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Credit: Mint Images / Getty Images Outdated furniture and textiles can make a patio feel neglected, so choose durable materials.Mixing textures, adding greenery, and thoughtful lighting create an inviting and polished space.A well-designed patio enhances your home by extending its style and functionality to the outdoors.

Interior designers have set their eyes on all kinds of patios in their profession, and they have clear opinions about the features that make these outdoor spaces look less than aesthetically pleasing.

Below, they're speaking to six design mistakes you will want to be sure to avoid when putting together your own patio space in order to make it as welcoming and beautiful as possible.

Worn Out Furniture

You should treat the patio with the same care you would an interior space, and that means saying goodbye to any worn-out furniture.

“Nothing dates a patio faster than cracked, splintering wood furniture that’s clearly been through one too many seasons," Dorothy McGhee, the founder of McGhee Studios, says.

Instead, the designer recommends investing in durable outdoor furnishings made from materials like teak or powder-coated aluminum. These types of pieces will withstand the elements while still looking polished.

Matching Furniture Sets Credit: Mint Images / Getty Images

On the note of furniture, keep in mind that designers are not fans of matching furniture sets indoors or outdoors.

"Mixing materials and textures gives a more curated, designer look and avoids that ‘big box catalog’ feel," Linda Hayslett, the founder of LH Designs, says.

Tired Fabrics Credit: mtreasure / Getty Images

Just as you will want to be thoughtful about the type of furniture you're selecting for your patio, you will also want to pay close attention to the textiles you're using in the space.

"Outdoor textiles matter more than people think," McGhee says. "Faded, stained cushions and drapes can instantly make a patio feel neglected."

For the best look and durability, performance fabrics are going to be your best friend, McGhee explains, noting that Sunbrella is excellent for seating, and washable rugs are a must.

In addition, be sure to properly care for your furniture in the off-season by investing in special covers, Thea Bloch-Neal, the founder of Curated by Thea, says.

"Nothing ruins a beautiful outdoor space faster than worn, dirty cushions," she says, noting that covers are easy to purchase and will set you up for success in the long run.

Cluttered Accents

While your patio should definitely have some personality, there is such a thing as going overboard with decorative accents, McGhee notes.

“I love a good vintage find, but there’s a fine line between curated and chaotic," she says. "Seventeen lawn gnomes and a medley of mismatched planters can overwhelm your space."

The designer instead recommends picking a general theme or aesthetic and intentionally styling your patio space to suit that look, all the while being mindful not to go too far with accessories.

A Lack of Planters Credit: Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty Images

Bloch-Neal notes that planters are a patio essential; without them, a space will look too bare.

"While trees in the yard are great, adding potted jasmine, fig trees, or vibrant flowers instantly makes your patio feel more inviting and lush," the designer says.

Plants and planters can also work wonders in making a patio feel a bit more cohesive, Hayslett adds.

"Tying it in with greenery, color, or repeated materials makes it feel intentional," she says.

Poor Lighting Choices

Last but certainly not least, it is important to consider whether or not your patio is well lit for nighttime use. Hayslett explains how a beautiful patio shouldn't disappear at night and recommends that people display solar lanterns, string lights, or uplighting on plants.

"String lights that sag too low or look tangled can feel messy instead of magical," she says. "It’s a small detail, but clean installation goes a long way."

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A successful staged showing is a full sensory experience that allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in a house. But by focusing solely on price and location, you may miss seeing the smaller things that could cast doubt on interested buyers. Learn how to identify the hidden turnoffs and master low-cost fixes—so buyers feel confident in the space and will make an offer.

Agent Showing Couple a Home 1. Unpleasant odors

If there’s a foul-smelling odor in the home, buyers might instinctively associate the place with negative connotations. For example, a musty or damp scent can indicate mold or water damage. The smell of stale food, smoke or other scents can make them think the house is poorly maintained by current residents.

