12 Outdoor Improvements that Add Value to Your Home
Buying a house is a complex decision based on many rational factors, such as budget, square footage, and location. However, a house is much more than walls and doors. People buy the property hoping it will become their home, so there are many emotions involved too.
We form our first impression of a person within seven seconds, and it’s not that much different with properties either. So, if your goal is to sell, you’ll want to do your best to make that first impression matter. We are, of course, talking about your home’s curb appeal and how it can help increase property value. Also, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, we now have people who are willing to pay more for a spacious and thoughtfully landscaped backyard.
So, if you are planning on putting your house on the market, here are some outdoor improvements you can make to add major value to the property.
Get Rid of the Mess
If, regardless of trimming the lawn and maintaining the exterior, your yard never looks pulled together, you might be facing the problem of a cluttered yard. We all have at least a couple of items that can go straight to the garbage bin and a few more that can be stored out of sight.
So, roll up your sleeves, get your work gloves on, and follow our tips:
- Inspect your old garden furniture and see if it is repairable. If so, you can refurbish it. If it is not repairable or if you don’t want to keep it, consider deposing, selling, or donating it.
- If you have any old paint bins, don’t toss them in the garbage, but give them to a special recycling center for paint.
- Do you have any old ceramic pots and containers piled up waiting for repair? Well, do it now, or give yourself a break and throw them away, along with any other broken statues, ornaments, and containers that you are not using.
- Garden tools and equipment shouldn’t be leaning against a wall. If you don’t own a shed, you can either build one or get creative with your storage solutions. Consider getting a potting bench. You can use shelves below it for storing smaller tools and crates to keep bags from spilling. Larger tools can be fixed above the bench using simple wooden hooks. Also, you can attach hooks to the back of a door, use a tool rack, design a wrap-around shelving in the garage, use a pegboard, or get a steel storage unit.
- Store oversized items such as sports gear, umbrella poles, or sun parasols in the garage or under a porch/deck.
- When selling a house, you need to depersonalize the space so that potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Since you don’t know whether the people interested in the property have or are planning on having kids, consider selling or donating old yard play sets.
- Finally, clear up organic waste, such as leaves.
Take Care of the Lawn and Greenery
If you are regular with your yard work, a basic lawn spruce-up shouldn’t pose a big problem. However, you need to keep in mind that even a small investment can result in an ROI larger than 300%. So, make sure you mow the lawn (regularly), add fertilizer, pull weeds, and remove debris and leaves. If you need to start from the beginning, here are a few curb appeal tips:
- Test your soil to learn about the essential nutrients and maintenance routine.
- Upon receiving the test results, you will be able to correct underlying issues with soil amendments. Check with your local lab for recommendations for repairing bare patches, unbalanced pH, etc.
- To minimize maintenance and watering, learn what the best grasses for your region are.
- Keep your lawn lush with proper nutrition. Use the test results to assess how much nitrogen and fertilizer the lawn needs.
- Treat lawn weeds on time with a combination of pre-emergent controls and weed-and-feed fertilizers.
- Mow the grass based on growth. Some grasses are best kept short, while others require more height. Also, mowing heights can be changed gradually over sessions.
- Water deeply, not frequently.
A messy lawn isn’t the only thing that can be a serious eyesore. So can overgrown hedges and shrubs. Trim the shrubs and hedges, but be careful not to over-cut. If you have any mature trees in your yard, it would be best to hire a professional tree trimming service.
Add Mulch
Mulch is a perfect way to ward off weeds, and it also protects your garden. According to HomeLight, investing in fresh mulch results in 126% ROI. Mulch is best used on flower beds. Also, for mulching large areas, you should put down a landscaping fabric for lower maintenance and then add two or three inches of mulch.
Plant Flower Beds and Borders
If you already have flower beds and borders, just make sure you maintain them properly. If you don’t, make it simple and quick so that it can be done by the time you place the property on the market. Consider your soil type to minimize maintenance and maximize growth. If the garden gets limited sunshine, choose some shade-loving plants. Some of the usual low-maintenance garden border plants are Echinacea Pallida, Bupleurum Falcatum, geranium flowers, Alchemilla Mollis, and ferns.
Go for the simple but effective flower beds. Use planters such as tree stumps, old barrels, stacked cinder blocks, tires, etc. Some of the best perennials to use are Yarrow, Hellebore, Daylily, Clematis, Siberian Iris, and Balloon Flower.
Add a Patio or Deck
Patio ranges high among the popular outdoor home improvement projects. It makes the backyard more attractive, and it usually doesn’t require inspections or permits because it doesn’t attach to the house. We don’t have the exact figure when it comes to a return on investment for adding a patio because this depends on the size, style, and material. However, you can’t go wrong with mid-range materials and an average size patio. A deck is usually a more appealing addition but also a more expensive one. Should you decide on this option, use mid-range materials such as treated lumber or cedar. It will save you money, and it will make the yard look warm and hospitable.
