As summer approaches and temperatures start to rise, no one wants to spend time inside sweating over a hot stove. With an outdoor kitchen, you can make the most of the beautiful warm nights by spending them with your friends and family.

Whether you have thousands to spend or a just few hundred to splurge, create your own outdoor kitchen and enjoy all it has to offer.

Upgrade your grill

A rusty, dusty grill doesn’t inspire lingering outdoor evenings. Upgrade your outdoor grill and take care of it all year round for a stand-out outdoor kitchen. A standard grill will cost you $150 to $300, and top-of-the-line outdoor ranges may be upwards of $1,500.

Before buying the biggest and best grill, consider how you will use one. Will you be feeding the whole soccer team? Or perhaps grilling some steaks for a romantic dinner for two? Look for a grill with features you will actually use and not just the latest trends.

Enhance your seating

If your basics are up to date, then you’ll want to upgrade your patio furniture and seating options too. If you plan on dining outside often, invest in an actual dining table and appropriate chairs. Eating a gourmet dinner off your lap downgrades an otherwise luxurious experience.

If you’re looking for more versatile pieces, sleek contemporary options coordinate nicely with most outdoor kitchen setups. Expect to spend a good chunk of change on quality furniture, but remember: With the proper care and maintenance, it can last as long as high-end interior pieces. Make sure you have a plan for the off-season, whether that’s moving outdoor furniture to indoor storage or securely covering it to protect it from the elements.

Add the extras

Want a prep sink? Wine fridge? Ice machine? Built-in smoker? You got it. The sky’s the limit when it comes to custom additions — or rather, your budget is the limit. Think carefully about your space before making a wish list.

Perhaps a full chef’s kitchen won’t quite fit in your backyard, but a beautiful wine fridge and some extra counter space are just what you need to take your outdoor kitchen to the next level.

Some features require installing or extending utilities (think: water or electricity), so don’t forget about portable additions such as a bar cart — which adds class without hassle.

Make it comfortable

Think about how you will provide amenities to make being outdoors comfortable, such as shade, heat (if using your space year-round), and perhaps even a few extras like a TV or audio equipment.

Tucking the seating close to the house may help you take advantage of a porch or awning. Otherwise, structures such as a light-strung pergola add shade during the day, light at night and atmosphere all the time.

If you have the room, the addition of a fireplace allows for a longer entertaining season. Outdoor kitchens don’t have to be just for summer, after all.

If you like to have some indoor comforts while enjoying your beautiful outside oasis, television and music can be connected outside — although it can be expensive. Bluetooth or portable speakers, a projector and a large sheet, or even an old-fashioned radio are more budget-sensitive options for those looking to add a little fun to their outdoor space.

Apply your own style

Create an outdoor kitchen that suits your style and taste. If you’re working with an existing space, be sure to embrace the style and play up the features, such as dark wood, stone and classic columns.

If you’re starting from scratch, take a look at your indoor design and see what features you like. Then consider incorporating those color schemes, design styles or even furniture shapes into your outdoor kitchen.

While you can’t go wrong designing your outdoor space, consider designs and colors that are versatile so you’re not limited if you want to mix things up in the future.

Make it yours

Your outdoor kitchen should be a comfortable, relaxing space for entertaining or unwinding after a long day of work. Make yours an escape that works for you.

When planning your outdoor kitchen, think about adding one or two small luxuries that will make you excited to enjoy your space. These can be as small as pretty tea lights scattered around or as large as a wood-burning pizza oven.

The post How to Create Your Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.

For many homeowners, the patio borders on magical: a place to relax, entertain, cook out and take a break from the day-to-day. It’s surrounded by vibrant hues, and a meal prepared in an outdoor kitchen somehow tastes better than anything that comes from its indoor counterpart.

Creating that perfect outdoor space for you and your family all starts with the literal foundation of this alfresco living room: the patio materials. Your selection can have a huge effect on the appearance, durability and functionality of your favorite home addition.