When fixing this issue, avoid heavy perfumes, chemical sprays and synthetic plug-ins. You might think they help create an inviting atmosphere, but an overbearing smell can give buyers the impression that you are covering up for a larger issue. Additionally, these strong scents can trigger allergies.

Instead, eliminate unwanted odors by washing walls with a mild vinegar solution and having carpets and soft furniture professionally cleaned.

Add citrus peels or a cinnamon stick to water on the stove to create a natural and light aroma before a showing. You also can try unscented charcoal bags in hidden spots around the home to help absorb strong odors.

2. Distracting noises

Small and unexpected sounds can distract buyers’ attention. For example, a humming noise can be a sign of a failing garage door opener. And even minor issues such as dripping faucets and creaky floorboards can all add up in a buyer’s mental checklist of future repairs and costs.

Consider doing a sound audit before your showing. Simple things you can do to fix sound issues, like replacing a toilet flange or using graphite lubricant on squeaky door hinges.

Thick area rugs, heavy curtains and upholstered furniture are great staging elements because they can absorb sound and help create a more serene atmosphere.

Realize what any strange sounds could indicate for major systems so you can address any buyer concerns or questions when they arise. Additionally, consider scheduling showings during off-peak hours if the house is located near busy areas.

3. Poor lighting

Lighting changes a room’s mood and its perceived size. Showing a dimly lit room can make your potential buyers feel gloomy and unwelcome in the space. Harsh, cool-toned lighting can make it feel clinical or like an office. Clashing light temperatures, such as a warm lamp under a cool overhead light, can feel chaotic.

Choose lights that create a uniform and comfortable feeling. Good lighting will also photograph better for property listings.

Open the blinds and curtains to let natural light into the space. Choose the same color temperature across all bulbs for a consistent look. For energy-conscious buyers, mention how LED lights consume 75% less energy than incandescent lights.

Also, consider increasing the bulb wattage to make rooms feel brighter and larger. You can also add a stylish fixture to rooms, such as the dining room, for a high-ROI upgrade.

4. Awkward spaces

About 83% of buyers’ agents agree that staging a home helps buyers better see the place as a potential home for themselves. Confusing layouts or undefined rooms can prevent buyers from envisioning how to use the space. For example, a space that is part-office, part-storage and part-gym could create a disconnect in the buyer’s eyes.

Additionally, obstructed walking paths can make the room feel tight. Furniture that is too large for the room makes it feel smaller than it actually is, while furniture that is too small can make the space look empty.

When staging, define each room’s purpose. Turn a spare room into an office or a children’s playroom. Arrange furniture so that it’s visually pleasing and makes sense for the space. Remove clutter—personal items make it difficult for buyers to imagine living in the space. Hiding family photos, personal collections and knickknacks are often a top priority when staging.

Remove objects from horizontal surfaces, such as countertops, tables, nightstands and vanities. Additionally, closets, pantries and cabinets should not be overfilled with items. Many buyers want spacious storage, and having items stuffed inside these units makes them seem smaller. Advise sellers to use a storage unit for their items to bump up the property’s perceived spaciousness.

Elevate the Showing and Secure the Sale

A successful home showing should appeal to the five senses to create a cohesive and welcoming experience for potential buyers. By proactively identifying issues, you are already ahead of the competition. Fix these sensory turnoffs to avoid missing out on deals. The effort in creating an inviting space is worth it in building buyer confidence, justifying the asking price and ensuring a smooth sale process.

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Economic uncertainty coupled with rising building material costs and interest rates resulted in a sharp decline in builder sentiment in April as the housing market enters into the heart of the spring buying season.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell four points to 34 in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This is the lowest level since September 2025.

“Builder sentiment has fallen back in spring as buyers face ongoing elevated interest rates and growing economic uncertainty,” said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens, a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “The year started with hopes for housing momentum growth, but risks with respect to the Iran war, energy costs, and declines for consumer confidence have slowed the market.”

