Everyone wants to add value to their home, whether that is for resale or just peace of mind. Creating an open air living space with the addition of an outdoor deck is a great way to invest in your home’s future. How? By making sure your outdoor deck checks these five boxes: Budget Friendly Most homeowners love upgrading their homes: fences, extensive landscaping, updated lighting, new tile floors……the list goes on and on. But one thing that is on everyone’s wish list is to add more livable space. Space for kids to play, guests to be entertained, or just more living space, period. To do that, however, can be costly. Adding a new room to an existing home can be double the price, per square foot, that the original home cost to be built. Fortunately, there is a great way to skip past this pulse pounding expense - outdoor living. And what comes to mind when we think of outdoor living? A backyard deck. It is the perfect way to extend your living space without the mile high cost. Adding an outdoor deck is a fraction of the cost of actually building onto your house and the benefits are endless. Expanded space for entertaining, room for the kids to play, a relaxing place to unwind and a cost effective way to upgrade the standard of your home. A win for your wallet and a win for your home. Win, win! Out-of-the-box Decks can be built to satisfy even the most active imaginations, this is the time to let the creative juices flow. The uniqueness of your deck can add value to your home by allowing it to stand out from the crowd. This is priceless in resale. For a quick sale, your home must plant itself in the buyer’s mind and a ‘wow’ deck is a great way to do that. This is where a creative deck design comes into play. This is your deck and your home, it has to fit the needs of you and your family, but a touch of flair certainly won’t hurt either. And why stop at the deck? This is also a great excuse to spruce up your landscaping. Add some privacy to the deck with a lush hedge, or sprinkle in some colorful pansies or petunias. Let your imagination run wild. Your backyard is your oasis, let ‘er fly! Functional How your deck functions for your family, is its most important design feature. Building your deck with a purpose in mind will not only increase your enjoyment but will add value to your home for a future resale. Are you a master cook who wants an outdoor kitchen space? Then your deck should have easy access to your kitchen and enough room for a sizable table and chairs. It should also have plenty of room for a grill and even a gas line. If entertaining guests is part of your lifestyle then your deck should have plenty of seating and room to easily move around. If you have small children then limiting the height of the deck and the amount of stairs will need to be considered. Having a purpose for your deck with make it a valuable addition to your home and will help you reap the rewards of your investment now and in the future. High Quality Penny pinching is great for the supermarket, but not for adding a structure to your home. Quality is crucial when building your outdoor deck, and for good reason. Cheap materials and labor can cost you big time in the long run. Rotting wood, insect infestation, and bowed boards are consequences of a cheap build. You wouldn’t want the inside of your home to be saturated with these issues, so to keep a sound investment, you need to protect the outside as well. Take your time and do your homework. Choose a builder who is not only licensed and bonded, but has a great track record as well. Are they easy to get a hold of? Do they offer free consultations? Are there previous customers or testimonials available for you to review? Are they knowledgeable about your area and any issues your outdoor environment might present? Lastly, make sure they have a maintenance plan for your deck. Keeping your deck in great condition starts at day one and lasts the lifetime of the deck. A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your outdoor investment worthy of your hard earned dollars. Enjoyable The most important feature of your new deck will be its personal value to you and your family. It’s always a smart move to think ahead, concerning the resale of your home, but the best thing you can do as a homeowner is to enjoy your home, now. Let your indoor and outdoor space serve your family by tailoring it to your needs and desires. Choose a stain color that soothes you and encourages you to be outside. Configure your outdoor kitchen to suit your family chef. Design your deck to allow for every aunt and uncle you have to come visit. String purple lights and plant every prickly bush you can find. In other words, make this deck yours and yours alone. Resale will come later. The love you have for your home will show in the pride you take with its care, and that will pay off later on down the line when you are ready to move on. Enjoy your backyard, it’s yours after all. So when planning your new deck, consider these five surefire features. The future value to your home should always be considered with any additional structure you add, but the most important quality is the enjoyment it will allow your family to have together. There is nothing better than fresh air, and a personalized space to enjoy family and friends, so the true value of your outdoor deck is the space it occupies in your life. By Margo Waldrop Give us a call at 405.702.4442
