One of the most important things that you should focus on as a homeowner is not just to maintain the value of your property, but also to increase it as much as possible. This is important so that if ever the time comes when you need to part with your home, you can command a higher asking price.
One of the best-kept secrets of real estate professionals is to enhance the outdoor living spaces of residential properties. Because these are the first areas of a property that potential buyers see, they can help homeowners make a good first impression. Keeping a home’s exteriors aesthetically pleasing immediately adds value to the property, visibly and intangibly.
Here are a few exterior improvements that you can invest on to enhance the overall value of your home:
Water Features: A swimming pool, jacuzzi, or pond definitely adds more value to your property, but you can up your home’s appeal even further if the entryway, yard, or garden is exquisitely designed with other water features such as a waterfall or a fountain. Water features in your home are aesthetically pleasing and provide an additional lifestyle amenity for you and your guests.
Water feature designs that are especially in vogue these days are those that utilize natural stone formations, which blend seamlessly with the environment. This is a great idea especially if your home has a breathtaking backdrop of natural surroundings.
Gardens and Landscaping: Needless to say, a carefully designed and manicured garden is a plus for any property as it instantly improves your home’s curb appeal. It is ideal to engage the services of a professional landscaper to achieve the right look for your home—whether you want to go with a Mediterranean look, a Japanese-inspired Zen surroundings, or a European rose garden, perhaps.
Trees, greens, and shrubs are also dramatically enhanced with the right lighting techniques, which can also be very attractive at night, especially when you’re holding an outdoor party.
Outdoor Home Cinema: This is another great idea to transform an idle portion of your outdoor property into a useful and valuable space. A big trend among homeowners today is to hold outdoor screenings of movies or a marathon of their favorite television shows. What better place for you to hold them than in your lawn or garden, where your family and friends can relax in lounge chairs while enjoying popcorn and pizza.
A nice outdoor cinema area would ideally have a blank wall where the movie can be projected, or you can also invest in a specialized large TV screen for outdoor use that has reduced glare and reflection. Such a space is also versatile enough to be transformed into an all-around party venue.
Outdoor Dining Amenities: Constructing a deck or patio with dining amenities along with an outdoor kitchen is a great way to add more value to your residence. Such outdoor facilities serve as a great convergence spot for any outdoor party or event.
An outdoor kitchen comprises a larger area that includes not just a cooking feature like a stovetop or a grill, but also a nice weather-proof seating area, as well as touches of luxury with amenities such as a minibar, a refrigerator, a wash sink, and many others.
Sustainability Features : Outdoor home improvements that are environment-friendly are very popular and valuable in the real estate market these days. Homeowners are beginning to realize that sustainability is not just a fad, but a lifestyle necessity for the future, so any features and amenities that enable them to achieve energy and environmental conservation are great come-ons.
Eco-friendly facilities can include amenities such as solar rooftop panels, rainwater collection systems, solar-powered garden lights, vertical gardens on walls, a green roof, and many others.
Investing in Your Home Adds Value to Your Residence: The right kind of investment in your home contributes to its market value in the long run, and one of these tried and tested investments is in outdoor features and amenities. Not only do they make your home more attractive, but they also provide a lot of opportunities for an active, dynamic, and social lifestyle.