“With oil prices higher in the U.S., 62% of builders reported suppliers have increased building material costs due to higher fuel prices, including gas and diesel,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “Energy costs make up approximately 4% of residential construction material input and service costs. With near-term economic risks elevated, 70% of builders reported challenges pricing homes given uncertainty about material costs.”

The latest HMI survey also revealed that 36% of builders cut prices in April, down slightly from 37% in March. The average price reduction was 5%, down from the 6% figure in March. The use of sales incentives was 60% in April, down from 64% in March, and marking the 13th consecutive month this share has reached 60% or higher.

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 40 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

All three of the major HMI indices posted losses in April. The HMI index gauging current sales conditions fell four points to 37 from March to April, the index measuring future sales dropped seven points to 42 and the index charting traffic of prospective buyers posted a three-point decline to 22.

Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast fell two points to 42, the Midwest dropped two points to 41, the South held constant at 35 and the West fell three points to 29.

HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics is also available at Housing Economics PLUS.

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The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 12,000 real estate fraud complaints last year.

Person typing on a laptop overlaid with a red caution warning

Cyber criminals stole more than $275 million through real estate-related fraud from at least 12,368 victims last year, according to a new reportpdf from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Those figures are higher than 2024 and 2023—which saw 9,359 complaints totaling more than $173 million in losses and 9,521 complaints totaling about $145 million, respectively—but significantly less than 2022’s peakpdf of 11,727 complaints and a whopping $397 million in losses.

IC3 considers financial loss from a real estate investment or fraud involving rental or timeshare property as “real estate fraud.”

The FBI report outlines how just about anyone, at any age and real estate experience level, can fall victim to these crimes, with persons in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s submitting an equal amount of real estate-related fraud reports last year.

The report, which notes that total cybercrime losses have reached about $20.9 billion, emphasizes how AI is shaping fraud by helping schemers appear more convincing and thwarting victims by becoming harder to detect.

“AI technology enables the creation of convincing synthetic content, such as social media profiles and personalized conversations, often in mass quantities,” the report says. “People have manipulated video and audio similarly for decades, but the widespread availability of this developing technology makes it possible to create high-quality content.”

In July 2025, REALTOR® News covered a growing cryptocurrency scheme known as pig butchering—the practice of scammers gaining trust and gradually encouraging victims to invest more and more money into false accounts by showing fake profits. The U.S. Secret Service said this particular scam resulted in $15 million total in losses for 60 real estate agents.

Agent Awareness and Prevention

The National Association of REALTORS® published a Window the Law video warning real estate professionals about these scams, along with an NAR Cryptoscam Awareness one-sheetpdf that outlines red flags and best practices.

Brokers are encouraged to have a risk-reduction plan in place and regularly offer AI cybersecurity and wire fraud training for agents and staff.

The FBI IC3 report describes a success story where preparation and awareness prevented a fraudulent transaction from being completed. The individuals who were closing on a house received an email impersonating their attorneys and mistakenly sent a large wire transfer to a scammer.

“A wire was submitted at their bank for over $449,000 and was sent to the recipient bank. After the fraud was discovered, the individuals reported the fraud to their bank, and their attorneys made separate attempts to contact the recipient bank with negative results,” the FBI report states.

“Upon receiving the IC3 complaint filed about the incident, the [IC3 Recovery Asset Team] immediately initiated the [Financial Fraud Kill Chain (FFKC)] to request a freeze of the fraudulent account at the recipient bank. The RAT received notification from the recipient bank that the full amount was still in the account and on hold.”

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Credit: Ali Majdfar / Getty Images Book projects like deck, fence, window, and roof installation in spring.Kitchen and bath reno projects often book up in summer, and spring allows time to refine designs.Consider the projects for which you'll want ample daylight and moderate temperatures.

Many homeowners like to tackle home repair and renovation projects in the summer for a variety of reasons: There's plenty of daylight for outdoor projects, said projects won't get ruined by snow, and time off can either A) give time for meeting with tradespeople or B) give you time to vacation so all the work can be wrapped up before you return.

