Prep Your Deck and Patio

Maintenance of Decks and Patios

The summer season can be drying for natural wood decks. Now is the time to take care of any maintenance before the rainy season arrives. Check to see if any repairs are needed, such as split boards, nail heads, and so on.

After repairing, clean and wash your deck thoroughly and re-seal or stain if needed. Water-based products can offer easier cleanup and less odor while oil-based products tend to penetrate deeper and last longer.

If you have a composite deck, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning. If a deck-wash is recommended, be sure to rinse thoroughly so no residue is left behind.

Concrete patios need care too. Thoroughly clean the surface with mild dish soap and water. If stained, check your local home improvement store for concrete cleaning product recommendations.

Once the surface is clean consider applying the protection of a colored or clear concrete sealer.

Replace or Refresh Accessories and Plantings

Renew your outdoor space for the cooler months by changing out accessories and plants. With fall settling in soon and winter ahead, when it is time to put away a table umbrella, replace it with colorful arrangements of pumpkins and gourds.

Replace summer annuals with hearty seasonal blooms. Some good choices are flowering cabbage and kale, ornamental grasses, pansies, and chrysanthemums. Add containers and decorative potswith shrubs like English holly, boxwood, and dwarf evergreens to carry into the frosty winter season.

Create an Inviting Outdoor Space

Firepits and fire tables are a nice focal point for gathering and warmth. Replace weathered or faded cushions with fresh, bold seasonal colors. The right cushions can make the difference in comfort as well as beauty.

If you don’t have the space for a firepit, portable gas heaters come in many sizes, including tabletop.

Use colorful outdoor rugs and weatherproof pillows to bring the indoors out. Keep a basket or storage container nearby with cozy blankets handy for your family, or for guests when entertaining.

In smaller spaces, try creating a conversation area with flameless candles and lanterns. Add outdoor lighting, including strings of LED or battery-powered lights for interest and sparkle.

Think colorful and cozy. A smaller deck or patio can be the most inviting and easiest to maintain and update. Once you’ve created your comfortable outdoor space, fill your favorite mug, grab a cozy blanket, and enjoy the beautiful colors and fresh air of each new season.

Source: First American Home Warranty 

3.8M Homes Are Missing From the Housing Market

Fewer homes are up for sale than historical norms, which is why buyers may become frustrated with house hunting.

There are not enough homes for the population, a new report from realtor.com® warns. The shortage lands at 3.8 million homes nationwide. And the impact could be widespread: Competition among buyers could grow steeper, causing home prices to move higher.

Will the new-home market be able to catch up to demand? “Home builders have a mountain of opportunity, but a big hill to climb,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research at realtor.com®. “The current inventory crisis and need for 3.8 million new homes means a nearly insatiable appetite from potential buyers, especially in the lower end of the market.”

Between 2012 and 2019, about 5.9 million single-family homes were built. However, during that time, about 9.8 million new households were formed.

Home builders, faced with labor and lot shortages and escalating prices, have started to ramp up their lean inventories over the past year. But levels still remain well below two-decade average lows. Realtor.com® researchers estimate that even with an above-average pace of construction, it would still take builders four to five years to return to equilibrium.

The missing inventory has been most acute in the entry-level and mid-range markets.
"Large populations of renters and well-qualified potential buyers with strong incomes are waiting in the wings,” Vivas says. “Assuming the economy avoids a full-on recession and rates remain low, the window for builders remains wide open. If builders can deliver homes at adequate price points, absorption will continue to strengthen through the first half of the decade.”

Source: 

“Homebuilders Have a Big Hill to Climb but Remain Key to Supply Shortage,” realtor.com® (Jan. 21, 2020)