Have you ever been house hunting? If you have, you may have noticed some specific features and upgrades that significantly increase a home’s value.
Many of these features are in a home’s outdoor spaces, specifically in backyards.
If you’re planning to put your house on the market soon and are looking for ways to boost property value with backyard upgrades, we’ve rounded up the best ones for you.
We want to warn you, though, some of these upgrades are so amazing that you might want to put off selling your home to enjoy them for a while.
Here’s what we suggest.
Build A Firepit
If you don’t already have any fire elements in your backyard, it’s time to invest in an outdoor firepit.
They make your backyard super fun, especially if you like to use them as an entertaining space.
The firepit can serve as a center point for your backyard, and with a comfortable outdoor chair around it, you can sit with your friends and family, roasting marshmallows and having great conversations.
Firepits are super popular, easy to incorporate, and will be preferred by many potential buyers.

Consider An Outdoor Kitchen
In recent years, outdoor kitchens have become incredibly popular. This could be related to people’s love for minimalistic, nature-based lifestyles.
So, consider building a simple but beautiful outdoor kitchen if your backyard has room for it.
A kitchen can get expensive, so ideally, we suggest keeping things practical and pocket-friendly and not splurging too much, especially since you need to keep the design and style neutral enough to appeal to a larger audience.
Also, if you don’t think you can afford an outdoor kitchen but like cooking outdoors, invest in a pellet grill for yourself!
It’s the perfect alternative to a complete kitchen.
Add A Backyard Patio or A Wooden Deck

A backyard patio can quickly become your favorite place in the house when done right, and it also serves as a promising attraction for potential buyers.
A wooden deck at the back of the house or a paver patio is usually the first outdoor upgrade most homeowners go for since it’s a worthwhile upgrade and a very prominent one that buyers notice right away.
A deck or a patio can help you extend your outdoor living area, giving you more entertaining space.
You can consider incorporating the fire pit within the deck if you’re going for a paver patio.
Upgrade The Outdoor Lighting
Most of the time, house tours happen during the day, and therefore you won’t be able to display your outdoor lighting in all its glory.
But if it’s a private showing, you can suggest the potential buyer come in the evening a little while before dark so that they can tour the backyard during the day, and at night, with all the lights on.
You can consider installing lights that accentuate the best parts of your backyard, including the patio and other Instagram-able corners.
Also, consider installing LED step lights, lanterns, and garden torches if your deck or patio has steps.
Rethink The Landscape
Putting in some landscaping effort in your backyard can improve your home’s value because, for many buyers, it’s all about the visuals and aesthetics.
So, if you’ve got a large backyard, make the most of your space by planting fruit trees and pretty bushes.
Also, plant some flower beds and maybe even a herb garden, and ensure it’s all well-thought-out and aligned.
You can also add a few walkways, retaining walls, and other wooden or water elements to add some outdoor charm.

Consider A Fence
A fence or boundary may add value to your home, but it may also be illegal, so look into your region’s fencing laws before investing in one.
If your area’s authorities allow fences around homes, consider adding one before putting your house on the market.
A fence will add privacy, which is something many homeowners prefer. In addition, your potential buyers will appreciate it.
Invest In A Sprinkler System
If you’ve got lots of greenery in your backyard, installing a sprinkler system is critical.
You may think it’s a waste if you’re moving away anyway but think again.
Many people may love a house with a beautiful green backyard, but they may not like having to water the whole place manually.
A sprinkler system will help convince potential buyers that the house is worth investing in and will obviously raise your home’s value overall.
And, of course, you get to use your sprinklers while you’re still there!
Add A Backyard Pond

This is a bit of investment, but it’s a show stealer. Unfortunately, not many homes have backyard ponds, so the ones that do are often in high demand.
You don’t need to stock the backyard pond either fully; the new owners can take care of that; make sure it looks clean and aesthetic when you’re showing it.
Install An Outdoor Playset
Another backyard upgrade that could be a great seller is an outdoor playset. These aren’t the most common, but they’re loved across the board.
An outdoor playset will significantly help sway families with little children.
So if you live in a large house that could be considered a family house, adding a playset will attract the right buyers.
Make sure the playset is safe and built for a wider age bracket.
If you’d like to explore more online backyard designs or need to learn about boosting property value with backyard upgrades, explore the other articles on BackYard Alpha.
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