But because summer is such a popular time for home renovations and maintenance projects, contractor schedules fill up rapidly, leaving little room for last-minute bookings.

Instead of trying to jam your project in among countless others during the summer months, it's easier—and sometimes even cheaper—to schedule these jobs for the spring.

Booking in the spring gives you more time to work with your contractor to ensure you get the results you want, and we asked contractors to find out which five renovation projects to start in April while there are still openings.

Andre Kazimierski is a roofing contractor and the co-owner and president of HomeHero Roofing. Dave Rossi is a licensed general Contractor and the founder and CEO of CIQU Construction. Todd Trip is a general contractor and Home Improvement expert with the advice site JustAnswer. Deck and Fence Installation Credit: irina88w / Getty Images

General contractor Todd Trip says "an existing or a new deck design that you would like on your home needs to be scheduled in advance as these jobs are typically booked up early."

Whether you are putting in a new deck, building a fence, or doing repairs on your existing decking and fencing, it's always best to plan this work for spring. (It could even lead to a discount on your job if the contracting company is trying to fill up their spring schedule.)

Waiting until summer to hire a contractor for a deck or fencing project could leave you with higher costs, delayed bookings, and perhaps a rushed job.

Roof Repair/Replacement

Roofing pro Andre Kazimierski of HomeHero Roofing explains that getting a new roof—or a roof repair—is very popular in the summer.

"People tend to book these when it’s easier for their own schedules, and during the summer a lot of people might have Fridays off or maybe they have a job that has a summer break, allowing them to be at home to talk with contractors," he says.

However, spring can be a great time for this kind of project because with slightly less demand, you might be able to score a little lower price in some cases.

Also, it’s nice to have a project like this completed when the weather isn’t as unbearably hot, when workers won't be fighting the heat on a hot roof.

Landscaping and Yard Renewal Credit: Kirill Rudenko / Getty Images

Lawns and gardens can take a serious beating over the course of a long, snowy winter, but with a little TLC, you can get your yard back in shape.

Tripp says tackling projects like sealing sidewalks and driveways; weeding; tree, plant, and shrub care; planter bed maintenance; and sprinkler system maintenance in April is a good idea.

There might be faulty sprinkler systems causing dry spots on your lawn, Tripp cautions, and you'll want to reduce the risk of the problem getting worse in the summer weather.

Replacing or Upgrading Windows

Switching out drafty windows isn'twell-suited to the winter or the summer because it leaves the home completely exposed to outdoor temperatures. In April, the temperatures outside are relatively comfortable and you aren't necessarily running your heating or cooling system, so it's a great time to replace or upgrade your windows.

Since the HVAC system won't be running, you won't need to worry about wasting money on expensive energy bills and you can take advantage of the temporary openings to air out the home.

Additionally, Dave Rossi, founder of CIQU Construction, says "the earlier you engage your builder and design team, the more time you have to refine layout, materials, and details. That’s where the best outcomes are created. Earlier planning means fewer constraints, better decision-making, and a much smoother path from concept to completion."

Kitchen and Bath Remodel Credit: Lisa-Blue / Getty Images

Similar to having your windows replaced, when you want to redo the kitchen or bath, you can expect the contractors to be walking in and out of the home a lot, as well as leaving windows open, which in the summer can put a lot of strain on your HVAC system.

If that isn't enough to change your mind about planning this project for summer, you should also consider that due to the high demand for this work and the lengthy timelines for these jobs, there is a high risk that you may need to wait until next year if you try to book it for the jam-packed summer months.

"In our market in Silicon Valley and other high-end residential areas, the summer surge is very consistent," Rossi says. "The projects that tend to stack up are kitchens, primary bathrooms, indoor-outdoor living upgrades, and large window and door installations."

April is the ideal time to book this job because it's early enough that most contractors will be able to start immediately, and it's warm enough to fire up the grill while the kitchen is occupied with the remodel.

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