What Homebuyers Should Look for in a Backyard

When it comes to house hunting, there is no denying that the house is the main event. However, as a potential homebuyer, there are things to look out for when it comes to the front and backyard that you’ll want to keep top of mind as well. 

When you are making your list of things you want or need in a new home, be certain to add items that might be easily overlooked but are possible dealbreakers. 

Here’s what to look for in a backyard:

Yard Size

While the appeal of a large backyard can’t be denied, are you prepared to take charge of the maintenance of a large area? Mowing, fertilizing, watering, and weeding a large yard is a time-consuming weekly activity. If you don’t have the time, energy, ability, or budget to care for a large backyard, then be aware of that while house hunting.

Privacy

When you and your family are outside, how much privacy are you expecting to have in your new home? Many homes are built practically on top of each other or in a way where you have little to no privacy while outside. If this is important to you, be on the watch for how many people will be able to monitor your movements while outdoors.

Weather

If you aren’t an expert gardener but would like to grow some plants, pay attention to how much sun and shade your new home will get. This will impact which plants will thrive in your yard. 

Also, if you live in an area where it snows during the winter, your home may be positioned in a way where your driveway collects the most snow or your backyard might. Areas of the home that are shady during the hottest part of the day will take longer for snowmelt to happen. Or you could just prefer to shovel the driveway less by selecting a home where the majority of the snow collects in the backyard instead. Your choice.

Family-Friendly

If you have children or plan to start a family in the near future, you’ll want to examine the backyard to determine whether or not it’s family-friendly.

• Is there a fence?
• Is the existing fence adequate for keeping your children safe and in the yard?
• Does the yard incline? Are there sharp drops?
• Are there areas of the yard that could be potentially hazardous?
• Are all the plants there safe for children?
• Does the yard allow for running, movement, and play?
• Is there a deck? How high is the deck? Can the deck be easily child-proofed?

While none of these are deal-breakers per se, as you could make changes to most of these when you purchase the home, they are worth thinking about ahead of time. If lots of changes need to be made for the backyard to be safe for children, will your budget allow for that work?

Other Considerations

How close are you to the nearest busy street? What is the noise level? 

How much wildlife will you have to deal with? Are you close to a wooded area or plains where wildlife is more widespread? Are there obvious holes in the ground that could imply a snake or rodent habitat?

Will you want to entertain during the summer? Are the deck and yard capable of hosting a large gathering safely?

How old is the deck? Decks only last about 10-15 years so an older deck, that’s showing wear and tear, will need to be fixed or replaced.

Just when you thought you had enough on your plate narrowing down your home choices, this list of yard expectations may seem overwhelming. However, a happy homeowner has a beautiful place to live both inside and outside their home. Here’s hoping you find the perfect yard to go with your dream house this year!

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