Content provided by our partner, Stephanie Liskowitz, Keller Williams ~
Summertime means being outside. Of course, here at the Jersey Shore, you could take that to mean hanging out at the beach. That’s a no brainer, but I’m talking about enjoying our own backyards. Your deck or patio is an extension of your home and can be a wonderful feature for outdoor dining and entertaining.
I’ve come across so many inspiring ideas for outdoor living; everything from pools and spas, conversation nooks equipped with a fire pit, gardens, lounges, dining areas, and even full functioning kitchens! It’s amazing what you can do with a little imagination!
Over the years in designing my own back yard amenities, I have come to appreciate the importance of functionality. The location and size of the outdoor entertainment area has to fit your entertainment style. I have found with seating areas that sit too far back from the house don’t get utilized as much of ones located directly off of a back door of a home. Also, if you frequently host large groups, it is important that your seating area matches your entertainment size. Beautiful outdoor spaces can be created in just about any size backyard.
The town of Ocean Grove is a great example of that. The lot sizes are small yet many homes have charming courtyards with strung lights and potted plants. You can create intimate dining areas in small alleyways and terrace. In my new home, we are creating a rooftop outdoor living space. This maximizes the openness and view of the location.
I try to counsel my home sellers to think about the “WOW” factor with their decks and other outdoor spaces. A buyer wants to see themselves in this environment and we want to make that easy for them. I recently sold a home that had an outdoor TV and livingroom set on the deck. These elements were a big selling factor for the home as buyers appreciated the extended living space. Simple things like flower pots, a nice set of furniture and most importantly, a neat presentation can make all the difference.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stephanie is a marketing and advertising professional with twenty years of executive level experience on Madison Avenue. She now merges her marketing and sales savvy with her passion and love of real estate at the Jersey Shore. Stephanie has personally purchased, designed and renovated over a half dozen homes at the Jersey Shore. As a Keller Williams real estate agent, she combines her business savvy for marketing with her exquisite home design services. Her mission is to provide her clients with beautiful, yet affordable living spaces. This starts with finding the best house for the greatest value and then maximizing that value with tasteful and affordable design choices. For the seller, it means tastefully showcasing a home and helping buyers see a vision that they can identify with and desire. Stephanie is equipped to offer tasteful and practical advice to making a buyers home more beautiful and a sellers home marketable. She is uniquely qualified to help you sell or buy your next home. 
2005 Rt 71, Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762
908-720-1877 (cell) 848-220-7120 (Office)