Consider Installing a Fire Feature
The great outdoors is a gathering place. Since the beginning of time, people have been gathering around the fire. It makes sense, then, to install a fire feature in the backyard so that you can gather around it with your family or entertain friends. Also, the fire feature captures attention, so the people interested in your property will instantly notice it and will be able to imagine themselves hosting events there.
When considering an outdoor fire feature, you should know that there are different types, each with its unique benefits. Before buying a fire pit, consider the types of fuel, materials, wood-burning laws in your area, safety, and cost. The most common outdoor type is built above the ground with stones. However, stainless steel, cast iron, and copper are also good choices. Consider fire bowls, fire columns, fire tables, and chimeneas, as well.
Set up an Outdoor Kitchen
People love entertaining outside, and an essential part of that is food. An
outdoor kitchen will make it easier to prepare and serve food. This can be an expensive investment, though, depending on the features you decide on. Ideally, you should get a spacious countertop, a barbecue (maybe even other cooking options), a sink, a faucet, and storage. According to the 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features, this project can bring a 100% return on investment. The report also says that most people consider this an addition that improves livability. This is also a trendy project because 13% of realtors reported increased demand for outdoor kitchens during the pandemic.
Add a Water Feature
A water feature is also something that catches the eye. This can be something as small as a fountain (choose a simple universally-liked style) or as big as a pool. With a large investment like an in-ground pool, consider the cost recovery, which is 56 percent, according to the above report. A standard 18-foot-by-36-food pool with gunite walls, and a three to seven-foot depth, could cost approximately $90,000, and the estimated recovered value is $50,000.
This project brings maximum joy, but not many realtors would actually recommend it. So, it is better to stick to a fountain or a pond.
Light up the Landscape
Outdoor lighting has both aesthetic and practical functions. It creates a magical ambiance, and it deters burglars. According to the 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features, 45% of landscape professionals claim that the request for this project has increased in the last year. The cost recovery is close to 60 percent. The standard investment includes 20 LED lights and a 600W transformer, and it costs around $6,800. However, you can go low-cost and set up string lights, vintage ceiling lights, or paper lanterns on a covered patio or even hang a lamp on a tree.
Spruce up the Facade
We’ve mentioned the seven-second rule for making the first impression. This means we need to go back into the front yard. The first thing people will notice when coming to view the house is the facade. From the first look, the facade should set the character of the home and give the potential buyers an idea of what is inside.
As a minimum, the facade should be neat, tidy, and well-maintained. This doesn’t mean you should invest in major changes. Focus on smaller updates, such as new fixtures (letterbox and house number) and a fresh coat of paint. If the front door is dated, replace it or at least paint it. You can also paint the window frames. When choosing the colors, make sure they don’t stand out from the rest of the neighborhood.
Freshen up Walkways and Driveways
Walkways and driveways will lead the buyers to the property for viewing. Should they decide to make the purchase, they will lead them to their home every day. The presence of a well-constructed driveway and walkway will, therefore, add value to your home and push the sale forward. The return on investment depends largely on the materials used. Decorative concrete pavers could be very effective. The shape of this area could also make a difference. Instead of installing a straight feature, you can add unique interest to the design by creating curvatures. Consider lining these areas with pavers to make the landscape even more attractive. If you are not interested in designing new walkways and drives, just patch up the old ones by pressure washing them. You can also put in a new coat of sealant.
Don’t Forget the Garage
The garage plays a major role in curb appeal. First of all, we have the big garage door on our mind. People can’t help but notice it, especially if it looks extra bad or extra good.
The simplest but most expensive option would be installing a new garage door. The new door should fit into the overall property design. Wood might be the most versatile material because it can offer both a modern and rustic feel. If you don’t want to invest in a new door, grab a bucket of paint. Look for paint formulated for the exterior and choose a color that is a natural extension of the rest of the house. Realtors advise installing garage windows to let in extra light. And since you’re already there, clean and organize the interior of the garage so that the buyers can visualize their things in your space.
Final Outdoor Improvement Tips
Just like you would stage the house interior, you’ll need to do the same with the home exterior. Consider all the projects we’ve talked about here, and try to enhance the results of your hard work with some additional features and details. The fire feature you have installed would look much more attractive if surrounded by a seating arrangement. The outdoor kitchen should have a dining table (you can even set the table for guests). The front deck will look better with some flower pots, a rocking chair, and, why not, even a welcome drink and cookies.
The exterior has always been important for property value. Realtors claim that it is even more important now, after the pandemic. These projects should help you get the best price. Of course, you can decide to take every project on this list or choose just a few that fit into your budget and ideas.
