With a giant palm tree next to the pool, it was an easy decision to run with the idea of creating a backyard beach. Hiring a tree trimmer to clean up the old palm tree helped to give the tree a clean and almost expen- sive new look, which added greatly to the feel of a vacation oasis. This tree went from being a giant eye sore in the backyard to becoming the anchor piece of this backyard beach, which was soon to be the talk of the neigh- borhood. The old rundown pump house was doomed for demolition. Covered in vines it had wood rot and was not something I had originally intend- ed on saving, but after pulling back
all the vines and seeing the shape and charm of this old pump house, I could see that investing in and repairing it could only add to the beach vibe. Of course, no beach is complete without sand! We removed some of the grass and lined the ground with plastic to prohibit weeds. We used playground sand for the beach because it is filtered, washed, dried and screened for dust. Staging was fun and simple on this project—a few sand chairs, beach towels, a big straw hat and of course a beach ball all helped to give poten- tial buyers a great visual on how much fun this backyard could be!
Beach decor
With every investment property, I want potential buyers to walk away feeling the experience of being in— and out of—the home. I want buyers to go home remembering the feeling they had while at my investment property and be able to see themselves liv- ing there, enjoying themselves while entertaining family and friends. Even though this renovated space does not constitute as square footage, it added value by helping buyers leave the prop- erty with the feeling that they are get- ting more living space for their money. I find as an investor and designer that creating living space outside the house can often be more fun than working on the house itself! From outdoor kitch- ens and volleyball courts to wet bars and swing sets, creating more spaces where life is lived outside can evoke the WOW factor your next investment property might need. •
After yard
About the Designer: Growing up assisting my father building and investing in strip malls, it was clear at an early age that real estate investing was a natural path for me to take. I received a formal education in design from the Interior Designers Institute of Newport Beach, California, and have more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate development, custom home building, and flipping houses. Contact me at m.ihearthomescorp@gmail.com or ihearthomescorp.com.
68 | think realty magazine :: june 2021
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