Adding a gazebo, pergola, or ramada in your yard

The weather is finally getting nicer and most likely you'll be spending plenty of time in an outdoor space. Why not turn your backyard into a real oasis by adding a gazebo, cabana, or ramada? When Shade is Needed When it comes to your next landscaping project, you'll want to take into consideration where you live and the outdoor space. When you're designing a backyard landscape, be it adding lush greens, colorful flowers, or perhaps a swimming pool to an outdoor living space, there's one thing you shouldn't leave out: shaded space. One of the most popular custom backyard features is a covered patio or area. Think of an outdoor shade structure for your outdoor space that might include a ramada, pergola, or gazebo. As you start dreaming and planning your new outdoor space and how fantastic your outdoor oasis it's going to be, you might be wondering how what the key differences are that these outdoor structures differ.  What is a Ramada? A ramada is a pitched, fully covered solid roof structure, offering complete shade and shelter from rain and bad weather. It can also make a good pool house for those who have a swimming pool in their backyard.  One main key difference is that the closed solid roof holds heat which can be perfect for cooler seasons. Sometimes, it can be an extension of the home, (add an outdoor sofa, outdoor furniture) though it's typically as a free-standing structure and part of a larger project. The ramada's ceiling can be vaulted or flat and built with one or more walls to accommodate a fireplace, outdoor kitchen, or even a television. Ramadas can be made of materials such as brick and stone, wood, or concrete and added to give pizazz to an outdoor space. With its closed roof, a ramada can also support an electrical supply for outdoor lighting, fans, kitchen appliances, outdoor audio/video, and more. A ramada is a terrific addition to any backyard landscaping or outdoor space project. Even think about adding a ceiling fan for even more cool breezes and lazy summer days. Whether you have a swimming pool, spa, or a glorious garden with outdoor lighting, ramadas work for relaxing and entertaining in your outdoor space.  Pretty Pergolas Many custom pergolas have an open, latticed roof usually flat, letting in sunlight in your outdoor space but casting a full shadow depending on the time of day. Great for adding some outdoor furniture, an outdoor grill for a perfect place to entertain. Columns or posts on a custom pergola that have a support trellis structure are great for growing vines and vegetation. Try placing near a swimming pool and/or use it for a pool house or a covered patio area to entertain. Custom Pergolas are often built with aluminum lattice, or rough-sawn Douglas Fir that's painted or stained. These are great places for extending an existing patio in an outdoor space, placing beautiful outdoor furniture to lounge the day away, and are designed to look like an extension of the home. You can also build your pergola with a pergola kit that can be purchased at a home improvement store, Sam's Club, or Costco. Whether it's a custom-built pergola or a pergola kit you picked up from a home improvement store or Sam's Club or Costco, it will surely make an excellent addition to a home. Pergolas are also ideal if adding a spa or pool in an outdoor space. However, they don't provide shelter from the elements as the lattice design lets in the sunshine or rain, but they are great for hanging out after a swim or while entertaining with friends and family in your outdoor space. Add lights on the roof and voila, you've got a romantic setting when the sun goes down. Glorious Gazebos A gazebo is another common share structure with a fully covered, pitched roof, and vaulted ceiling that's nice for an outdoor space. They have an overall circular shape with five or more sides, often octagonal supported by eight supporting posts. These structures are typically made with wood, though they can also be built with steel or iron, vinyl, or aluminum. An aluminum hardtop gazebo is usually situated in an outdoor space providing an