Image by Solomon Rodgers from Pixabay

The real estate industry is ever-changing and with it, many trends come and go. One popular trend is the open concept layout, a style that was very popular in homes during the 19th century. The idea of open concept living fell out of favor during the early 20th century when homeowners were looking for homes with more defined spaces but has become popular once again.

An Overview of an Open Concept

The goal of an open concept is to eliminate the restrictions that are created by walls and defined living spaces. While defined spaces can offer privacy and create rooms with a specific purpose in mind, they can also inhibit flow throughout the home. In an open concept, walls that separate the living room, kitchen and dining area are removed. As a result, you can clearly see and interact with other parts of the home. There are a number of benefits that come from having an open concept in a home. 

More Natural Light

One of the biggest benefits of going with an open concept is more natural light as many of the walls are either reduced or eliminated entirely. The end result is that natural light is able to shine farther into the home. To maximize the open concept, many homeowners add large windows and glass doors. This can also lead to lower utility bills if you opt to turn off lamps or overhead lights in favor of the sun during the day.

Greater Customizability

Another key benefit of an open concept is that there are more options to customize the living space. With a single, large room, the open areas act as a blank slate with almost limitless options. You can create areas for reading, watching tv, and dining depending on what accommodation you may need. Those who like to update and rearrange their living spaces or those who enjoy entertaining will love having an open concept.

Family Togetherness is Key

Finally, perhaps the biggest benefit of going with an open concept is greater family togetherness. One of the biggest barriers that come with having clearly defined spaces is that it can be more difficult to interact with family or guests. With an open concept layout, you can work in the kitchen and talk to someone who is relaxing in the living room.

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Photo by Craig Tidball on Unsplash

It's probably much easier and less expensive than you realize to improve your home's curb appeal. Simple fixes such as replacing rickety porch railings or giving trim a fresh, bright coat of paint go a long way toward making prospective home buyers smile. And when you create a welcoming pathway, that leads right to your door from the street or driveway, you may get more than smiles. Depending upon how professionally it's done and how cozy it appears, you just might get more money for your home. Try these five attractive options for creating the perfect, welcoming walkway:

Pavers

They come in all shapes and sizes, and they're relatively inexpensive when you catch them on sale at your local home store. Pavers can help you design a walkway that looks upscale and unique to your home. Place them on the diagonal, or lay them with small stretches of grass or gravel in between for a one-of-a-kind look that's unlike any other home in the neighborhood. A paved walkway gives guests traction on rainy days and can help keep the path to your front door mud-free. 

Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete lasts forever, and you can customize it to create many different looks. Mimic cobblestone or slate, brick or natural stone, simply by stamping different designs into your concrete before it's fully set. Once cured, your design is there forever. And if your stamped concrete was dyed before it was poured, no one will even recognize that it's concrete. 

Stamped concrete brings texture and form to your front yard. It also provides nice, clean edges for placing annual border plants such as petunias or marigolds. Add color and function all in one, when you install a stamped concrete walkway. 

Mulch

A mulched pathway is an improvement over no pathway at all, but it may not raise your property's value. Mulch keeps mud at bay, and it delineates where guests should walk as they move from driveway to front door. It's an economic choice, however. And if budget is an issue, mulch is a perfectly acceptable material to use in building walkways. You can always up the wow factor of your mulched walkway by evenly nestling single, large pavers on top for feet to land on.  

Natural Stone

Natural stone such as shale or slate gives walkways an immediate boost. It can be a bit slippery when it rains, however, so be careful building natural stone walkways on slopes. Natural stone is one of the more expensive building materials to use inside or out, but its distinct appearance adds value anywhere it's used. 

When you're ready to bump up your home's curb appeal, whether for your family's convenience or to impress prospective buyers, consider the formidable power of the front walkway. It's a gorgeous few steps in the right direction. 

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Many buyers are searching for a home with an attached garage. It helps to keep cars out of the sun, rain, and snow. An attached garage allows you to walk directly from your vehicle into your home without worry.

Garages used to be detached. These structures offered many benefits to homeowners that seem to be forgotten. As cars became more popular and larger, families began to own two cars at their properties. When this became common, so too did the attached garage.

While an attached garage is seen as a luxury and often a necessity, the good points a detached garage have shouldn’t be overlooked.

Attached garages can be converted into living spaces. This affords you as a homeowner much more room without the need to move. Homeowners can then build a detached garage for storage or the placement of a vehicle.

Other Advantages To Detached Garages

A detached garage adds character to a home. Many buyers complain of tired suburban architecture, where the garage often becomes somewhat of a focal point for the front of the home. Detached garages can be more pleasing to look at.

You’ll also have a bit more wiggle room as to how you design your home. If you build a detached garage, it can be placed at an angle on the property. The garage can also be hidden in the backyard, or designed to look like a smaller version of the larger house. A path can even be built through the yard to the garage to bring a design to the entire yard.

Another advantage to a detached garage is that toxic fumes from your vehicle won’t get into the house. Homes with detached garages can often receive green points for environmentally friendly building practices. There’s also less of a risk posed to you and your family for things like carbon monoxide poisoning. You can’t leave a vehicle running very long in an attached garage without that risk.

A detached garage also affords the possibility of adding living space above the garage. It can be a great play space for kids or a game room for adults. You can even build a home office in the upstairs portion of the garage. The area will indeed be quiet if placed strategically. If the attached garage is new construction, you can run wild with it. The design is up to you and the possibilities are truly endless.

While many buyers search for a home with an attached garage, detached garages can have many pros and allow great flexibility to you as a homeowner.

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