SMALL YARD? BIG STATEMENT: 24) ARE YOU DOING BUSINESS CONTENTS DAVID children kept me pretty busy in sports and academics, as well as with the 4H and FFA,” she recalls. She also spent many years at the San Joaquin County fair sup

Small Yard? Big Statement: How to Make the Most Out of Micro Outdoor Spaces

When house-hunters compile their lists of musthave home items, a dreamy backyard space is often near the top. After all, who doesn’t want an outdoor oasis of their very own? From summer barbecues to open space for your dog to frolic— everyone has their own aspirations when it comes to creating the perfect backyard paradise. But as homebuyers seek properties deeper within city limits, and Millennials opt for properties with urban amenities and access, home-connected outdoor spaces are becoming a bit smaller in stature. Of course, size isn’t everything when it comes to outdoor space. Even balconies, rear patios, and ultra-tiny yards can provide homebuyers with the outdoor reprieve they crave—even on a smaller scale. For a few ideas that can help you envision all the possibilities of a micro outdoor space, read on for inspiration.

Think vertically.

When space is at a premium, think up instead of out. In other words, make the most of small spaces by capitalizing on your backyard, balcony, or patio’s overhead height. Mood-setting string lights, hanging pocket or wall gardens, floating shelves, and modern overhead hangings can create a sense of privacy and luxury without cluttering the square footage on the ground. retailers make a variety of punchy or luxe outdoor rugs that can disguise stained or lackluster outdoor flooring. Power-washing is another great solution for old grime and dirt that’s an eyesore. Don’t have a great view? Planting ivy on bare walls, installing adjustable mood lighting, or hanging planters can create a more inviting ambiance.

Upgrade the look of structural components.

Not in love with your patio pavers? Don’t have the sweetest view off your balcony? Whatever your small backyard living space gripe may be, there’s always a solution if you go back to the basics. Consider the structural components of your outdoor space that you aren’t in love with and there’s likely an affordable, eye-pleasing solution. For instance, plenty of home goods

Soothing sounds set the mood.

While there may not be room for a swimming pool or pond in a micro yard or balcony, you can still bring the calming presence of water to your outdoor oasis. Fountains run the gamut in sizing and price, making this amenity an easy acquisition. What’s more, a running fountain not only adds a soothing sound to your space, but it also helps drown out noise from the street or the neighbors—making your space entirely your own and stress-free.

Don’t compromise on your culinary dreams.

If you love to entertain in outdoor spaces or relish the chance to man the grill—small outdoor spaces don’t have to trip you up. Grill options (both propane and charcoal) come in a range of sizes, many of which can be outfitted securely to balcony posts or be tucked away and out of sight when out of use. Consider nesting tables or those with a removable leaf to adjust your seating and dining options depending on company. Another trick? A small, oscillating fan can keep air flow moving in a small space during grill season—and can be easily affixed to walls or posts, as well.

Don’t let yourself or clients be discouraged by spaces with more limited square footage in outdoor areas. Furniture and design trends have already begun shifting toward providing better small-space options, and at the end of the day, a backyard space is all about providing an area for relaxation. With a few well-placed, strategic choices, you can still have it all.

SARA MIN ZHAO

SARA MIN ZHAO

Top Agent Sara Min Zhao of Keller Williams, serves the East Bay of San Francisco areas –Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Oakland, and Albany.

Sara Min Zhao has been working in real estate since earning her license in 2004. She started out as a land developer, and has been a full-time Realtor® since 2011. While working as a solo agent with a team of 3 administrative assistants, Sara has established herself as a trusted and expert Realtor® serving her community and always putting her clients’ best interests first.

As a Realtor® with Keller Williams, Sara serves the East Bay of San Francisco areas –Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Oakland, and

Albany. A significant portion of Sara’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, with the majority coming from the outreach she does in her community.

“I’m always in the neighborhood,” Sara says, “doing open houses and providing updates to neighbors.” Even when Sara is just on a walk with family, she stops and says hi to everyone. Besides her great marketing and negotiating skills, one of the things that makes her successful is her genuine friendly personality. Sara and her assistants also send out newsletters every month, and holiday cards to neighbors and past clients every year. She is proud of her team’s bilingual skills. Sara speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese and she mentions that she has assistants on her team that are also bilingual in Spanish and Tagalog.

Sara notes that almost every month this year she is the #1 listing agent across her Keller Williams Realty Region which includes all of Northern California and Hawaii. She is also #1 Agent in Richmond for 4 years in a row.

When it comes to marketing her listings, Sara takes a comprehensive approach focused primarily online. In addition to the MLS, she also uses the KW platform to automatically sync her listings to all the major real estate websites. She produces video tours for her YouTube channel and 3D walkthroughs. “Every property gets its own website with SEO,” she says, “as well as international marketing in about 30 different countries and in 25 languages. Social media marketing is big for us as well.”

The results speak for themselves: Sara closed about 50 transactions last year, with a volume of around $40 million. “This year is busier than ever,” she says, and she has already exceeded last year’s sales production. Sara notes that almost every month this year she is the #1 listing agent across her Keller Williams Realty Region which includes all of Northern California and Hawaii. She is also #1 Agent in Richmond for 4 years in a row.

Community involvement is very important to Sara. She is heavily involved with her kids’ school, which she helped found 10 years ago and which is now one of the top public schools in the country. She serves on the school

fundraising committee to bring in more funds to further improve the school curriculum and hire new teachers. Sara also serves as the Chair of the Richmond and Zhoushan sister city commission, connecting the City of Richmond and the City of Zhoushan, China for “cultural, student, business, and tourist exchange.” In her role as a City-appointed commissioner, Sara has been instrumental in raising funds for scholarships that enabled Richmond youth to travel to China for cultural exchange. Many of these student scholarship recipients had never been out of the U.S. before and had lifetime experiences.

When she is not working, Sara enjoys playing tennis, and she often volunteers as a youth tennis coach.

In the future, Sara plans to continue growing her business, with a goal of increasing her sales volume by 50% each year. Above all, she wants to continue serving her clients and her community. “I love helping people,” she says. “Everybody is different and everyone has their own story. My job is not only to sell their house, it’s also to make sure the whole process is seamless and stress-free for my clients, and get them to where they need to be. When I meet with a client, my first questions are always why are they selling and what are they trying to achieve in this transaction? Serving the client’s needs is the number one priority, and that’s what I enjoy the most.”