How do I add home value with back patio?

[Dave Polykoff]

Anybody have experience with remodeling a back patio area for a rental property?

I purchased a triplex in Philadelphia (near Temple University). The bottom unit has access to a decent-sized back patio (about 28’x17’).

Right now it’s just a fenced in area with pavement. So it’s a blank canvas.

Is there anything smart to do to the back patio to add value to the property?

I mostly rent to college students so an area they can hang out would be great but also don’t want anything that they can easily break - like moveable patio furniture.

I was thinking about more solidified updates like built-in wooden benches around the fence. Or putting down fake grass to give it more of a backyard feel. Or fake hedges around the edge.

Visual upgrades but nothing that could be stolen or broken by tenants over the years.

[Eric Greenberg]

Originally posted by @Dave Polykoff:

Anybody have experience with remodeling a back patio area for a rental property?

I purchased a triplex in Philadelphia (near Temple University). The bottom unit has access to a decent-sized back patio (about 28’x17’).

Right now it’s just a fenced in area with pavement. So it’s a blank canvas.

Is there anything smart to do to the back patio to add value to the property?

I mostly rent to college students so an area they can hang out would be great but also don’t want anything that they can easily break - like moveable patio furniture.

I was thinking about more solidified updates like built-in wooden benches around the fence. Or putting down fake grass to give it more of a backyard feel. Or fake hedges around the edge.

Visual upgrades but nothing that could be stolen or broken by tenants over the years.

 You certainly can but Im not sure someone would either rent or not rent the unit based on that nor do I see it adding extra rent/mo.  How much are you planning to list the bottom unit for? 

if it were me, id get it clean and tidy but not spend anything extra on seats/grass. College kids are good at destroying things and they usually will buy whatever they need (seating/ambiance/beer pong tables). Now if you have neighbors with unsightly back patios/pets/etc, then I would spend some money on a privacy fence if its chainlink/short atm.