The summer months are meant for long vacations and outdoor gatherings, from parties on the patio to grilling on the deck and croquet on the lawn. Give your residents a surprise staycation with one (or all!) of these upgrades to your outdoor spaces. They will be thrilled to host their own summer soirée, and you never know — one of their guests just might decide that your community is the perfect place to live.

1. Add an outdoor kitchen

Dining alfresco is ideal on warm summer evenings, and an outdoor kitchen complete with well-appointed seating lets your residents do it in style. Your outdoor cooking space can be simple, with a built-in grill and comfortable patio furniture, or you can take it to the next level and include an island and sink for food prep and burners so residents can cook a wide variety of meals.

This outdoor upgrade will have your residents inviting guests to the community and showcasing what it has to offer.

2. Install a pizza oven

We already know that eating outdoors is enjoyable once the warm weather hits, so give your residents a taste of Italy and make it perfecto! Outdoor pizza ovens are affordable with brick oven units available in a variety of sizes. Home improvement stores have gas and wood-fired models that can fit in almost any outdoor space. Your residents will love hosting pizza parties, and family pizza nights will be anything but ordinary.

3. Brighten the mood

Sharing a glass of wine by moonlight is romantic, but a cloudy evening shouldn’t put a damper on date night. Give your renters an excuse to spend some quality time at home with the addition of some well-placed mood lighting. String LED lights across the patio to soften the atmosphere, line walkways with solar pathway lights for quiet evening strolls and add Tiki torches for a unique touch. Lighting options come in a variety of models and styles, giving you the ability to create the perfect aura for your property.

4. Invest in patio heaters

Summer nights aren’t always warm, but that doesn’t mean your residents have to head indoors. There’s an array of heating units that can keep your outdoor areas warm during evening gatherings. Your renters will be surprised by how cozy they feel sitting next to a stylish upright unit or standing near an inconspicuous floor heater. Choose a model that fits with your outdoor décor, and extend the use of your outdoor areas long after the season has passed.

5. Let sparks fly with a fire pit

The ever-popular fire pit is an affordable and entertaining way to bring residents together for a s’more-filled evening of family fun or a relaxing night on the chaise. Doubling as a heating unit, a fire pit allows get-togethers to run late into the night, just as they should during the summer months.

6. Entertain with cinema under the stars

Why should your residents have to leave home to see a good flick? Outdoor theaters can be set up on the lawn area or rooftop, making these spaces more versatile and useful — and installing one doesn’t have to break the bank. There are affordable drop-down movie screens that, when paired with plush lawn chairs, provide the perfect viewing experience. If you have a community packed with film buffs, consider investing in a more elaborate system with state-of-the-art technology. This upgrade is sure to please a wide range of residents.

7. Start a community garden

Planting doesn’t have to be complicated or even require a lot of grass! Gather some interested residents and provide the seeds and tools. Give them either a plot of land or some pots, and let them get to work planting flowers, vegetables — whatever they like. It will give them a sense of ownership and can brighten up some unused areas of your grounds.

8. Create recreation areas

If you have the space, adding a basketball or tennis court or a landscaped play structure is a good way to enhance resident satisfaction. These kinds of outdoor amenities add value, whether your community is primarily made up of families with children or older adults. Be sure to provide shaded areas for resting after breaking a sweat.

9. Construct water features

While kids will always love running through the sprinklers when temps are on the rise, there’s nothing quite like the lulling trickle of a beautiful water feature for Mom and Dad or the working professional to enjoy at the end of a long day. Fountains, ponds and outdoor waterfalls are just some of the options when creating a quiet place for your residents to wind down and cool off. Add umbrellas for shade, and your patio areas will be the perfect place for an afternoon siesta.

10. Bring resort style home with cabanas

Cabanas aren’t limited to properties with outdoor pools. A well-placed cabana offers residents a perfect spot to cool off with a cocktail while enjoying the fresh air. These mini-vacation spots will be a welcome refuge when PTO is short and workdays are long. Consider coupling a cabana with romantic lighting to create a comfortable relaxation spot that provides a touch of privacy.

Rising temperatures and long summer nights give you the opportunity to introduce new amenities and create spaces that your residents will be eager to come home to each day. Upgrading your outdoor areas will solidify their commitment to where they live, and investing in a few improvements has the potential to woo new residents looking for the right place to call home.

Originally published July 16, 2016.