They say April showers bring May flowers and, as we enter into May, we sure hope that’s true again this year. Why? Because flowers, lawn care and outdoor features can help increase your home’s value. The National Association of Realtors recently analyzed which home projects bring the best return, and here we’ll go through some of the outdoor feature projects that can best increase the value of your home.
Outdoor Feature Projects to Increase Seller Value
The statistical analysis and data branch of National Association of Realtors has put forth data on the best exterior feature projects that can help increase the value of your home, so you get more money when you sell.
They found that of the ten exterior feature projects surveyed, the top three with the best overall value for sellers are: #1 Seed Lawn Upgrade, #2 Standard Lawn Care, #3 Sod Lawn Upgrade. Yes, a well maintained lawn is that important. More of the costs are expected to be recovered in the added value to the home then any other.
*Disclaimer: The report provides a cost recovery estimate for representative remodeling projects. The actual cost of each remodeling projects and cost recovery are influenced by many factors including project design, quality of materials, location, age and condition of the home and homeowner preferences.
Recovered Costs vs. Joy Score of Outdoor Feature Projects
As a part of the survey of 10 outdoor feature projects, the NAR® Research Department also asked about the satisfaction of seeing a project to completion (“Joy Score”) and with REALTOR® opinions of how much of the remodeling cost they could expect to recover in selling the home.
I’m Thinking About Selling – What Should I Do?
While curb appeal has long been key, and lawn improvement clearly tops the list, every home is unique and home remodeling projects can vary greatly depending on your home’s condition. Consider talking to an experienced Robert Paul Properties Realtor who can help you plot the best course for remodeling and selling your home to earn top dollar.
If you are interested in this topic, be sure to view the other installments in this series…