6 Outdoor Upgrades That Add the Most Resale Value, According to Experts

These elegant features will elevate your backyard.

A backyard featuring a pergola seating landscaping and decorative stone vases — Credit:
Rabbitti / Getty Images

Whether you're ready to list or you're just trying to be proactive, you may be thinking about your residence's resale value. Often these conversations start inside the home; however, you may have already changed everything you can there. But have you considered making outdoor improvements?

These exterior tweaks can significantly increase your home’s overall value. Ahead, we spoke with experts to learn which outdoor projects you should consider adding to your list—and how much they can pay off in the long run.

Henry Stoll, founder of Enduria Structures, a building company specializing in outdoor structures
Thomas O'Shaughnessy, a vice president at Clever Real Estate
Dave Pollard, principal, co-founder, and creative director of LivCo, a home remodeling company

Adding a Deck

An outdoor deck with railing overlooking a wooded area with trees and foliage — Bryan Chavez / Getty Images

Installing a deck is one of the most reliable ways to increase your home’s resale value, according to Henry Stoll, founder of Enduria Structures. It's the perfect place for entertaining and adds welcome curb appeal.

“Specifically, a pressure-treated wood deck is more affordable and is known to resist rot, insects, and moisture, helping it last longer and requiring less maintenance,” he says.

Pressure-treated wood decks can cost anywhere between $8,000 and $18,000 to build, as per Stoll. According to the Journal of Light Construction’s Cost v. Value report, that new wood deck can recoup up to 95 percent of its cost if you go to sell.

Stoll recommends hiring a professional contractor to build a deck—they will know which permits you’ll need as well as the local building codes. Generally speaking, an average-sized deck can take two to four weeks to complete, but the individual size and scope of the project will dictate how long it takes.

Building a Covered Outdoor Structure

A pergola or a pavilion is a great investment for homeowners, says Stoll. While a pergola adds filtered shade and definition to entertainment spaces, pavilions provide full coverage and can often be used year-round in certain climates.

“These projects generally range from $10,000 to $40,000, depending on materials and the size of the structure,” says Stoll. “They can be completed in a few days to a couple of weeks.”

It's a project you’ll want to call the professionals for. Expect these types of structures to have a 15 to 20 percent ROI.

Installing a Fence

A garden with flowers a white fence and wooden chairs in the background — Jena Ardell / Getty Images

Fencing is a great addition to your home—especially for families with pets or children.

“Fence installation is a functional improvement that carries great weight among homebuyers,” says Thomas O’Shaughnessy, vice president at Clever Real Estate. “Installing a quality wooden or vinyl fence costs between $5,000 and $15,000, depending on the yard and materials used; it takes up to three to five days.”

O’Shaughnessy says fencing can be a DIY project, so long as there aren’t any elevation changes or easements on your land. The ROI for adding a fence to your home is about 50 percent.

Landscaping the Exterior

Aside from adding a deck, landscaping your exterior will add the most value to your home. This can be anything—from cleaned up garden beds and new mulching to a properly maintained lawn.

“This improvement costs anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 and returns more than 100 percent of the money spent,” says O’Shaughnessy. You can either hire professional landscapers to do the job for you or DIY the project if you have the time and resources.

Adding Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor garden path with illuminated modern lighting and landscaping features — welcomia / Getty Images

O’Shaughnessy recommends adding landscape or pathway lighting to boost resale value. “Professional installation is priced between $1,500 and $5,000, usually done in one to two days, and it changes the whole look of your property," he says.

Enhancing your home’s exterior through outdoor lighting ultimately boosts curb appeal, which can increase overall resale value.

Replacing the Garage Door

For many homeowners, the garage door is the de facto front door, so replacing yours with a beautiful new model can have a high ROI. Dave Pollard of LivCo notes that a new garage door can recoup up to 286 percent of its cost upon resale.

Replacing a garage door is a quick process and can be done within a few hours. Depending on whether you’re replacing a single or double car door, costs can range from $600 on the low end to up to $8,000 on the high end.