Why Build a Patio?

The importance of investing in a patio today and bring your lifestyle outdoors can be answered by comparing the year 2018 and the year 2020.  According to a blog article I read at www.homelight.com dated at November 19, 2018, just 4% of Realtors recommended sellers build a patio before attempting to sell their house, while only 2% said that the patio “sealed the deal” on closing the transaction.

I have to believe COVID 19 changed that.

Public health restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to canceled festivals, concerts and other events. Many vacations and large celebrations were limited or put on hold. As COVID mutated into Delta and beyond, infection surges caused a return to indoor activity bans or lockdowns. Additionally, many communities have seen an increase in protests and violence, with innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. 

When that happens, sometimes the only safe place is your house and the only safe, outdoor place is your own patio. This is why your patio is as important as your house: bring your lifestyle outdoors and start living on your patio!

When to Consider Investing in a Patio?

Now, you may say to yourself, ‘I have a backyard. I don’t know that I want to spend the money to build a patio.’  I said that too. In fact, I was one of those homebuyers who didn’t really worry about having an ‘outdoor room’ at the time of purchase. I saw that there was enough space in our backyard to do something, a few years down the road, when my house décor was finished, or we got tired of dining out, concerts, movies, travel…. 

And then I spent the spring, summer, fall and winter of 2020 pretty much staring at the four walls of my house. (What about you?) Patios became indispensable for many people so put a high priority on investing in your own backyard space — build a patio.

Do You Really Need to Invest in a Patio?

One fact you may wish to consider: Jason Knott from Emerald Connected Brands (www.cepro.com)  reported that 61% of all new homes built in 2020 had an outdoor patio, a new record.  Patio additions are making a comeback, and may soon be on most homebuyer’s must-have lists. So whether you want to enjoy the backyard BBQ now or are considering selling anytime in the future, a patio may increase your personal enjoyment, house value and help you get the top sale price. A big reason to consider investing in your patio!  

Just remember it’s not just the house that matters most anymore.  Besides, don’t YOU enjoy spending time outdoors?

Patio Improvement is an Investment

You may be saying to yourself, “But we use our yard now”. Really?  On a daily basis? Or are you only using it on ‘special’ occasions? Or to send the dogs or the kids out back? Or just to mow? Consider my example: It’s not that we didn’t use the backyard – we set up our little bistro set to take advantage of the warmth of the sun and the views of the Blue Ridge. We had planters full of bright pretty flowers.

But we did all that under the carport of our house: the carport, the space meant for our car (I mean, even the car had its own space!). The only time we were out in the backyard was to mow it or pick up the deer poop. We really weren’t USING the space we had at all, we were WATCHING it. 

Reasons to Build a Patio

Look, the yard has been bought already (and taxed too, remember). Why not design a space that will not only add value but can be enjoyed by you and your family for years? 

• SPACE: A patio gives you extra space – for relaxing, for entertaining, for outdoor dining, for cocktails, for study, for observing nature – out in the yard. Being outside offers benefits, like a reduction in stress, tension, anger or depression; provides an emotional boost; and finally allows sunlight to give your body vitamin D, too. No matter the season (with a few adjustments) you can turn the patio into your own little escape.

• DESIGN: Offering versatility in shape, size and material, patios can add an interesting element to your home’s landscaping. You can highlight views, add privacy, or make a certain area more accessible. You can install your patio next to your home to act as an extension, or install it elsewhere in your yard to make an area shine. A patio gives you the opportunity to design your own unique space.

• VALUE: Adding a patio to your home is an easy and affordable way to increase its market value. In 2008, a study by the University of Michigan found that consumers valued a landscaped home 11% higher than the same home without good landscaping (1). And that was in 2008 – I suspect this number has gone way up since then. When you sell your home in the future, prospective buyers will love the fact that there is a patio in the backyard.

Building a patio is a wonderful way to make your backyard more functional and enjoyable – think of it as a fun and profitable upgrade. And remember this: every day is Friday on the patio!

(1) Best backyard improvements to add most value, Barbara Corcoran, Today contributor

Please Leave a Comment: Why Build a Patio?

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below: have you invested in your patio? Do you think it was worth it? Will you buy a house in the future that does not have an outdoor living space?

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