June is the perfect month to think about outdoor spaces and how to market that picture-perfect patio and outdoor kitchen. In the South, we’re well known for our easygoing patios where family and friends gather to relax, sip a refreshing cocktail, plan a small dinner gathering, and watch the kiddos play. During the quarantine, we’ve all gotten our fair share of fresh air and patio time! We don’t know about you, but it has definitely motivated us to clean up those patio spaces and show them some love!Whether your space is big or small, we’ve got the right-sized tips to help buyers imagine themselves chilling at the end of a warm day while passing time on your back patio.
In addition to lemonade, icebox cookies and a handful of “socially distanced” friends, we’ve put together a short list of key “ingredients” to create a picture perfect patio/outdoor kitchen:
1) Grab the bucket and soap - Just like the inside of the home, your patio and outdoor spaces need a good dust & shine. Give all surfaces a thorough pressure washing and/or cleaning. Once on the market, sweeping and blowing off these spaces regularly is a must. And don’t forget to give your grill and grilling area a deep scrubbing.
2) How about a fresh coat of lipstick?! -Repaint and/or stain back door, shutters, posts, beams and decking - great for tired, sun bleached, or peeling surfaces! Continue the “lipstick” for lackluster wrought iron furniture by using a can of spray paint in a color with lots of pizazz!
3) Plants that persuade -persuade buyers to “sit a spell” and enjoy your beautiful outdoor garden with potted plants and/or flower beds. Remove all weeds from pots and beds and add some colored perennials for that extra pop of charm. Trim back any bushes or plants that are overgrown and hiding your house, and please -- remove any dead plants or empty pots. Add pops of green to sitting spaces and surfaces –why not “green up” your outdoor kitchen, too? Hanging baskets and ferns are great additions to smaller patios with limited floor space.
4) Lighting that’s so inviting - twilight is a perfect selling opportunity! Add some cute simple string bulb lighting to your patio space and/or illuminating lights in beds or around deck spaces. How about a charming pendant light over the outdoor dining table? If you get too much sunlight and not enough shade, you may want to consider adding an umbrella to create some extra shade. Make sure your umbrella choice it is consistent with your other patio furniture’s color scheme.
5) Stage to amaze -How about staging your outdoor patio and kitchen to create a space that invites buyers to step outside and linger? We love neutral patio furniture and cushions mixed with pops of color and patterns using accent pillows. Consider adding an outdoor rug for an even bigger invitation to buyers. (Rugs also help to define your patio space.) How to get started? Pretend you are having people over for an outdoor BBQ or birthday party and visualize all the key ingredients to make your outdoor space energetic, fun and welcoming.
a) Set the table - getting ready for your MLS photos? Use cute & coordinating place mats, napkins, plates, cups and/or wine glasses, and a vibrant blooming plant, fresh flowers in a vase and/or a bowl of colorful fruit (i.e. oranges or lemons). Remember the stager’s motto: less is more!
b) Style the grill and outdoor kitchen too! - with a gotta-have gingham towel hanging from the grill, a wicker tray or cutting board, clean grilling tools, more baskets with utensils, stacked plates and napkins “for serving guests”, and always – plants!Mix all these ingredients together, and you’ll have the perfect recipe for a buyer-pleasing outdoor space that whispers “Relax. Visit. Dine. Stay.”