Getting started

Before you commit to a type of patio, first envision the finished space. You probably have a good idea of the location and approximate size, so go grab a chair, take it outside, and position it in the intended spot. Then sit, and picture each material in your mind’s eye.

Your patio should not only complement your home and landscape, it should also enhance your lifestyle. If you have a large space to work with, consider incorporating a combination of paving materials; some of the best patio designs include two or more. Using multiple materials lets you integrate inlaid borders that can visually separate an area for lounging from the outdoor kitchen.

When you’ve dreamed up your ideal design, consider which materials would best bring it to life, in terms of both aesthetics and practical issues, such as maintenance requirements and cost.

Concrete

Poured concrete is the patio material of choice for many homeowners because it’s structurally sound, inexpensive, and can even be stamped or dyed to mimic higher-end paving materials. It’s best suited for moderate to warm climates where frost heave is not a concern.

Planning tip: A standard concrete patio is four inches thick, but if you intend to construct something very heavy, such as a built-in fireplace, ask the contractor to reinforce that particular area before you pour.

Bricks

Available in a variety of colors, bricks create a warm and attractive patio. This classic patio style typically costs more than one constructed from concrete, not just for the materials themselves, but also for labor — a significant consideration when every brick must be set by hand, leveled and grouted.

Should you decide to invest, you can design the space with any number of patterns, from a traditional running bond to something with added textural appeal like a boxed basket-weave or herringbone.

Planning tip: For patios, solid 1- or 2-inch-thick paving bricks are the best choice, either dry-laid or mortared in place. Be wary about extending your brick patio into deep shade, or else you’ll need to watch out for a slick surface after every rainfall.

Pavers

Often manufactured from cement, cinder or stone, pavers top the DIY patio wish list for their low price and super simple installation — they’ll have you out there grilling in record time.

If you’re planning to lay your own patio, you’ll need a suitable substrate consisting of at least three inches of sand, and a permanent border, such as a poured concrete curb, to keep the pavers from shifting.

Planning tip: Pavers may be dry-laid by butting them tightly, or installed with uniform mortar joints. If the patio lies over utility lines, know that dry-laid pavers will be simpler to remove and replace if (or when) you need to access the utilities below.

Stone

The highly desirable look of stone comes with a steeper price tag — particularly if your pick isn’t locally sourced — but you can’t beat it for natural appeal. Flat, irregularly shaped stones offer a calm and meandering effect, while uniform-cut slabs of granite, travertine, slate, or bluestone can produce a formal patio that’s fitting for any backyard.

Planning tip: Natural stone is extremely durable for any patio, but if you happen to be planning one poolside, opt for a nonslip variety, such as coral stone.

Tile

Available in ceramic, glass, porcelain, terra cotta and natural stone, tile creates beautiful mosaic patio designs that are refreshingly cool underfoot in hot climates. Because tile is thin, it requires the installation of a concrete slab.

Planning tip: Even if you plan to lay the tile yourself, it’s a good idea to have a professional pour an even slab. Also note that not all tile is suitable for patio construction. To withstand weather, all your materials — tile, thinset, grout and sealer — must be labeled for exterior use.

Crushed stone, pea gravel and sand

If you’re not a fan of rock-solid patios, crushed stone, pea gravel or sand could be more your style. Both crushed stone and gravel offer a variety of colors and textures at low prices, and even sandy Zen gardens can double as patio areas.

You will, however, need to install a solid perimeter to keep the loose material from spreading outside its intended border.

Planning tip: It can be difficult to remove snow and fallen leaves when the seasons change, so consider your climate and environment carefully. To maintain a manicured look, count on refreshing the surface every few years.

The post How to Plan the Perfect Patio first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.

I’m fortunate to have a brand spanking new office thanks to our recent renovation, but I never intended to be sharing it quite so generously with my kids.

There are a few things I’ve learnt about how to live/work harmoniously (within reason) with your kids and partner in one space.

1. Designate a drawer per person

This sounds stupidly simple but designating storage to each individual person has been so good for my state of mind because the worst part about the nightly clean-up is trying to work out where everything goes.

