Have any ideas on how my sellers can change their terraced backyard from awful to awesome?

Question

All buyers have rejected the spectacular house because of the steep but terraced back yard. There is a walkout door from the basement about 20 feet from the first wall. They are willing to finish the patio and put in some landscaping but how to divert the attention from the edge and show that it is still useable space...thats the issue.

Sandra R · Answer

You could use the retaining walls as the base of a two level deck with walkway to a small garden area on the side of the house. Use lighting to accent. A nice Bar-B-Q area with built in benches is always a welcome addition. Use plant to soften the deck and even a water fountain.

Ruthie Mae P · Answer

Thanks Sandra. You can't tell from this photo but the middle section of the retained lawn is about 8 feet deep. I like the idea of the plants softening the rather stark edges and landscaped lighting accents. The sellers cannot afford to put on another deck.  They need a staged landscaping just to get an offer.  (there is a new career for someone!  A Lawn Stager)

Stephanie G · Answer

well you should plant various plants to create depth and interest.  give they eye a reason to wander further back.  put a bistro set out there under an archway or something.

Ruth B · Answer

Gazebo,waterfall, sky light and or energy panels.

Criss T · Answer

Add a fire pit area in the middle section, making it a destination in the yard. You could include stone seating around the pit (matching the retaining walls) and add stone steps in between each level.

Jodi L · Answer

Definitely plants.  Trees, shrubs, flowers, ect..  It's so bland how it is, just a little cookie cutter sticking up out of the ground.

DeAnne T · Answer

Along the wall build wood stairs (keeping them open for light & affect) with wrought iron railing for that 'pop' everyone looks for, ascending from one level to the next and add a Pergola out from the existing supports of the upper deck for additional living space and warmth. Wrought iron railings along top of each retaining wall, both safety & affect.

Tina S · Answer

I agree with planting to soften those edges..plant some interesting textures   and colors that detract from the straight edges..would it be possible to get some dirt and berm it up along the bottom wall to add some curves in there?

Suzi B · Answer

have you thought of a landscape allowance?? I love the empty beds cause half the time we rip out what was there and redo it with what we what...even if they give them blueprints of what it could look like....

Becky P · Answer

Where are the steps to the backyard from the deck?  Why would you want to go all the way downstairs to get outside?

Leona G · Answer

First get some plants that grow over the walls. In the center one that is 8' wide add the fire pit with seats matching the walls and also put in some solar lights to light the path to the pit. At the back edges of the pit build some pedestals that can be used for planters and install some kind of soft lighting. on the low wall have fragrant flowers so that you can enjoy them as you sit by the fire. Some type of railing for safety would be nice as you don't want people falling over the edge. A pergola or gazebo for seating.
Get rid of the 2 plants on the pop out area and replant with either a symmetrical or asymmetrical planting that looks like it was planned and include color and texture to add interest.
Since this is facing the back of another house you may want to add some taller evergreen plants to provide privacy. 
The bush on the left side needs to be brought into some kind of pleasing shape, right now it looks out of place.
I am assuming zone 6 or 7 so Lilac bushes for spring color and fragrance, antique roses for summer color and fragrance with low maintenance, hydrangeas for color, some low growing junipers contrasted with taller junipers but need to be careful as some junipers have an unpleasant  smell.

Catherine G · Answer

I say add some large stone steps and a seating area to the lower level. A fire pit with chairs would be nice. Also, add some stairs from the deck to access the yard from that upper level.broke switchback stairs would look nice. Fill in unfinished patio area with a stone walkway from the doors instead of a concrete patio and mulch and shade loving ground covers.

Margaret J · Answer

take those plant on upper deck and bring down.. Put in cute pots add some color...trim bushes by window to cover cement under window..hang flowers put outside rug that is colorful... solar lights ...

Kelly S · Answer

I agree with Ruth and Criss. Lots of plants with  water and fire features. Maybe some overhead shade too.

Catherine G · Answer

Not broke switchback, it was supposed to be some...auto correct!

Carol S · Answer

Following up on what Stephanie said, even simple trellises (ala the Japense style ones..) would give definition to a  seating area on the middle section as well as distract from the steepness. Definitely need plants. It's just too stark.

Erin H · Answer

I think plants and try to create a little seating area that is kind of tucked away like a little secret garden about a third of the way over on the second edge. Some stepping stones would be a nice touch too. Homey it up!

Barbara · Answer

I can't even imagine anyone wanting to live that close to another home. Do you not imagine having no privacy is another reason no offers made?

Tina S · Answer

Also, I'm thinking about toddlers..maybe a  decorative fence that acts as safety rail along the edges..that would be quite a tumble at any age.

