5 Things to Know before You Tackle an Expensive Backyard Makeover

If you’re looking to make investments in your home by putting in a new pool or something almost as expensive, you might want to hold off until you know these five important facts.

Simple lawn maintenance helps more than you might think

Basic landscaping is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the overall appearance of your backyard. Simple things like trimming your lawn, removing overgrown hedges, dead plants, and replacing old sprinkler heads can make your entire backyard look fresh and new.

Think small-time quality improvements like adding fertilizers, spreading some seeds, adding pebbles, or granite. 

Appraisers care more about how your home looks than how much the materials cost

Suppose you plan to sell your home in a few months or years. In that case, you should focus more on quality of life upgrades and improvements over using the most expensive materials. Odds are, you might not recoup your cost if you splurge on expensive tiles, quartz table tops, etc. 

Appraisers tend to focus more on the house aesthetics, judging the condition of the outdoor amenities than the materials they’re made out of. They’ll care more that there’s a crack on your countertop or you have chipped tiles than the cost of your upgrade.

Your Neighborhood affects your future quotes

It’s no secret that real estate agents appraise the value of your home based on the perceived value of the houses around it. Those estimations will also affect how much value you see in each addition you make. 

Whether you’re in a great or bad neighborhood, installing a pool is generally seen as a bad investment. If you have a fixer-upper, you might see even poorer results.

Setting your sights on something cheaper like a patio, some Sydney awnings, or a patio might give you better value.

Improve your sunset and nighttime visuals

People tend to respond positively when you provide some more utility to regular home spaces. Homes with moderate to large backyards can benefit from economic nighttime decor investments like a fire pit, patio lighting, walk lights, etc. Better ambiance means that they can host night parties, camp, lounge, or host functions in their backyards.

Look into financing the upgrade

Home upgrades don’t always have to come out of pocket. Consider home equity loans or home equity line of credit loans. They have better interest than traditional loans and should be easier to pay back. If you wait to save enough money to get that pool outright, you might have to save a long time.

They provide you with enough liquidity to consider both small and big improvements to your home. Before you make any big decision, remember to make upgrades you as well as your potential buyers will enjoy because you have to live in your home before you sell it. 

Conclusion

This article talks about the things to know before you tackle an expensive backyard makeover. This information should not be overlooked as it goes a long way in helping homeowners.

Kevin Darabont
I am a freelance writer who loves to craft, home decor improvement, and active DIYers. I am happy to share my knowledge and experience to the world and learn new things everyday.