attractive view and can be screened in on all sides to keep bugs out. They can also be fitted with an electrical supply for a fan, lighting, or television. Because of their open structure, an aluminum hard-top gazebo can make a great addition to a backyard or outdoor space with a garden, manufactured pond, or colorful landscaping. It'll give you the perfect place to sit and relax during the day or at night. Considerations When Adding a Structure When while creating the perfect backyard landscape with an outdoor kitchen or a simpler outdoor space, and choosing a structure, there are some main points to consider: location, style, and use. The climate plays a big role in which materials are best for longevity because you don't want to have to replace the backyard structure after a short time in the outdoor space. The style should complement the backyard surroundings or outdoor space and your home. As for its use, if you prefer something for entertaining any time of year, you'll want a closed-roof structure. Open or latticed roofs are better for warm summer days and nights in the outdoor space. Based on these considerations, you should be able to choose the best structure to accent your backyard or outdoor space. Other Ideas for Shade Trellises are lattices often used as an artistic design element for gardens and outdoor spaces. But if you put a trellis in front of a wall of the house that gets a lot of intense sun, it can create shade especially if covered with vines in your outdoor space. Latticed arbors can offer shade on walkways in a yard but if you're still needing a little more summertime shade on your patio or outdoor space, a pergola or ramada might be better options. Placement of Outdoor Structures If you're planning to add a gazebo, pergola, or gazebo to your backyard or outdoor space evaluate the future location to make sure it will serve your needs and gives the best environment for the backyard structure you're planning to add. The best sites for outdoor structures for outdoor living spaces are level and flat for the best support and drainage. Avoid adding a new outdoor shade structure to low-lying areas in the yard or outdoor living space where water tends to collect after heavy rain. Also, avoid building a structure near immature trees or too close to a swimming pool that could interfere with the proposed site or outdoor space as they grow larger. Think about the paths you will take through the yard to reach the outdoor shade structure. You don't want to place your backyard structure in areas of the outdoor space that will be through a flower garden or possible hazards like tree stumps or sprinklers. Finally, opt for an area or outdoor living space that's compatible with the intended purpose of the new outdoor backyard structure. If possible, choose a site centrally located to encourage socializing and entertainment. If you want a more private location place it near fencing, bushes, or trees. If you want to have a morning cup of coffee or quiet dinner in the new outdoor shade structure, place the backyard structure close to the house for easier access. Research Building Codes After deciding on the size and proposed placement of your new backyard structure for your outdoor living space, do research about local building codes and building permit needs within your community, and neighborhood. Also check the rules of your Homeowners' Association before beginning the outdoor project as there may also be specific requirements concerning the distance of structures of your outdoor living space from public roads, utility poles, or other structures, including your home. If you live in such a development or community of homes, you may also need to get approval from your Homeowners' Association before adding a new backyard structure to your outdoor living space. Most HOA's limit the height of structures to preserve the site lines of surrounding homes. They may also have regulations regarding how close an outdoor shade structure may be built near fences, walls, or other structures. Have fun this season relaxing in your pergola, gazebo, or ramada while staying cool and bug-free!  

