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Every time a prospective homebuyer walks onto your property, there are a few things that they will absolutely not put up with. These deal breakers can be anywhere in the home, but there is one area that we often forget about: the backyard.

The backyard is very important to family life. After all, this is the place where children will enjoy their childhood and play in a safe and secured environment. Most homebuyers prefer single-family dwellings solely because of the usable outdoor space! Take some time to focus on your backyard. After all, there are ways that you can update your backyard without spending money.

Pool in the Backyard
To many buyers, a pool can be seen as an expensive maintenance fee that they will have to pay for on top of the mortgage. Once they see a pool, they’re going to start doing some calculations in their head thinking, “Now how much is this going to cost me?” Whether it’s above or below ground, a pool can raise a flood of concerns over child safety.

Size of the Plot
The appraisal of your home is typically made in two elements, the plot size and the actual value of the physical home. That said, the size of your yard comes into play so you want to make sure that you spend a generous amount of time prepping your backyard for visitors. Getting rid of clutter and opening up the yard to make your lot feel larger will help you when it comes time to sell.

Pet Products
Hide dishes, play toys, and photos of your pets as this may make the buyer feel like the home is dirty, especially for a homeowner that doesn’t like the idea of having pets inside the house. This will be a deal breaker if the buyer is allergic to cats and/or dogs.

Landscaping
With the price of water rising rapidly and droughts in California, grass isn’t as appealing as it once was. When frugal buyers see grass, they see a sky-high water bill that will eventually lead to a dead yard and a new project to be undertaken. Think about landscaping trends like xeric landscaping, native plants, and artificial turf to make your home more appealing to all home buyers.

Leaving Backyard Photos Out of your Listing
This is a rookie mistake. If you leave out photos of your backyard, homebuyers will think that you have something to hide. If you have a gorgeous yard, why wouldn’t you want to showcase it in your listing? Are you hiding any skeletons in the closet?

Noisy Neighbors
Now this may be seen as something outside of your realm, but it may be worth a knock on the door to let your neighbors know that you will be showing your house at a given time. Rowdy neighbors can be an instant turn off to potential buyers. Make sure your neighbors’ parties are held on a different day than your open house to give buyers a better peace of mind. After all, they will share a fence with these neighbors for an indefinite period of time.

So What Are Homebuyers Looking For?
A survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders found that new homebuyers are looking for exterior lighting, lots of trees, a deck or patio, and a fenced in yard. Beyond the basics, an outdoor amenity that is rapidly gaining in popularity is the outdoor fireplace/fire pit, outdoor kitchens, and the outdoor living room.

Investing in the backyard can net you some of the highest returns. Knowing what real estate appraisers (and homebuyers) are looking for will help you sell your property faster. That said, the exterior of your home is just as important as the interior of your home. Many people assume that the front and backyard aren’t crucial to the buying process so they overlook these pitfalls. Make sure that your backyard does not have any hidden deal breakers that could steer away new bids!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

With the weather getting cooler in many parts of the country, house hunters start to pay attention to different features of the homes they are looking at. For example, a house that offers a heated screened porch all of a sudden moves up on people’s “must-have” list.

Not only do screened porches offer a sanctuary in an age of increasing concerns of mosquitos and other bugs, but they allow people a little feeling of “escape” from the home”an area where people can relax and read and just put their troubles behind them.

A screened porch obviously has many benefits when it comes to weather. It protects from rain and too much sun, and when heated properly, allow people to enjoy a winter day while sitting inside. Though adding in storm windows is recommended if you’re going to make regular use of it in the winter.

If you’re putting your house on the market this fall and already have a porch, adding screens might be a way to attract some new people, as it’s an amenity that has been growing in popularity. It’s not too expensive and can be done relatively fast.

Or if you’ve recently purchased a home, you might want to build your own screened porch. There are numerous options when deciding on the materials to build with. Most suggest designing the porch in three phases: flooring, exterior materials and interior trim. Everything from pressure-treated Yellow Southern Pine to vinyl or up-cycled composites can be considered.

It’s important to know what you want your ceiling to look like as well. Flat ceilings may give a screened porch that interior room feel, whereas a vaulted or cathedral ceiling is spacious, allowing for better ventilation.

Don’t forget doors. If you want one leading directly to the house, it may require some extra construction. But if you simply want it to wrap around the side for easier entry from the exterior of the house, aluminum doors are recommended because wood doors tend to warp over time.

Now, even though this might seem like a project you might want to take on yourself, utilizing a professional contractor is probably a safer bet. They will know the zoning laws, can deal with any issues that might pop up and can build it in less time.

Buy some comfortable porch furniture, add in some music and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying spending your free time in another great part of your home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

What is wabi-sabi you ask? Its an ancient Japanese philosophy and way of life thats ready to transform your living space. At the core of wabi-sabi is the notion that nothing is permanent nor perfect. When applied to interior design, the concept is focused on creating a simple environment that celebrates natural beauty and puts you at peace with your surroundings.

