the outside but from the inside as well. It will help cool it down more from the inside by keeping the sun from shining into the home. Patio umbrellas, installing a misting sys- tem, or adding retractable screens are other ways to cool down outdoor living spaces without going over budget on your renovation. Once again, remember to show these off at open houses or showings. Taking it outdoors will help your next investment project stand out. Upgrading your outdoor space is just one more way to show a potential buyer how livable the home really is. Adding outdoor spaces helps to make any home more memorable for buyers. Remember, too, that there’s no reason a home can’t have mul - tiple outdoor living spaces. Think of outdoor living as a way to take advantage of free added square footage. Outdoor spaces are almost like adding more rooms to the home. Any project, no matter how large or small, will benefit from adding outdoor spaces. The outdoor renovation you do on your next investment property could very well make it your best and most profitable investment. •
varied. If the weather permits, have your heat source up and running to give buyers the full effect. Nothing is more welcoming than having an outdoor fireplace going at an open house on a cool day. For homes located in hotter parts of the county, creating outdoor living that provides a cool place to hang out during those hot summer months might be just what your next renovation needs. The cost of adding a cool outdoor living area is as little or as much
an area for less than $20 a light. Adding a landscape light to smaller yards can help give the yard a more expansive feel if you place them at the far end of the yard. Consider that most buyers need to view homes after work, often when it’s already dark out. More outdoor lighting is the way to go to help show off any property better. Heating the outdoor living area means extending the time someone will get to spend outdoors. The addition of a fire source gives buyers an opportunity to see the endless potential of having a home with outdoor living. From propane heat lamps to propane fire pits and full-blown custom built-in fireplaces, and even portable fireplaces, the ways to bring warmth to your outdoor living area are
Michele Van Der Veen is host of Good Day segments, including Flip It, Deco- rate Like a Designer, and Stage to Sell. She started her career in real estate
investing more than 30 years ago. A published author, Van Der Veen has been recognized and featured in international magazines for her unique approach to interior design. Acquiring a formal education from the Interior Designers Institute of California, her experience stems from building custom homes to flipping more than 100 homes and working in commercial real estate development alongside her father at a young age. Not afraid to push the limit on her own designs and investments, Van Der Veen will often be heard reassuring her team about her decisions by saying “Don’t worry, we are the comps!” For more on Van Der Veen’s work or to contact her, visit iHeartHomescorp.com.
as you want to spend on it. Adding a covered porch or
pergola will, of course, be at the top end of the cost. Still, the visual impression it will give buyers may help your investment pay off. Those kinds of additions will change the feel of the home not only from
26 :: INVESTOR REVIEW :: JUL-AUG 2023
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