And while they're a beneficial feature of any size backyard, privacy screens are particularly helpful for apartment balcony privacy in urban areas where seclusion is pretty much non-existent.

For those of us living in major cities, finding an apartment with a balcony can feel akin to finding a diamond in a coal mine ...

A simple balcony in an Australian apartment can cost you up to $390,000 extra in the search for your new home.