The Subtle Outdoor Staging Hack That May Boost Your Home Value

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Who knew that lawn games set up in your backyard could be the subtle staging hack that sells your house? It's true. It can be, though this trick does more for sellers than just selling the house. This staging technique has the potential to show off the property and all its benefits without overstepping fair housing guidelines. The success of this technique relies on the homeowners' ability to curate the contents of their backyard in such a way that makes the space seem fun and welcoming to all. 

To that end, the best lawn games to feature in your backyard staging appeal to a broad range of ages and abilities. The built-in wooden swing set and jungle gym in the corner of the yard, nestled right under the big tree, suggest that the backyard is big enough and safe enough for kids to play in without directly saying so. The game of cornhole or horseshoes conjures up spirited games that could include kids or teens playing with grandpa or a middle-aged aunt. Yard Yahtzee, played with a Bolaball 3.5-Inch Giant Wooden Yard Dice Set, offers a game that embraces a calmer pace.

Generally speaking, it can be tempting to want to make your home family-friendly in order to sell it. However, you can't say those exact words in a listing because they violate fair housing laws. The same is true of staging. It should not appear that you're showing a preference for one group over another. In light of that, it's best to ask your real estate agent for best practices guidelines when you're ready to stage your backyard game areas.

People who work in the housing market know that some features are more apt to appeal to buyers than others. Currently, features like a bluestone patio, teak wood flooring, and outdoor kitchens in the backyard are selling points that can boost resale values between 2.2% and 3.1%, according to Zillow.com. This approach offers you the advantage of being able to highlight important features of the house that you are allowed to talk about in advertising, and to transform your outdoor space at the same time.

To that end, lawn games can serve to highlight important features that are known to be attractive to buyers, such as outdoor showers and backyard privacy fences, and to showcase those features in the context in which they might be used. For example, the lounge area of the outdoor kitchen features bluestone tiles and a firepit that has a tic-tac-toe or checkers game board cover. This setup encourages people to play games of a less physical nature in this outdoor living area. A bocce ball court that features ApudArmis Bocce Balls Set and runs parallel to the backyard fence shows off the fence without the seller even having to say that there is one. Finally, the exterior facade of your outdoor shower, conveniently located just a couple of feet from your backyard pool, could feature hooks with badminton racquets made of pool noodles hanging on them. All of these elements can help make your home appealing to a broad range of buyers who might want to call such a place home.