Everyone wants to add value to their home, whether that is for resale or just peace of mind. Creating an open air living space with the addition of an outdoor deck is a great way to invest in your home’s future. How? By making sure your outdoor deck checks these five boxes: Budget Friendly Most homeowners love upgrading their homes: fences, extensive landscaping, updated lighting, new tile floors……the list goes on and on. But one thing that is on everyone’s wish list is to add more livable space. Space for kids to play, guests to be entertained, or just more living space, period. To do that, however, can be costly. Adding a new room to an existing home can be double the price, per square foot, that the original home cost to be built. Fortunately, there is a great way to skip past this pulse pounding expense - outdoor living. And what comes to mind when we think of outdoor living? A backyard deck. It is the perfect way to extend your living space without the mile high cost. Adding an outdoor deck is a fraction of the cost of actually building onto your house and the benefits are endless. Expanded space for entertaining, room for the kids to play, a relaxing place to unwind and a cost effective way to upgrade the standard of your home. A win for your wallet and a win for your home. Win, win! Out-of-the-box Decks can be built to satisfy even the most active imaginations, this is the time to let the creative juices flow. The uniqueness of your deck can add value to your home by allowing it to stand out from the crowd. This is priceless in resale. For a quick sale, your home must plant itself in the buyer’s mind and a ‘wow’ deck is a great way to do that. This is where a creative deck design comes into play. This is your deck and your home, it has to fit the needs of you and your family, but a touch of flair certainly won’t hurt either. And why stop at the deck? This is also a great excuse to spruce up your landscaping. Add some privacy to the deck with a lush hedge, or sprinkle in some colorful pansies or petunias. Let your imagination run wild. Your backyard is your oasis, let ‘er fly! Functional How your deck functions for your family, is its most important design feature. Building your deck with a purpose in mind will not only increase your enjoyment but will add value to your home for a future resale. Are you a master cook who wants an outdoor kitchen space? Then your deck should have easy access to your kitchen and enough room for a sizable table and chairs. It should also have plenty of room for a grill and even a gas line. If entertaining guests is part of your lifestyle then your deck should have plenty of seating and room to easily move around. If you have small children then limiting the height of the deck and the amount of stairs will need to be considered. Having a purpose for your deck with make it a valuable addition to your home and will help you reap the rewards of your investment now and in the future. High Quality Penny pinching is great for the supermarket, but not for adding a structure to your home. Quality is crucial when building your outdoor deck, and for good reason. Cheap materials and labor can cost you big time in the long run. Rotting wood, insect infestation, and bowed boards are consequences of a cheap build. You wouldn’t want the inside of your home to be saturated with these issues, so to keep a sound investment, you need to protect the outside as well. Take your time and do your homework. Choose a builder who is not only licensed and bonded, but has a great track record as well. Are they easy to get a hold of? Do they offer free consultations? Are there previous customers or testimonials available for you to review? Are they knowledgeable about your area and any issues your outdoor environment might present? Lastly, make sure they have a maintenance plan for your deck. Keeping your deck in great condition starts at day one and lasts the lifetime of the deck. A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your outdoor investment worthy of your hard earned dollars. Enjoyable The most important feature of your new deck will be its personal value to you and your family. It’s always a smart move to think ahead, concerning the resale of your home, but the best thing you can do as a homeowner is to enjoy your home, now. Let your indoor and outdoor space serve your family by tailoring it to your needs and desires. Choose a stain color that soothes you and encourages you to be outside. Configure your outdoor kitchen to suit your family chef. Design your deck to allow for every aunt and uncle you have to come visit. String purple lights and plant every prickly bush you can find. In other words, make this deck yours and yours alone. Resale will come later. The love you have for your home will show in the pride you take with its care, and that will pay off later on down the line when you are ready to move on. Enjoy your backyard, it’s yours after all. So when planning your new deck, consider these five surefire features. The future value to your home should always be considered with any additional structure you add, but the most important quality is the enjoyment it will allow your family to have together. There is nothing better than fresh air, and a personalized space to enjoy family and friends, so the true value of your outdoor deck is the space it occupies in your life. By Margo Waldrop Give us a call at 405.702.4442
