Backyard Upgrades That Buyers Love

On the rare Ellensburg spring day that is not ruined by wind that tries to blast you off of the face of the planet, it’s so nice to spend some time outdoors. An inviting outdoor space in your own backyard is the easiest way to soak up that fresh air.

Something about a backyard promises leisure, relaxation, and space to be content. I am not qualified to psychoanalyze the appeal of the backyard, but I can tell you that the feeling is nearly universal and produces an immediate reaction when buyers are looking at a home.

No matter the weather or the season, buyers love the appearance of a thoughtful outdoor space. They can’t help but imagine a new version of their lives, where they can say:

• I don’t microwave leftovers, I cook outdoors!

• I don’t open TikTok first thing in the morning, I read the newspaper on the patio.

• Candy Crush? Never heard of it. I play with my pets and/or my kids!

• I garden?!

In no particular order, here are the upgrades that buyers seem to love the most:

Patios adjacent to cooking/dining spaces. Coffee al fresco and dining outdoors are undeniably enjoyable. Easy access to the patio promises to make this a reality.

Privacy & wind protection! Fences and foliage make it easy to relax without a thought of what the neighbors might think. Bonus points if the barrier provides an outdoor space beyond the wiles of our Kittitas Valley wind.

Well-manicured and easy-care landscaping reads as, “having a beautiful backyard is easy and fun!” Automatic sprinklers help here, too.

Shade (in the form of mature landscaping, a pergola, or a seasonal canvas shade) promises a respite from the summer heat, thus extending the backyard season into those otherwise too hot late August temps.

Fire pit and/or designated grill area are primarily appealing. Somewhere, somehow, our distant hunter/gatherer ancestors rejoice.

Lack of yard got you feeling down? Even in the absence of a yard, it’s simple to harness the appeal of an outdoor space with a simple seat and table combo coupled with a plant or two on a small front porch or an apartment balcony.