Blog

Outdoor Living

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Oct 13, 2020

The weather is getting cooler and Park City has even had its first dusting of snow in the mountains. This week we are looking at ways to cozy up your outdoor living spaces, how to increase your fall curb appeal, and the housing market in Park City.

Here are 5 Ways to Stage a Cozy Outdoor Space for Cooler Weather from our friends at realtor.com®.

Add a fire pit - Outdoor fireplaces or fire pits are a big win once the sun goes down and the weather cools off and a great place for s’mores.

Add plush cushions and blankets - Wrought-iron or plastic deck chairs come off as cold. Add seat cushions, outdoor pillows, and a basket of warm throws.

Add a heat lamp - Patio heaters have become one of the hottest accessories this fall as the temperature drops. Standing propane or electric heat lamps, or an infrared heating device installed on a porch ceiling, can warm up a space.

Add an all-weather rug - An extra layer on your outdoor space can cozy it up. Outdoor rugs can add something underfoot as you walk on a back deck, plus provide a pop of color to liven up the space.

Add extra lighting - Outdoor lamps aren’t going to bring in any extra warmth, but they can help with ambiance. Try glowing lanterns or Mason jars with tea lights on side tables; or tiki torches placed strategically in the yard.

Now that you have made your patio cozy, here are 5 Ways to Increase Your Curb Appeal During the Fall. Whether you are looking to list your home or just want to spruce things up it’s worth it to put a little TLC into your curb appeal.

Hire a tree service - that tree that looked lush with green leaves is going to start turning soon. And after those leaves put out their fall burst of color, you’ll be left with bare branches. A tree service can help you stay on top of those fallen leaves—and trim back any unsightly or damaged branches that may now be visible.

Try not to go overboard for Halloween - it’s better to limit your decorations so that your home appeals to more potential buyers and doesn't overwhelm your neighbors.

Take advantage of viral marketing - If you are looking to sell your home, gaining viral media is never off the table - embrace the spooky season and setting your home home apart from the rest by hiring a flash mob to do a shot-for-shot remake of “Thriller” in front of your house.

Update your plants to hardy cold-weather varieties - try plants like ornamental cabbages and kale that will give your yard instant color, while coral bells can add some texture and dimension. And as for those mums you see all over stores as soon as fall begins - the showy fall mums are great to add as quick fillers and look presentable when paired with the leafy plants.

Don’t put away your patio furniture - consider leaving it out and updating it for cooler weather activities. Tabletop heaters, fire pits, and chunky throw blankets can all be added to an outdoor space reminding potential buyers that they can get plenty of use out of your home’s yard all year round.

The Salt Lake Tribune shares that COVID-19 has wealthy buyers heading to Park City. Park City, Deer Valley and surrounding Summit and Wasatch counties are now seeing money pour into luxury homes, estates and open land with big sticker prices as the effects of the pandemic bring in new wealthy buyers. Since June, a rush to sanctuary has real estate markets booming over pre-pandemic levels for multimillion-dollar homes and properties that offer secluded access to nature and a sense of security and safety.

Droves of families who’d been waiting out the pandemic in short-term rentals or second homes in the Wasatch Mountains are now buying into more exclusive enclaves and even shifting their primary residences.Homes sales in Park City rose by 62% in July and August compared to the same time last year. Deals amounted to $446 million for those two months compared to $206 million in 2019, and September sales ran at a similar elevated pace, according to the latest data from the Park City Board of Realtors.

It’s too early to know how big or lasting these effects may be, but the phenomenon is already spurring new construction and sucking up hundreds of upscale vacation properties that often sit empty or rent on Airbnb, particularly in Summit County. Well-heeled buyers relocating to Utah are also part of a global shift toward telecommuting, one that could carry some large dollars and social implications with it. In Park City’s case, real estate agents and residents say newcomers are lured by access to a near-ubiquitous 600-trail network for hiking and biking and thousands of acres of adjacent open space. To read Tony Semerad's entire article click here.

Even the Wall Street Journal share that Home sales surge in resort towns even as Covid looms large over ski season. People are fleeing big cities amid the pandemic and are swarming mountain towns in search of more space and the great outdoors. The impetus to buy in Park City is the town’s quality of life, and for those coming from California where the pandemic and recent wildfires have made it unpleasant to go outside buyers look forward to ski season.

For years, ski resorts have worked on diversifying their attractions to bring in more people by adding all kinds of non-ski amenities. The test is this coming season, when some might not even be able to open their skiing operations. The early results are looking good, as home sales and prices have soared despite the uncertainty.

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