Hardscapes add more than value to your home
Something we feel that sets a well-designed home and landscape above the others is when the outside is as nice as the inside and you have comfortable places to go, outside the walls of your home. Patios, pathways, sitting areas, fire features, pergolas, site walls all add interest, usable space, beauty, safety and possibly privacy to your landscape.
Outdoor hardscape projects add resale value to a home as well as bring extra enjoyment to homeowners while they are living in the home, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features” by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).
The report confirms that investing in landscaping and hardscaping is a win-win, whether you plan to stay in your home or prepare it for market.
“This report validates that outdoor remodeling and landscaping improvements are a necessity when it comes to improving your home’s resale value,” said Missy Henriksen, NALP vice president of public affairs. “Homeowners working with a landscape professional to embark on renovations – whether that means enhancing their turf and growing a lush lawn, overhauling their entire landscape, or incorporating new features like patios or exterior fireplaces – can rest assured that they are making a smart, worthwhile investment.”
Paths that are wide enough for two people to walk side by side, that meander through your outdoor space invite your guests to see what’s around the corner. A thoughtful entry path can set the stage for a show stopping curb appeal, this is not the place to cut the design short or skimp on the budget. Consider lining your pathways with low voltage, efficient LED lighting, maybe your path leads you to surprise viewpoint in the landscape or on a loop around your home.
Patios should be big enough for not just the furniture you intend to set on the patio but should also consider maneuvering space around the furniture. The shape can be dependent on personal taste and the homes architectural style. Patios can also turn a forgotten space in your landscape into a destination point, maximizing your usable space.
Site walls can be used when regrading a sloped space to gain usable level space outside, they can also add privacy or define an outdoor room. We use site walls as a way to complement the architecture of the home just as often as to use them for retaining purposes. A well thought out Site Wall is one that can double as a Seat Wall to add seating area for entertaining and add beauty to the space. We’ve used vertical walls also to create privacy between neighbors; these privacy walls can be as elaborate as poured in place board formed concrete, mason walls faced with stone or as simple as free standing fence panels. The quickest way to get privacy is a neighborly wall, trees and shrubs can take years to gain you the privacy you wish you had, yesterday.
These hardscape spaces add value to your home when you’re ready to sell it but mostly they make your space unique, more enjoyable and your own for however long you call it home.
