Since the start of COVID, people have been moving in large numbers. It’s driven the prices of real estate in suburban and even rural areas up quite a bit over the past two years in many locations. Buyers have wanted certain features in a home more than ever, including things like home gyms and home offices, but also plenty of outdoor space.
If you’re moving from the city or you’re not used to having a yard, it can seem like the only upsides to finally getting an outdoor space.
You can entertain outdoors, you have a space for fresh air, and for your kids to play. At the same time, some very real downsides can come with a big yard too. Whether or not it’s worth it ultimately comes down to your priorities, but the following are things to consider.
The Perks of a Big Backyard
Some of the reasons you might be searching specifically for a home with a bigger backyard include:
Your Kids
If you have kids, or pets for that matter, a big yard gives them a safe place to play. They can learn about the world around them in a controlled environment, and there are a lot of fun things you can add to a backyard, like swing sets or tree houses. It’s a great place for kids to get exercise too.
Otherwise, without a decent-sized yard, you may have to find a park or playground nearby for exercise if you have kids or pets.
Entertaining
We mentioned this above, but a big yard gives you ample space for entertaining when the weather is nice. You can add amenities to your yard like a pool, bar, or outdoor kitchen. It gives you overflow space if you love having people over, and you don’t have to worry about people feeling like they’re cramped.
Privacy
Having a big yard just gives you that much more space between you and your nearest neighbors. If you’re coming from an urban area where you lived somewhere like an apartment or condo, this privacy can be a big one.
Gardening
People are becoming increasingly interested in producing their own food, and the bigger your yard, the more room for that. If you have the space, you might also be able to compost, and some people are even raising chickens in their yard.
Space To Expand
If you ever think there’s the possibility of expanding your home, a bigger yard gives you more options.
Curb Appeal and Resale Value
If you ever plan to sell a home, which many people do, curb appeal and overall resale value are big things to think about when choosing a new one. A bigger lawn adds to both. Having a beautiful property can upgrade the appearance of your entire home, and it’s going to appeal to a larger pool of buyers likely.
So what about the downsides?
Upkeep
If there’s one glaring downside of a yard or at least a big one, it’s the upkeep. Maintaining a lawn, even if it’s small, isn’t easier. The bigger the yard, the more work you’re going to have to dedicate to maintaining it, or else you’re going to have to pay someone to do it for you.
Even if you do regular maintenance like mowing, there may still be things you need to hire someone to help you with.
You may not enjoy yard work, or you could find that it interferes with other things you’d like to do with your free time.
The time and the cost are both elements of upkeep that you have to think about carefully.
It’s Hard to Make Bigger Yards Look Great
While a big, expansive yard can be beautiful in some ways, it has to be well-maintained and designed for that to happen. It’s tougher to make a big yard simply look nice. There’s less you can do with it in terms of landscaping because there’s just so much of it.
Unless you have a real eye for landscape design, you may have to hire someone to come up with an initial plan. With a smaller yard, since you’re working with less, it’s actually easier to make it look good in many cases.
Overall, there are pros and cons to a big yard, and you may find that what’s suitable for you and your family is something in between, or maybe you start out with a smaller yard if you’re not used to having one. Even just a bit of outdoor space can be refreshing when you’re coming from none.
