luxury market, were seeing full-on outdoor kitchens complete with bar areas, islands, ovens, stoves and extra storage space. These features allow a homeowner and host to be present with their guests outside even as they prepare the meal.

Pool & spa

Its no secret waterfront properties are high value. For those without access to a waterfront setting, a swimming pool remains one of the most popular outdoor living features, bringing a waterfront feel right to your own backyard. Agents are seeing a shift in the way pools and the spaces around them are designed.

To set their home apart, owners are getting creative with shapes and unique pool designs weve seen everything from jets, slides and waterfalls to a hot tub in the middle of the pool and even the occasional moat. In addition to the pool itself, buyers also are seeking beautiful terraces and lounges overlooking the pool area to help create the feel of a relaxing oasis at home.

Open access

An exciting newer trend agents are seeing is the creation of a nearly seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. At the higher end of the market, homeowners are installing collapsible window walls that allow your outdoor living areas to become a true extension of your indoor space, while French and sliding glass doors accomplish this feel at more affordable price points.

Recreation & entertainment

Like pools, recreation amenities such as basketball and tennis courts remain perennial favorites for outdoor features. Weve also seen sand volleyball courts and putting greens. To health-conscious homeowners and families with active children, these types of features are especially appealing, allowing them to get in a game without having to go to the gym.

Of course, these features also are great for entertaining. For those looking for a more relaxed gathering, were also seeing increased interest in outdoor home theater amenities, including speaker systems and screening areas, complete for backyard movie nights.

Outdoor fireplaces

Fireplaces long have topped home buyers wish lists, but the up-and-coming trend is toward incorporating fireplaces into spaces other than the traditional living room, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, even in closets and of course, outside. Local agents are seeing everything from the simple fire pit to custom fire features built into the deck or landscape. To make the most of your outdoor fireplace, big or small, gas or wood-burning, youll want to make sure you have plenty of seating options for your friends and family to gather around or for buyers to imagine their own guests doing so. A combination of couches, chairs, benches even hammocks or swings can bring the cozy environment of a living room fire to the great outdoors right in your own backyard.

If youre looking to up your homes outdoor appeal, consider incorporating some of these features. Whether youre preparing to sell or want to enjoy your homes outdoor space with your friends and family, outdoor amenities could be worth the investment as we continue to see interest in them grow.

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Desire for outdoor amenities grows - Northwest Herald