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Home Staging or DIY When Getting Ready to Sell?

It’s common knowledge that if you want to sell your home fast and for the best price, staging is necessary. Staging a home lets buyers see the property in its best light and may help give them an idea as to what the property can offer. But staging isn’t easy and doing it yourself could be a lot of work, so you might want to consider getting a professional stager to do it for you or ask your realtor for suggestions. As a seller, you have a lot to gain from making it easier on the buyer to see the potential of the space — without all your stuff, the best option is to stage the home. Benefits of Home Staging The National Associations of Realtors 2019 Profile of Home Staging Report, lists many positives about selling for sellers and buyers, below is some of the information derived from the report. Buyers Are Well Versed in Their Wants About 74 percent of real estate agent respondents to NAR’s survey on home staging said buyers know what they want in a home before searching. Staging a home makes it simpler for buyers to know when a home meets their expectations, while little or no staging could mean a buyer is unable to envision the space — and get a feel for what it could be. Among respondents, 40% said home staging affected most buyers’ views of a home, versus 6% who said it made zero difference. Home Staging Shows Potential Designing and living in a home is personal, and there are plenty of individual styles and tastes. However, it’s the buyer, and not the seller, who the home needs to appeal to when it’s on the selling market. According to 83% of buyers’ agents, staging a home makes it simpler for a buyer to envision the property as a future home. And 38% of buyers’ agents report staging makes buyers more likely to see a showing at a home they saw listed online. Because while you can’t predict what everyone’s tastes are going to be, you can stage a home to highlight it to a broader audience. Staging Prioritizes Key Spaces All rooms in a home aren’t on the same level in terms of the importance of staging, the NAR report states. While 47% of buyers’ agents report seeing a staged living room is important to their client, only 19% of buyers’ agents say something similar like bathrooms are more important and 8% say so for guest bedrooms. This is important info for sellers, who may have limited resources toward a full staging. Knowing what rooms are key lets sellers prioritize certain areas when staging to make the best impact for the least amount of work. Staging May Increase Home’s Value In the report, it was found that one-quarter of buyers’ agents told the NAR that staging increased the offering price by 1% to 5% compared to homes not staged. Among sellers’ agents, 22% reported the same and 17% said it increased the offering price by 6% to 10%. Also, 0% of sellers’ agents and just 1% of buyer's agents said staging hurt the offering price. With not much to lose and the possibility to gain, staging appears to be worth the effort. Staging may Decrease Time Home Is On Market No seller wants to find themselves sitting on a forever listing. The longer a home stays on the market, the more difficult it can be to sell, meaning there’s much incentive to get the home sold in a few days as possible. And 28 percent of sellers’ agents said a small decrease in days on the market for staged homes, and 25% reported a substantial decrease. Only 12% of sellers’ agents said staging a home had no effect on its days on the market. Why do staged homes tend to sell faster? Probably because of the various points listed above and staging helps buyers evaluate if they can visualize themselves in a property and its potential. Staging a Home Costs The median price of home staging varies from state to state, and this cost can easily be recouped if it leads to an increase in the home’s value. Who pays for staging? Many sellers’ agents do staging themselves, as it may make their jobs easier. However, in some cases, it’s the seller who pays for staging, either spending the money toward hiring a professional staging service or doing the improvements on their own. These are some of the basics when it comes to staging a home and here are some other things sellers should consider: De-cluttering. Getting rid of clutter is effective and highly encouraged as it opens the space and makes the areas look larger and more appealing. When you’re getting ready to sell, box up everything not needed on a day-to-day basis and store it away until you move. De-personalizing. It can be hard for a buyer to envision themselves in a home if they see the items of the home’s present owners. It’s better to create a blank canvas. Stowaway family photos and any other personal items — including beauty items, and other personal hygiene products on the bathroom counter. Deep Cleaning. Cleaning is essential to staging and makes a positive first impression. If you don’t have the time do hire a professional cleaning service to do the job. Small Repairs. Larger repairs can be done in post-inspection negotiations, but small repairs—like paint touch-ups should be performed during the staging process. Small fixes are fast and inexpensive and can be glaring to buyers if they’re not. Go Neutral. The above can be helpful when selling a home, and if your home is painted in bright colors or if you have an unusual decorating scheme, it may be worth neutralizing the space for buyers. Paint over odd colors in white, gray, or another standard neutral shade. Change bright carpeting for taupe or beige. Rent a storage unit to place other bold and/or extra pieces of furniture. It’s not cheap but may impact how fast a home sells —as well as the price. Staging Can Help Overall, staging a home can help sell a home in a competitive buyer’s market but it can also be costly if you hire someone to do it for sure. On the flip side, doing it yourself can take much time and effort. Do work with your real estate agent and decide if staging is important for your home and if it makes sense overall.

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The Average Homeowner Gained More Than $55K in Equity over the Past Year

If you’re a current homeowner, you should know your net worth just got a big boost. It comes in the form of rising home equity. Equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. Today, you’re building that equity far faster than you may expect – and this gain is great news for you.Here’s how it happened. Home values are on the rise thanks to low housing supply and high buyer demand. Basically, there aren’t enough homes available to meet this high buyer interest,  so bidding wars are driving home prices up. When you own a home, the rising prices mean your home is worth more in today’s market. And as home values climb, your equity does too. As Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains:“Home prices rose 18% during 2021 in the CoreLogic Home Price Index, the largest annual gain recorded in its 45-year history, generating a big increase in home equity wealth.”The latest Homeowner Equity Insights from CoreLogic shed light on just how much rising home values have boosted homeowner equity. According to that report, the average homeowner’s equity has grown by $55,300 over the last 12 months.Want to know what’s happening in your area? Here’s a breakdown of the average year-over-year equity growth for each state based on that data.How Rising Equity Impacts YouIn addition to building your overall net worth, equity can also help you achieve other goals like buying your next home. It works like this: when you sell your house, the equity you built up comes back to you in the sale.In a market where you’re gaining so much equity, it may be just what you need to cover a large portion – if not all – of the down payment on your next home. So, if you’ve been holding off on selling and worried about being priced out of your next home because of today’s home price appreciation, rest assured your equity can help fuel your move.Bottom LineEquity can be a real game-changer if you’re planning to make a move. To find out just how much equity you have in your home and how you can use it to fuel your next purchase, let’s connect so you can get a professional equity assessment report on your house.

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