As much as I like the idea of everyone cleaning up their own mess, every parent knows that sometimes you just want the job done without the incessant nagging that precedes it.

With everyone having their own drawer, I can literally scoop each person’s belongings into their individual drawers at the end of the night. No sorting required.

Then when I hear, “Muuuuuum, where is my pencil case?” the answer is always the same. I should also point out that it needn’t be a drawer, it could be a large tub or basket with each person’s name clearly marked on it.

2. Create a schedule for device use

The idea of my kids using my computer for online learning sends shivers down my spine. My Macbook Air is my bread and butter. If I’m not on it, I’m not earning an income, so sharing it is not really an option.

High school kids typically have their own devices and primary school kids, at this point, only need them for specific areas of their learning.

No one is an expert in this, but if you’re sharing devices it makes sense to schedule in the kids’ device time while you’re making breakfast or lunch (or one of the other 25 meals kids require), so that you’re panicking at the idea of the kids using your laptop for Mathletics while your emails continue to mount.

3. Create a partition

I respect the fact that many don’t have a dedicated office space and the kitchen table may be doubling as the family office right now.

Given our open plan-designed homes, the mess that is likely being created there won’t be doing your mental state any favours.

I suggest you buy a room divider.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the options you’ll find in your search engine at the moment. If budget allows, opt for something you love, that can easily be repurposed for when our shared working situation is no more.

A good-looking room divider looks fab in the bedroom and living room, too. If you know you’ll never reuse it, just source something, anything that will zone off the office mess, so you can forget about it while you’re chopping veggies in the kitchen.

Good luck.

The post How to share your home office space with your family first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.

If you’re ready to unload your abode, heed the advice of the experts below. Of course, we can’t guarantee a quick sale, but putting these tips into practice definitely won’t hurt your chances of securing a buyer.

1. Tidy up to make your house stand out

If you’re looking to sell quickly, you’re going to want to start cleaning, especially before those listing photos are taken.

“Pristine houses are more attractive to a buyer, which will keep the buyer excited,” says Debi Benoit, principal and broker at Benoit Mizner Simon & Co. Real Estate in Wellesley, MA. “And an excited buyer always pays more and usually will write an offer quickly.”

That means getting rid of clutter both inside the house and in the yard and putting some elbow grease into making everything look its best. Clean from top to bottom in every room of the house. Wipe down cabinets and drawers, remove any scuffs from the walls, give all kitchen appliances a once-over, clean air vents, shampoo your carpets, and then sweep, vacuum, or mop every inch of the house.

It will take you several days of work, but the payoff will be worth it. Trust us.

2. Have your house staged

Want to go the extra mile beyond cleaning? Consider having your house staged, a way of decorating it so it’s more attractive to buyers.

“It’s best to present the home in its best light,” explains Nile Lundgren, an agent with Trent & Company in New York City. He once had a listing—unstaged—on the market for five months without ever getting an offer.

“We took it off the market, staged it, reshot photos, and put it back on the market,” he says. “Within two weeks, we got into a bidding war and signed a contract shortly thereafter.”

Staging typically takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the availability of rental furniture, the movers, and the installers. If you’re facing a major time crunch, Lundren suggests focusing on staging the beds, sofas, tables, chairs, and art—items that make a house feel like a home where people can live and get comfortable.

3. Hire a professional photographer to take listing photos

It may feel like hiring a professional will be a waste of money; after all, your cellphone has a great camera, right? But that can be a sale killer, says Rosamaria Acuña, a Realtor® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties in La Jolla.

“First impressions are everything and need to be done right,” she says. “A professional photographer has all the tools to capture the right lighting and make everything look brighter and inviting.” The pros also have wide-angle lenses to fit the entire room in the photo.

4. Make your home available for showings

Once everything is set up, get ready to spend a lot of time away from your home so buyers and real estate agents can view the property comfortably— without you or your pets wandering around the halls.

Remember: If you want to sell your home fast, you need to be flexible and open with your time and allow buyers to tour it as often as possible.

