Back Yard Curb Appeal

Tweet

Swinging and sliding do more than wear kids out. Free play, as academics now call it, builds kids’ imaginations, collaborative skills and time management. Who says? The U.S. Play Coalition, that’s who.  

Yes, the cultural juggernaut that is video games has so rearranged American childhoods that free time now has its own advocacy group.

Parents intuitively know that tossing the kids outside for some unstructured time is good for them. Play structures, from tree houses to sand boxes to the old fashioned swingset, can be an asset when marketing a house to the move-up market, which typically consists of growing families.

Play structures are number 10 on the top ten most popular back yard features, desired by 59% of the survey respondents, according to this year’s residential preferences research conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

If you are debating the sales value of the play set in your back yard, remember that it’s only an asset if it is in good shape. Check for recalls and safety standards at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Additional safety information is at the consumer section of the International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association.

Common sense indicates that you should remove any outdated, worn, or broken segments of the structure.

•  Cover or cap exposed bolts.  
• Sand and paint untreated wood.  

If it’s beyond hope, take the play set down and repair the landscape. Here are the other top ten back yard landscaping preferences: 

• Fencing (including gates)  
• Arbors 
• Pergolas 
• Steps 
• Ornamental water features 
• Decks 
• Porches 
• Utility sheds/storage 

Keeping these elements in top shape will keep your yard safe and enjoyable for yourself, and will increase sales appeal down the road.  

 Image courtesy of Morguefile contributor sideshowmom.