We don’t like to think of our homes as investments, but they are, in fact, one of the biggest investments people make in their lives. Because of this, whether you’re looking to sell soon or don’t even plan to, it’s always best to keep the value of your home in mind. When looking at improvements to make on a home, most people focus on the interior rather than the exterior. But this is a mistake because not only does the exterior of your home give the first impression to any potential buyers, there are many things you can do to it that will increase the home’s value.
Add A Pool
Backyard pools are the very image of summer fun and your home will very likely become the envy of the neighborhood should you choose to install one. The expense must seriously be considered, as pools are not only a significant expense to install, but also to maintain. You will need to research different designs, because pool designs in Henderson can be completely different from pool designs in Mesa.
Add A Deck Or Patio
Decks are great because they are essentially an extra room outdoors where you can sit and relax when the weather’s nice. It’s also an excellent place to entertain guests. Decks and patios tend to have a high return on investment, because they are high on most potential buyers’ wishlists. A cool variant is to put in an outdoor fireplace.
Add A Fence
This may seem a little odd, but with the news that younger home buyers are primarily interested in buying homes because of their dogs, it should start to make a little more sense. If you already have a dog, you should seriously consider putting in a fence anyway for his or her sake. Fences add value to your home because buyers with children and pets will appreciate the privacy and security fences offer.
Do Some Landscaping
Landscaping is another important improvement you should make in order to increase the value of your home. Keep the grass mowed, weed flowerbeds, plant something nice in them and maintain them. Trim trees. Clean up any debris that might be lying around. Most simple landscaping improvements you can do yourself, but if you really want to go all out you can hire a professional landscaper to really improve the look of your yard. You should seriously consider adding outdoor lighting, which adds to the home’s appeal and makes it come across as safer. Another option you can look into is putting in a retaining wall, which can improve appearance, reduce erosion and allow you to get more use out of a property with a steep slope.
Touch Up The House
The final improvement you should make is also rather simple, but its importance should not be underestimated. Fix up the house itself. Paint the front door and decorate the area around it so it looks nice. Perhaps add plants and a nice welcome mat. Do little things like clean the gutters and paint the trim and door frames. Perhaps even paint the whole house itself. All of these additions will make the house appear attractive to buyers from the first moment they lay eyes on it, and they will be willing to pay more for it. It also has the added bonus of helping keep the property values in your neighborhood up as a whole.
These are some of the main improvements you can make to the exterior of your home in order to increase its value. Some are more involved and more expensive than others, but they all contribute to your home’s ultimate selling price. Be sure that whatever outdoor improvements you ultimately end up making on your home, that your family is okay with it – that is key to maintaining good family relationships. Also make sure that you have all proper permits from your local municipality and your homeowners association, if applicable. You home will be the envy of the neighborhood and sell fast.
