Many factors have driven the up home prices in the past year. Low-interest rates? High stimulus spending? Stock market uncertainty? Yes. Yes. Yes.
More than anything else, though, home offices and outdoor spaces have driven home sales. If you have a home office and a large backyard, you will sell your home for a lot of money. COVID has changed how we prioritize where and how we live, and buyers are desperate for more space, both inside and outside.
But, condo dwellers shall not despair. If you live in a condo and have access to a balcony, there are many ways you can make even the smallest balconies feel like an outdoor oasis. If you are thinking about putting your condo on the market during the spring or summer months, you should definitely stage your condo balcony to look like a mini backyard. Here are five tips:
- Decking tiles: These are pretty cheap and transform a dreary slab of concrete into a backyard deck.
- Potted herbs: Whether you like cooking or not, a big ol’ pot of rosemary and thyme makes everything feel much more wholesome and old-timey.
- Twinkly lights: Are you on a balcony in Toronto or at an outdoor Caribbean beach canteen? Who knows?! Twinkly lights make any space feel warm and festive.
- Furniture with cushions: There’s a lot of outdoor furniture on the market, but the furniture with cushions always feels so much more luxurious. Don’t forget to take in the cushions when it rains.
- Fresh cut flowers!: Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t have some tulips in a vase.
No matter how small, you can make stage your condo balcony feel like an outdoor escape. This is even more necessary if you are listing your condo during COVID. Good luck! As always, stay safe.
— Robyn Vander Vennen, The Kim Kehoe Team
