Monday Market Update: Outdoor Improvements & ROI

This is the week that spring arrives! As you dream of spending more time outdoors and start cleaning up your outdoor living spaces, do you have any home projects on your mind? A new patio set out back? Fresh landscaping out front? A pool perhaps…? A new read from Realtor.com® reveals which outdoor improvements make homeowners happiest and which grab the best ROI – and they are NOT one in the same!

There are three main reasons for home improvements (inside or out!): personal enjoyment or return on investment, or most commonly – both! Since COVID-19, 92% of landscaping professionals saw an increase in demand for outdoor features, and nearly 80% said the scope of the desired projects became bigger!

Now may be the time you are deciding what you want to see in your yard next, and you may be balancing that with what that might mean when it is time for you to sell. Here are five, fact-based considerations for outdoor upgrades:

#1: Curb appeal still counts! Simply seeding and mowing your lawn and keeping it healthy offers a 217% return on investment, according to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors® and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

#2: Landscape maintenance such as keeping shrubs trimmed and flowers blooming nets home sellers a 104% ROI, while landscaping upgrades in general offer a 100% ROI.

#3: Fire features and landscape lighting may add enjoyment to your lifestyle, but they generally see a payoff of 56-59% when it comes time to sell.

#4: The pool of your dreams may not makes the sales splash you are hoping for – as in-ground pools generally only offer a 56% ROI (at a cost of $90K on average!) and may even deter some buyers because of liability. Note that pools DO offer the highest rates of enjoyment and are ranked as the outdoor improvement that makes homeowners happiest.

#5: Upgrades that offer the least enjoyment include: outdoor kitchens, tree care and irrigation systems.

Check out more fun and factual stats in the original read ‘It’s All About Curb Appeal: The Simple Landscaping Task That Can Boost Your Home’s Value the Most.’ Get ready to get inspired!

Cheers to spring and all that is sunny & bright, 

Bobbi Decker
DRE#00607999

Broker Associate, Bobbi Decker & Associates
650.346.5352 cell
650.577.3127 efax
www.bobbidecker.com
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