If you’re like thousands of homeowners across the country, you’re gearing up for a summer of—finally!—safely gathering friends and family together for backyard barbecues, cocktail hours, yard games, and s’mores nights. But after a year of being mostly at home, is your backyard ready to entertain?
HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights Report for Spring 2021 surveyed agents on which backyard upgrades homeowners and potential buyers are finding most desirable this year, and the findings are definitive: outdoor space is huge in 2021 when it comes to the housing market.
Overall, a fire pit with seating was rated by far the most important, with almost 77% of agents saying it was the top backyard upgrade. A three-way tie came in next— lighting, built-in grills, and outdoor living rooms each received the top vote from about 53% of agents. Finally, 44% of agents say space for outdoor games is key to updating your backyard this year.
The good news is that most of these upgrades are relatively inexpensive, so that when you sell, you have the potential to reap a positive ROI. If you’re looking to invest in a bigger project, consider adding in a patio or elevated deck, or even creating a backyard office. These work spaces that connect to the outdoors have become increasingly popular as more of us find ourselves looking at a permanent work-from-home future.
Of course, there are differences in what homeowners want by region. In the Northeast, space for yard games is ranked more important than in the rest of the country; in the South Atlantic, more homeowners and buyers want outdoor TVs. Midwesterners love their elevated decks, while those in the South Central region value built-in grills more highly. And in the Pacific, where many are able to use their outdoor space year-round, outdoor living rooms rank more highly than in the rest of the country.
