Outdoor living has made such a comeback in the last six years that most if not all custom homes have either custom patio covers, or at the very least some sort of well-designed television covers constructed on the back patio or porch areas of new homes. Homeowners have found that cooking, eating, and relaxing outdoors in the evening and on the weekends is more preferable than just sitting on the couch in the living room staring a big screen TV or white sheetrock wall coverings. A natural outdoor place for family and friends to gather is not only a healthy choice, but it cuts down on the wear and tear of interior flooring, furniture, plus allows you to reduce carpet, and upholstery stains almost completely.
This addition on to your home will not only be a source of relaxation, and entertainment, but will of course add to the reselling price of your home if and when that time comes in the future. Specifically, homebuyers are always looking for not only a covered patio, but one with amenities, and or features such as an outdoor kitchen, television, fire pit, and of course a large seating area where exterior couches, chase lounges, and chairs can be arranged for small gatherings.
Colors, textures, and materials are very important when designing your ultimate exterior living space, and skipping the cost of a designer will result in a less than appealing result. So spending anywhere from one to five thousand dollars for a consults might seem a little abrasive to your pocketbook at first, but the end results will well be worth the extra money for decades to come.
Keep in mind that today, what can be accomplished indoors, can be done outside as well. So the added electrical outlets, weatherproof products such as a flat screen television, wireless router, and electrical outlets should be a part of the overall recipe when in the designing phase. Also additional plumbing, and possibly natural gas piping will be needed so ask your designer about these options as you start to create the plans and drawing for this project.
This is not an area where being a cheapskate will bode well for the results of your new cover or living area, but at the same time, consult with a local area realtor to see what is the maximum that should be spent on such an undertaking to make sure that you can recoup the investment when time to put the for sale sign in the front yard.