December 11th

By Mutt Mulligan

5 ways the yard sells a house during the pandemic (and beyond)

In the era of the coronavirus pandemic, many buyers are looking for bigger homes with larger yards. A recent study released by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) indicated that outdoor space was one of the top features that have gained importance during the pandemic.

It’s not surprising. After all, the family yard continues to be a safe place for people to get outside, breathe in fresh air, de-stress, and reconnect with family, friends, and nature. As this information from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) illustrates, there are many benefits of the family yard during the pandemic…and beyond.

Connect to people & pets. The family yard is a safe place to connect with friends and family, including the furry, four-legged ones. More than ever, our personal green space has become a canvas for memory-making as people mark milestones, celebrate holidays, and gather with friends and family (from a safe social distance), all from the comfort and safety of the yard.

Nature oasis. Connecting to nature doesn’t need to entail a road trip to a national park. Nature starts right outside your backdoor. Take a break from Zoom meetings, screen time and feeling cooped up by bundling up and spending some time in your yard. Listen to the birds. Take a few refreshing deep breaths. Look up at the sky. You can even use your outdoor time as meditation time.

Health & well-being boost. Science has proven that simply spending time outside is good for human health and well-being – important as we seek creative ways to stay well while staying closer to home. A Stanford University study found that walking in nature resulted in decreased anxiety and stress while at the same time increasing working memory performance.

Environmental superhero. Backyards help the planet since grass, trees, shrubs and flowers are part of the living landscape, which is an environmental superhero. Yards capture and filter rainwater, produce oxygen, absorb carbon, capture dust and particulate matter, reduce soil erosion and mitigate the heat island effect.

Connected ecosystem. Birds, bees, butterflies, bats, and other creatures are critical to our food supply and a healthy environment. Yards are an important part of the connected ecosystem providing much-needed food and shelter for backyard wildlife, year-round. By becoming a steward of your yard, you are helping preserving your own corner of the overall ecosystem.

For more information about the benefits of the living landscape, go to TurfMutt.com.