When you add something permanent and beautiful to your home, you get two kinds of return on investment (ROI). In many cases, you’ll get a modest boost to your home’s value and to the way it could stick in the minds of particular buyers, helping them to envision a life there. The second, and equally important, benefit is that you get to use this upgrade for your own family’s life. Great real estate agents will advise you to consider both sources of value.
Right now, backyard upgrades are incredibly hot in the seller’s market, and a great reason to make these upgrades now is to socialize in ways that have been hard to accomplish since early 2020. Try one of these projects to be the talk of your entire neighborhood and enjoy your summer to the fullest.
Picture Yourself by the Pool
While backyard pools do come with upkeep costs and time, there is something uniquely relaxing and beautiful about getting to walk right outside and take a dip. Pool parties will be in high demand as more people emerge from intense social distancing, and your own backyard can become the best place to gather friends and family for a swim. Many homes with pools have sold for a premium this year, and while that may be a temporary effect, there could be lingering interest among buyers for years to come, especially for those who have grown to rely on that morning swim or evening soak.
Stage Your Patio or Deck as an Outdoor Living Room
A less expensive but impactful upgrade is to take what was always just a couple of chairs on the patio and really make a full outdoor living room. This typically involves interesting outdoor lighting for the evening, a weather-resistant set of patio furniture with plush cushions, and an outdoor rug that coordinates. Making it possible to really relax in comfort outside can make all the difference in getting everyone outdoors more often.
Install a Permanent Outdoor Kitchen
People who previously enjoyed grilling out occasionally have pushed that backyard staple to the next level with outdoor kitchens. Usually with counter space, a built-in grill, storage, and even add-ons like a brick pizza oven, an outdoor kitchen allows friends and family to socialize while cooking is going on. Then, everyone can settle in at the bar or table to enjoy the meal that has been created, all without heating the house up with an indoor oven.
Enjoy Summertime out by the Permanent Fire Pit
The top backyard upgrade in almost every part of the country is a nice permanent fire pit with seating. Enjoying a nice backyard fire is cozy and a nice place to swap stories, while also extending the time when the outdoors is comfortable into the slightly cooler months. Adding a well-designed permanent outdoor fire pit is not a high cost for your budget, but can help buyers to see themselves spending long evenings with friends in the future when they purchase the home.
When you choose your backyard upgrades, focusing on what you like most and will use yourself is the best way to get the dual ROI of home value and personal use value.
