Get more from your investment property with a verandah
Adding a covered verandah to your home can be a simple, stylish way to add rental value and functionality to your property with minimal time and renovation commitment.
Verandahs add pizazz, character and interest to old properties, while also presenting renters with additional living and recreational space.
What are renters looking for?
When you’re shopping for your own home, it’s easy to know what features you enjoy and what you value in a living space.
You may be a painter who enjoys large gardens, bay windows, and skylights, so you can bask in natural light.
Or, perhaps you are a super-fit gym-goer?
You might want to set up a home gym in a backyard space or your garage.
When it comes to the renter, they are looking for a residence that tells them they can move in and immediately enjoy living there without much effort on their part.
Since they are renting, most renters will assume they will not be making major cosmetic changes to the house, instead investing the house with their own tastes through interior decoration.
With so many raging and reckless young adults living out of home these days, this is probably a bonus!
When a potential renter walks through the front gate, you want them to see exactly what they are looking for.
A front verandah helps create a sense of space, fresh air, and universal appeal with the very first impression.
A clear, clean and open verandah welcomes a renter to the rental property.
Outdoor entertainment
The verandah is the perfect party venue for barbecues, morning teas, and all sorts of gatherings.
Look at the picture above, and let your imagination run wild.
At first glance, we can immediately see ourselves sitting in its covered shade, a tall glass of iced tea in one hand and a trashy read in the other, enjoying the ambience of a balmy summer evening.
Or you might imagine a freshly cut picnic lunch lay out on a glass patio table, your closest friends gathered around discussing the latest gossip and fashions.
It brings home-life to the great outdoors and allows the renter to enjoy clean fresh air, sunshine, and even thunderstorms from the comfort of their own porch.
If your property is out in the Aussie bush, this can be an even greater bonus!
As you sit back and relax, you might spy some Aussie wildlife.
Wait patiently for a koala or kangaroo, watch closely for a stray wombat to waddle past.
Home improvement
A verandah improves the value and selling price of a home.
Not only does it enhance curb appeal, but it is considered an addition to the house which is computed into the total square footage of the residence for future appraisals.
At Australian Outdoor Living, you can’t go wrong with a solid timber structure.
One of our experienced staff members will work closely with you to choose one to match the look, feel and design of your home.
Don’t just take our word for it
Sure, you could take our word for it. But just to be sure, we’ve hunted around and found what others have to say about the verandah.
According to Danny Broe Architect of the Lilyfield House in Sydney:
“The [verandah] roofline lets in the winter sun, keeps out the summer sun and allows for a view of the sky.”
There are other functional, household and longevity reasons that professionals like them.
For instance, many of them can be installed with gutters that funnel rain away from the living quarters, extending the lifetime of the house.
Craig Gibson of Homeimprovementpages.com.au backs the thermal benefits:
“… a verandah actually shades your home from the sun, meaning that the temperatures will remain more stable inside the home and reduce your dependence on air conditioning or other means to stay comfortable, reducing your impact on the environment and saving you money”.
Worldwide people are singing praise for these structures.
In 2012, The World Academy of Science and Technology released a paper specifically on the environmental and social benefits of houses that featured a verandah in tropical climates and recommended that Malaysian houses start featuring a verandah in order to obtain a greener and more thermal-efficient energy footprint in the future.
So, do we have you convinced?
The addition of a verandah to your home or rental property is a sure-fire way to social, economic, environmental, and financial advantages.
Not only are they stylish, appealing, and versatile, but they provide many practical benefits for you as the property owner.
A verandah showcases your house to the renter, promising a comfortable and inviting space to dwell in.
Read here for more ideas on how you can spice up the look of your verandah.
Ready to renovate?
Australian Outdoor Living is passionate about helping people love their life outdoors. We offer a range of products, including:
- Outdoor blinds
- Artificial grass
- Roller shutters
- Carports
- Timber decking
- Pergolas, verandah and patios
- Outdoor Kitchens
Have you been thinking about renovating your home? Fill out the free measure and quote form at the top of this article and a member of our dedicated sales team will be in touch.