Carol G · Answer

I would add lots of shrubbery to give a sense of privacy.  I cannot imagine going out back and having all the neighbors see every move I make.   Agree with Criss about the fire pit (or bbq pit) with seating in the middle section.  I also noticed there must be children in the home now.  Where do they play?    A nice wood swing set/activity set would be a welcome sign for a young family.

Nichter's Home Services Corp · Answer

Can't begin to answer withhout a budget range to work with

Ananda S · Answer

One problem is that there's no easy way to get from the upper tier to the lower tiers other than going all the way around to the end. I'd build some sort of stair between the tiers.

And there's the issue of *falling* that five feet because there's no fence. I would put a fence a foot or so back from each wall, and plant in the space between the wall and the fence to soften the line. On the second level, I would add benches -- some right up against the wall, and the others sticking out from the wall. Then add a table, fire pit, planter, whatever inside the L or U made by the benches.

I also like the idea of the landscaping allowance. Talk to the people who are interested, present them some options, and maybe they'll have an idea. Who knows, you might run into someone who would go for a raised garden bed along the edge of each terrace, or someone who thinks a series of koi ponds with waterfalls between terraces would be just the thing.

Ruthie Mae P · Answer

Wow, thanks for all of the suggestions.  I definitely like the idea of a patio with a firepit out to the edge of the top wall with a fence along the top. Should the fence be solid or see-through? Steps down to the next level would be nice making that a seating area with something overhead- like the pagoda shown above.  I was thinking that I should suggest planting some kind of fast growing shrub or tree (like crepe myrtle) on the second level to stop the eye and the children from falling over the edge.  Lower level needs some fast growing evergreens and/or flowering trees on the one corner that is so steep.

Jacqueline S · Answer

<~agrees with Jodi....it just looks .....well...blah.....it needs life....shrubs to give it depth....the patio idea is great but definately some landscaping.

James T · Answer

Take the wall closest to the house out, save them, now double the height of the wall furthest from the house. Now you have a much bigger back yard!

Paula A · Answer

It looks as if they have a nice view out there so you wouldn't want to block it in any way.  I'd use stone pavers matching the wall meandering through the second level.  Add some planters with dwarf fruit or short foliage, and a fountain or two with steps at the ends offering easy access to both lower levels.  Their budget, HOA and/or County rules would determine what you consider at the bottom.  I presume HOA because I don't see any fences.

James T · Answer

and dont forget you can put a pool in when you have to backfill!

Ruthie Mae P · Answer

There is a wonderful children's play lot directly across the street from this home and the basement is a finished children's playroom.  Most of the buyers so far are mentioning the no back yard for barbeque and wouldn't want their children to fall over the walls.  So it needs to be made Private, Safe, Interesting, and Shady.  And yes, buyers would probably wish to have stairs built down to the lower level.  The allowance idea has been a steady offering but buyers don't have vision of what could be done with $5000 or buyers don't want to buy a home they still need to put more money into.

Nichter's Home Services Corp · Answer

If they are doing this to sell the house, I advise against doing too much. As a remodelor I see a lot of people spend of improvements to sell, then the next owner redoes the same items to suit themselves. So do things to suggest ideas. colorful plats in pots that you can move around. Place them along the edge to simulate a fence. Use one or two in pots to make a long hanging ivy over the edge of the upper balcony to break things up. Steps could be good if done right to fit in with the existing retaining stonework and not clash with it.

When I look at that home I see a too large, too plain box, so there is more going on in buyers minds than just that slope out back, tho a house that large calls to people with kids, and kids need a place to play - large flatter back yard

Meri C · Answer

Add some COLOR to the back of the house. Won't take much. Throw some petunias in some hanging baskets. Would be helpful to actually see what the back looks like from the door that's opening onto the backyard. If the owners are serious about doing some landscaping, they should put in easy to grow shrubs like hollyhocks and purple coneflowers...that will freshen and brighten up the yard. No one likes to think they're stuck with landscaping to be done, although, they'll likely want to do their own eventually anyway. The owners could plant some hydrangas or snowball bushes around the back, against the wall, and then use the Hollyhocks to fill in 'gap' areas. Also, a tree or two might help. Will eventually provide nice shade and a place to hang a tire swing and even possibly a tree-fort. A low growing shrub like creeping phlox could bet tucked in among the purple coneflower foliage.

Be careful of what kind of water-scape used if they go that way as it could be a liability to neighborhood kids and animals.

Have any ideas on how my sellers can change their terraced backyard from awful to awesome?

Suggested Project Book

3 Fantastic Step-By-Step Ideas What To Do With Pallets!

Other

More

Have any ideas on how my sellers can change their terraced backyard from awful to awesome?

Suggested Project Book

Related Discussions