There’s nothing quite like that feeling of a successful DIY weekend.
You stand back, admire your work, and you can already picture all those future BBQs, quiet mornings, family memories, parties with friends – all the nice things that’ll happen in your now newly improved backyard.
It’s personal, it’s yours. And you love it.
But what happens when ‘for sale’ goes up on the sign?
The hard truth is that not all outdoor projects have the same value. Some are brilliant investments, others are passion projects that have little to no financial return.
Before you break ground, let’s go over five projects that are worth the time and money and three that, sadly, do nothing for your home’s value.
Read more :
- How a Garden Room Can Increase Your Property Value
- The Best Ways to Maximize Your Outdoor Space
- Minimalist Living Beyond Walls: Functional Design for Outdoor Comfort
- Create Your Outdoor Retreat with Patio Furniture from Experts
5 Outdoor Projects That Are Actually Worth Your Time and Money
Before you start any project, it’s a good thing to know where your effort will truly pay off, so let’s go over five ideas that have mass appeal.
1. A Stone Patio or Composite Deck
A patio or a deck is like an entirely new room to your house, but minus the expensive walls and roof. If you end up with wobbly rails and uneven pavers, it will only cause problems (plus it’s not safe), so look for a local contractor with a good reputation to do the job for you.
Get a few estimates and then compare them. Just make sure the estimates you get are relevant to where you live.
A deck builder in Hershey will quote you around $15,500 (USD) on average for a wooden deck, while one in Phoenix will quote you north of $19,000. Similarly, a composite deck will cost you approximately. $25,000 in Hershey, while the same will cost almost $30,000 in Phoenix.
There are lots of factors (e.g., materials, size, design, structure/foundations, climate/environment, permits, labor, etc.) that’ll determine prices, and they’re heavily influenced by the area, so be sure to check with a local contractor first to see where you stand in terms of expenses and how long the project will take.
2. Landscape Lighting
This is one of the most affordable ways to add a serious wow factor to your property. Simple solar light paths or subtle spotlights on trees do wonders for curb appeal and allow everyone to enjoy being in the garden after dark.
Just keep it classy, not flashy.
3. A Private, Low-Maintenance Fence
A sturdy fence is a huge selling point, especially for people who have pets and/or families.
A fence clearly defines your personal outdoor space and makes the backyard safer for kids and pets to play in. You want it to be high-quality and in neutral colors, though—nothing too bright or, even worse, rotting or leaning.
4. An Automated Irrigation System
This upgrade sells a dream of a perfect, green lawn without any of the weekend work.
It shows buyers that the garden is easy to take care of and that it will look great with little to no effort.
However, the system has to be reliable and professionally installed to add actual value. If it’s complicated or a poorly installed DIY, it will make buyers imagine all the leaks and repairs they’ll deal with.
5. Native Tree(s)
Planting a tree (or multiple trees) is a long-term way to increase the value of your property. Sure, depending on the type of tree, it might be decades until it grows into something that looks spectacular, but it’ll be worth it – if not for you, then for your kids. Think long-term.
What you get is a great view, some much-needed shade in the summer, it can even bear fruit (again, depending on the tree), plus, it looks nice, which is always good!
Choose a species that’s native to your area because it’s easier to maintain and it benefits the ecosystem.
3 Projects to Avoid (Unless You’re Doing It Just for You)
If your main goal is resale value, you need to know which projects to avoid.
Here they are:
The Extensive Water Feature
The gentle sound of a babbling fountain might sound relaxing to you, but a lot of buyers will only hear the sound of future chores and potential problems.
A large pond or a waterfall with several tiers is usually seen as nothing more than a high-maintenance hassle that breeds mosquitoes and eats up money for repairs.
A Swimming Pool (In Most Climates)
A pool is the most polarizing feature you can add to a backyard.
Some buyers might see fun summer days, but others (and there are many more of these) immediately think of insurance premiums, weekly cleaning, chemical costs, and serious safety issues if they have kids.
When you install a pool, you drastically narrow your field of potential buyers.
Highly Specialized Areas
Building a huge, permanent play structure like a towering wooden castle is great for your kids, but it may not be so great for the family who moves in after you.
They might see it as a big, expensive problem that they’ll have to pay to remove. If you want a play zone, get something portable.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to add monetary value to your home – you’ve got your five outdoor project ideas. If you’re looking to add general value to your home (so that it’s a nicer place to be in) – again, you’ve got your five outdoor project ideas.
This article is meant to show you what’s possible, and if it helped you directly, that’s amazing. But perhaps, it also inspired you to do something of your own.
