Which of these homes will sell first? (sales, price, inexpensive)

[dorado0359]

If two identical homes, side-by-side, on the same street were for sale, with following slight difference, which home do you think would sell first:

- Home "A" has a 30x30 Deck or Patio with a beautiful wooded back yard.

- Home "B" has a 30x30 Enclosed Patio facing the same beautiful wooded back yard.

When making a choice, do not take into account the area of the country the homes are located. Which home do you think the AVERAGE homebuyer will buy, regardless of area of the country.

[cargoman]

Sounds like a nice HOA cookie cutter home where someone tried to personalize the sameness by differentiating the back yard a little......but people tell me I'm cynical

[WildColonialGirl]

Location is everything. You can't ignore it, because while an enclosed patio is essential in the south due to the bugs, it's not in the southeast, west, north, etc. Particularly with an overgrown back yard - bug city!

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by WildColonialGirl

Location is everything. You can't ignore it, because while an enclosed patio is essential in the south due to the bugs, it's not in the southeast, west, north, etc. Particularly with an overgrown back yard - bug city!

I beg to differ about the north. I've lived there and I've lived in the west and while decks are grand, screened in porches are the best.

[grampaTom]

one word: Mosquito. Screened is best.

[chet everett]

The local conditions will ALWAYS be the dominating factor. As already said, if this is seen as a PREMIUM because of things insects being kept away by the screen enclosure vs a negative in areas where no such insect issue exists then AT THE SAME PRICE the enclosed patio sells first (and maybe causes whoever makes an offer on the house w/o this feature make a discount...).

I also have to say that it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to say that even the most "cookie cutter" development that homes with identical floor plans / size are going to be truly identical -- one home may have nasty interior colors that most buyers would want to re-paint and the other home may have much more neutral colors that potential buyers would have no problem living with for a while.

Same kind of thinking happens with exterior 'features' too -- what the homeowner that installed a very basic deck may think is a perfectly usable outdoor space may be perceived by potential buyers as kind of useless if has no shade, a maintenance issue if it was made from lower quality lumber & nails vs more premium materials. Frankly smart buyers that may have had experience with patio enclosures will also know that the inexpensive ones that are not well supported are going to become a safety issue in the first big storm, buyers are not stupid. On the other end, if this is a premium enclosure that is made of long lasting materials don't expect buyers to automatically be motivated to pay anywhere near what it may have cost -- some folks be disappointed that it does not leave enough room for a pool or outdoor kitchen in the backyard and may actually reject this as any kind of 'upgrade' at all...


The OP should look at recent nearby sales in their specific area, ideally right down to their subdivision / street, before making any decisions about what will help sell faster. Even then, the results from recent sales may be influenced by factors that can rapidly shift -- buyers out on dry no-bugs-at-all season may prefer the deck vs those viewing the homes while a cloud of mosquitos are kept away by a nice enclosure...

[cully]

"B" might have a part (a) and part (b)...or create a "C".

"Enclosed" I think of as framed, glass...an indoor feel to the room. Often with heat and a/c.

And I see a couple of people are thinking of enclosed as screened in, which while nice I don't consider enclosed.

There, again, you might have a regional thing.

[Gypsy-Moth]

I agree with Cully. Enclosed to me means framed and has glass windows: a sun room. That's why I didn't vote, because as others have said, that depends on the region. If the poll had said "screened patio," I'd have voted for that hands down. Bugs are everywhere.

[luv4horses]

The enclosed space is for me. When I first read the options I thought it meant a walled patio. That would be nice because of privacy. Then I thought of screened porch, and that was nice because it could be used when the breezes were pleasant, even if there were bees, mosquitos, whatever. But even if it meant a sunroom/patio one could always add a separate sitting space outside while enjoying the view in the comfort of the indoors. Of course price could be the determinant.

[Girl]

Enclosed (screened) space for me.