How important is a yard?

[Anonymous]

We live near this house and will be selling soon so watching comps. It’s been sitting for over a week. I think it’s the yard. Or lack of it. We have a yard so hoping we can sell around same price. How important is a back yard? https://redf.in/9Hp7xM

[Anonymous]

Well, that house definitely has a yard, just not a backyard. It’s probably sitting because it’s on a busy street.

[Anonymous]

It has a yard. It's just grass in the front and patio in the back. I don't think "lack of yard" is going to hamper price in that case.

This has been something I've been thinking about as we just sold a house on a postage stamp sized yard, part of which was quite steep, and people did give "lack of yard" as feedback. But this house you linked here is fine yard-wise.

[Anonymous]

Different people have different tastes. A big yard was a non-negotiable for me since I love to garden. We didn’t consider any house that was on less than 1 acre. But all the new builds going up around my house are on tiny lots and selling like hotcakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, that house definitely has a yard, just not a backyard. It’s probably sitting because it’s on a busy street.

I’m always baffled why people want to live on such a busy street in a suburb at these price points ($1.2 million plus). It’s got a beautiful back patio and grilling area, but you’ll be listening to traffic noise, large trucks, loud motorcycles, people with annoying modified exhaust, loud car stereos while trying to relax out there.

Other SFH in Alexandria City are selling quickly right now, most in my neighborhood are listing on a Thursday and are under contract by the following Tuesday with multiple offers. It is 100% the busy street that’s impacting this listing.

[Anonymous]

^ I realize this house is in Fairfax County, not Alexandria City. Same point stands.

Side note, it is dumb that there are two Alexandrias. They should call the part where you vote in Alexandria elections, pay Alexandria taxes and call Alexandria police Alexandria; they should call the other part where you’re paying Fairfax County taxes something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different people have different tastes. A big yard was a non-negotiable for me since I love to garden. We didn’t consider any house that was on less than 1 acre. But all the new builds going up around my house are on tiny lots and selling like hotcakes.

+1 We ended up buying a smaller more expensive house that had a nice yard compared to a newer McMansion house that had been expanded to build onto all available green space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ I realize this house is in Fairfax County, not Alexandria City. Same point stands.

Side note, it is dumb that there are two Alexandrias. They should call the part where you vote in Alexandria elections, pay Alexandria taxes and call Alexandria police Alexandria; they should call the other part where you’re paying Fairfax County taxes something else.

Agree with side note. Same should also apply to Clifton, Falls Church, Herndon, and Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Overpriced for location, IMO, but it's true the hardscaping could be the last straw for a buyer who would accept the busy street otherwise. You can't put a swingset back there, but it's a big expensive house for people with no kids at home.

[Anonymous]

Busy street, horrible tile everywhere (at that price, I expect hardwood throughout), and a back yard with tile that doesn't go well with all those pavers everywhere. Otherwise, it's fine 🤣

[Anonymous]

I live in a house with no yard and it’s a compromise I would definitely make again, but it comes with a big discount. I got the discount when I bought and it will be there when I sell.

It definitely narrows the market though. But we live near parks and lots of other people’s back yards and it doesn’t bother me at all.

[Anonymous]

Must have a yard.
Something beautiful to come home to
Space

[Anonymous]

I really, really dislike that the entire backyard and sideyard are paved. I also can't stand that there isn't a single tree in the entire yard. They don't have a small yard by any means (0.39 acres), but I hate what they've done with it and it would be expensive to change it. You know all that pavement with no shade is baking hot in summer. Even given these are all downsides they should have at least powerwashed the pavers so they look new - the mildew plus the color of the pavers all look very dated.

Plus if you look at the climate risks it has a major flood factor 6/10). All that pavement is just going to make any tendency to flood much worse. I would definitely look into any flooding history and damage if considering this house.

Added to this, it's on a busy road and has had a weird hybrid renovation that looks hyper modern in some areas with the white paint/black trim and modern fixtures mixed in with grecian columns everywhere on the main floor, a closed layout, a tiny master BR closet and ensuite, and that weird "cedar closet" that looks like it has 5ft high ceilings that isn't going to make up for the lack of real closet space. And ugh, those 1970s columns on the front of the house. This one is a hard no.

[Anonymous]

Something about looking at all that excessive hardscape / walls and house exterior makes me very uncomfortable. It feels like it is out of balance with its environment, very unharmonious.

[Anonymous]

On the plus side, very little yard work!