If this sounds like it could be something for you, then here are a few tips to bring wabi-sabi style into your home.

Imperfection is Beautiful

A main pillar of the philosophy is about embracing the quirks and imperfections of life. An antique tray thats chipped or a handmade mug thats slightly lopsided, for example, is not flawed, but authentic. In many ways, its about accepting things that are beyond your control and finding the beauty in them.

Look to Nature

Natural materials convey a sense of impermanence that embodies wabi-sabi. Reclaimed woods, distressed leathers, and stones that have developed a patina are a reminder that life is constantly changing and nothing lasts forever. With age, however, these items often tell a story and become more significant than when they were new.

Live Simply

Wabi-sabi subscribes to the idea that every item in your home should contribute to the overall energy of the living space and make you feel good. In some ways, this overlaps with minimalism because it means you could probably live without all that extra stuff that ends up in piles around the house. On the other hand, you dont necessarily have to strip your aesthetic down to the bare bones. As long as an object holds true value to you, its worth keeping. The goal is for your home to feel calming and evoke nostalgia. Some even describe it as a sense of melancholic beauty.

Ultimately, wabi-sabi is for those who see that true beauty and wisdom cannot be bought, but come with age, and those who apply its principles to their home will be rewarded with a cozy environment thats thoughtfully curated.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Andrew Carnegie”founder of U.S. Steel and one of historys richest men”once observed, More millionaires have been made through owning real estate than through all other industrial investments combined.

Owning real estate investments remains one of the most effective means of growing ones wealth. But to fully take advantage of the opportunities the real estate market affords, those planning on purchasing investment properties should familiarize themselves with the different types of investment products and should spread their investment across several widely different opportunities.

But how? Here are a few core concepts:

What Is a Portfolio?
Investors and industry professionals refer to a persons collection of investments as a portfolio. This is a concept that basically encompasses all of your investments. So, if you own stocks, bonds and rental properties, that’s what your portfolio consists of.

What Is Portfolio Diversity?
A portfolio is diverse when the investments it contains vary in relatively equal amounts. Keeping with our above example, a portfolio that is 90 percent stocks, 5 percent bonds and 5 percent rental properties is not diverse. A portfolio with 33 percent of each investment type would be considered diverse.

In the context of a real estate-specific portfolio, diversity means owning several different kinds of real estate investments.

Why Is Diversity Important?
This is a great question that a lot of new investors overlook. Heres an example that may resonate with many: In 2008, the housing market collapsed. Many people lost their homes, and the average value of those homes went down dramatically. If you were a real estate investor who focused primarily on renting out houses, there’s a good chance you went out of business in 2008.

But, if you were a real estate investor who was also receiving rent from properties associated with unaffected industries”like commercial real estate”you were more likely to survive the collapse.

In short, owning three houses is good. However, owning one house and a grocery store is better because, even if people dont have the money to buy a new home, theyve still got to eat.

How Do I Diversify My Real Estate Portfolio?
For the new investor, or for the investor who hasnt explored much of the market, your first stop should be at the offices of an experienced real estate agent who works specifically with investors. An experienced investment agent can help you find the right properties”and the right balance of properties”to secure your wealth and make you a tidy profit.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.

Source: Dixie Somers/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Urban life comes with plenty of advantages, but if theres one challenge that can be difficult to overcome, its staying connected to nature. For many of us, being surrounded by plants and trees or hearing the sounds of birds and cascading water is an easy way to relax and find tranquility, especially when the grind of the city starts to bog you down. If your urban environment leaves you yearning to reconnect with Mother Earth, here are a few ways to experience nature in the city.

Create Your Own Oasis
Whether its a small backyard or a spacious terrace, make the most of your outdoor living area and try to surround yourself with plants. There are numerous benefits to doing so, from the appealing aesthetic to air purification and extra privacy. If you dont have a green thumb, its okay to work with a professional landscape designer to create an enchanting little hideaway right outside your home and, of course, you can always fill your indoor space with plants when it gets cold outside.

Rooftop Gardens
Rooftop gardens are becoming increasingly popular in the city, from hotels with verdant lounges and restaurants to public buildings with well-tended green spaces on top. Roof-to-table restaurants are a another relatively new concept and although they might not have seating on the roof, you can still treat yourself to fresh, organic vegetables that are grown right upstairs.

Parks & Trails
Local parks, nature trails and botanical gardens are all easy ways to get a quick dose of nature when you dont have time to get out of the city. Taking just a few minutes to appreciate all the sights, sounds and smells can leave you feeling more mindful and at peace in your environment.

Indoor Herb Garden
If your home is a bit limited in terms of outdoor space, all it takes is a sunny spot inside to grow your own herb garden. You can garnish your meals (and cocktails) with the fresh flavors of homegrown rosemary, mint, cilantro and much more while getting to experience the wonders of nature.

Published with permission from RISMedia.