Outdoor spaces should always be considered extensions of living areas. Although not counted in the interior square footage of a home, outdoor spaces should be treated like and additional room in the house. We all know that when the weather is great, people love to be outdoors and will entertain there whenever it is feasible. If your home has a deck, porch or patio you're in luck because these are great selling features and should be showcased for maximum impact.
Outdoor decks, porches and patios, covered or not, are great spaces for entertaining and relaxing. If the deck, porch or patio is in need of repair, repainting or re-staining, do the work necessary and get it buyer ready. Whether you have it professionally done or do it yourself, you'll be returning the area to like new condition at a fraction of the cost of having it installed all over again. Consider having concrete areas, decks and fences power-washed to remove years of stains, dirt, and discoloration. The condition of the outdoor spaces requires the same degree of preparation as one of the rooms inside the house.
Toys, lawn equipment, excess furniture, pots without healthy plants, smokers, grills, hoses and anything that isn't necessary should be removed from the area. Showcase the space not the stuff. Highlight areas for their intended purposes. Already have outdoor furniture? Has it seen better days? It might be time to purchase that new set. No covered area, no umbrella or your umbrella is faded and torn? Buy a new one. A barbeque grill that you purchased 10 years and 446 steaks ago? Clean it up or purchase a new one. Now is the perfect time to remove what is broken, torn or worn and replace with new for showcasing your outdoor living areas. Remember, you get to take these new pieces with you to your next house, so buy what you like. Move the barbeque grill out of view after each use. Set the scene for buyers to envision their own family gatherings, birthdays and barbeques. Make it an inviting place for them to want to sit and enjoy what could be their new outdoor space. The longer they want to linger the better!