A Screened-In Porch May Keep Cicadas Out and Offers Coming In

In 2018, 94 percent of single-family homes built in the East South Central portion of the U.S were built with porches, according to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) and the U.S. Census Bureau.  

This includes Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee—The Volunteer State, a state that we service.

Long story short: Homebuyers want outdoor spaces, especially those who live in the South, and a porch can be a homerun for your flip. Who doesn’t love a good porch? 

The question is: Is the porch of your market-ready flip screened in? If not, now is probably a great time to make that happen.

We’re asking because cicadas are expected to swarm parts of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. You’ve probably heard it a million times. If you haven’t already begun to see Brood X cicadas emerge from holes in the ground, it’s just a matter of time. Tree branches, bushes, and foliage of all kinds will be laden with the beady-eyed bugs.

As house hunters enjoy your screened-in porch you will not only be creating a safe haven from the flight of wayward cicadas, but buyers may linger a little longer, visualizing themselves years from now enjoying the porch—not only as an outdoor space that’s a refuge from bugs, but as an escape from the cares of the day. A space to kick off their shoes and lounge in a rocker, a hammock, or a swing. On weekends a place for sunrises and morning coffee, lemonade and ceiling fans when the sun is high and the temperatures rise, and a peaceful retreat in the cool of the evening.

Your screened-in porch can leave house hunters with a memorable impression that stands out in their minds above all the other houses, and sets your flip apart.