We are passionate about our client’s success.

The Newest Amenity - Nature

Americans are spending more time outdoors than ever before, and current research indicates people want to surround themselves with nature, but do not want to spend a lot of time seeking it out.

This presents yet another opportunity for communities to differentiate themselves from competition by offering this highly-sought amenity – nature.

Across the country, consumers are seeking communities that maximize the natural environment to create distinct amenity packages that give residents the opportunity to connect to their natural surroundings.

Though many communities offer parks and green space, it will become increasingly important to offer additional opportunities to connect with the natural environment through amenities such as trails for hiking, biking and riding; parks and organic gardens; bird-watching sanctuaries; fishing ponds; paddling trails for canoeing and kayaking; children’s rope course or swinging bridge; and even equestrian amenities.

Community picnics, farmer’s markets and outdoor educational and environmental activities provide residents the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, creating a unique sense of place that adds value for prospective buyers that leads to increased sales.

In addition to incorporating amenities steeped in nature, developers of successful nature-oriented communities must work with the existing topography of the land. By developing the land plan around pockets of trees, green space and waterways, both wildlife and the natural orientation of the land will remain intact, creating intrinsic areas for outdoor recreation. By maintaining a significant portion of a community’s acreage as open space, developers can create a unique lifestyle experience that appeals to a large number of potential homebuyers.

In addition to using nature as an amenity, it is important to create unique product offerings that reflect the consumers’ desire to bring the natural environment into their daily routine. Recent years have recorded the highest ever expenditures on gardens, landscaping and outdoor rooms. This indicates a clear trend, showing features that are important to homebuyers/homeowners. Offering landscaping packages and optional gardens and outdoor rooms can be a differentiating factor that leads to incremental sales.

There are many ways to maximize the value of land by offering amenities and home features that allow residents to reconnect with nature. Conduct preliminary research to identify the type of outdoor amenities that will appeal to your specific target market, and include these amenities that take advantage of the consumer’s desire to be close to nature.