5. Find the right price

Staging and marketing your home are important components, but at the end of the day, the amount of money you’re asking buyers to pay could be what seals the deal.

“Nothing will overcome a poorly priced home—and a well-priced home can overcome many other issues,” says Aaron Hendon, a Realtor® with Christine & Company in Seattle. “To sell your home fast, your house needs to be priced to compete with the others currently on the market.”

Your real estate agent will help you decide on the right price for your home by looking at a variety of factors: your house’s age, any updates, square footage, and the school district. An agent will pull up comparable homes, or “comps,” that have sold in the area to evaluate the best price.

The post How to Sell Your House Fast: 5 Must-Know Tips to Move Your Property first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.

Here are her suggestions for amateur photographers:

Level up. A classic rookie mistake is expecting superstar results from holding the camera by hand. Invest in a simple tripod for your DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera or an attachment for your camera phone. Straight lines are like oxygen for clean imagery. The viewer’s eye immediately catches and focuses on any crooked lines. But straight lines—horizontal and vertical—will create a chorus among the composition that sings. Hence, the need to level up and have a tripod.

Think about the lens figuratively and literally. First, set an intention through your own personal and emotional lens. Each room has an energy and a story to tell. This is your chance to share the story of the spaces that have supported you and continue to inspire your path. Second, invest in both a good prime and wide-angle lens. One of my favorite prime angle lenses is a 50 mm because this lens is most representative of what your natural eye sees. My goal as a photographer is to communicate the stillness of space while transporting you into the room with me as I experience it.

A prime lens means you have a fixed focal length, which really motivates you to move around the space and find the perfect frame for the shot. Wide-angle lenses are important in capturing the scale of a space. Renting lenses is a great way to try out a variety and see which feels most natural to you. And for phone photographers, there is a variety of affordable wide-angle lens accessories for on-the-go.

Let there be light. Natural light, that is. This is essential for capturing the most accurate representation of a room as possible. It is camera versus eye, and not all cameras are created equal, especially in comparison to the vast dynamic range of our eyes. I am known for bright, crisp images, so it always surprises my clients and followers when I methodically flip off all light switches as we begin photographing a space. It may be counterintuitive, but it yields the most accurate representation of the room’s color and all the beauty within it.

Be a straight shooter. I am a back-to-basics kind of woman in every area of my life, especially when it comes to angles behind the lens. Let’s keep things simple and shoot straight-on. This will yield beautiful, clean lines and communicate the composition of the space. Overly complicated angles result in fussy images and confusing focal points.

Layer on. An image is technically flat, but what makes it come to life with great dimension are its “layers.” The rooms you are shooting need to communicate to the viewer. So, tangibly, there needs to be an element of visual texture to the space for it to have dimension. Ways to add layers include decorative tabletop accessories, mirrors, layered artwork leaning against a wall, layered rugs, texture-rich throws and fabrics, and flowers picked from the garden. Pro Tip: Leave the red roses at the store and stick with a neutral color palette, such as whites, greens and blushes. This color palette will keep an image fresh and attainable without being season-specific.

Prop with proof of life. When styling for shoots, I add an element of practical fantasy to each space, but it’s important to keep it as natural and minimally invasive as possible. I call this “proof of life.” Use it as an opportunity to highlight the history of the home or honor the character of the client. Some of my favorite tools for introducing proof of life are an open book on a desk, fresh florals on a kitchen counter, branches to add textural layers to a bedroom, a simple necklace coming out of a jewelry dish to showcase depth, or fruit falling from a bowl as an element of interest.

Keep composition simple. I find composition to be much more important than the camera you have in your hand. It enables the space’s story to be told through object arrangement and placement. I can communicate a particular object of interest through my focal point or, alternatively, introduce a moment of relief by emphasizing the negative space. There are numerous theories behind composition, but at a basic level, your goal should always be to achieve straight lines and balanced layers and let the rule of thirds guide your lens. (The rule guides photographers to place the main subject off-center.)

Source: rismedia

The post How to Take Photos of Your Home Like a Pro first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.