12 Outdoor Upgrades That Make Your Home More Valuable

During the summer months, nothing beats roasting marshmallows and sharing stories around a roaring fire. Homeowners who install an outdoor fire pit will not only create delightful memories, but will also realize a 67 percent return on investment. Fire features that have a gas burner and patio area cost an average of $6,000 to construct, and you'll recoup about $4,000 when you sell your home, according to the National Association of Realtors®’ (NAR) and National Association of Landscape Professionals’ (NALP) 2018 Remodeling Report: Outdoor Features .

Related: No Money to Burn? 9 Fire Pits You Can Afford

While making cosmetic changes to the front of your house, upgrade your front door. Swapping your drab door for a steel unit with window panels, casing, and new hardware is around $1,800, but the Remodeling Magazine report estimates that you’ll make almost 75 percent of that back. An impressive entryway sets the tone for the rest of the house tour.

Related: 14 Home Improvement Projects You Can Tackle with Your Tax Refund

If you want a good-looking lawn, you need to supply sufficient nutrients and take steps to reduce weeds. The NAR and NALP recommend an average of six applications of lawn fertilizer and weed-control annually, which will cost around $375 for a 2,835-square-foot lawn. Your efforts can boost your home’s value by $1,000, which equals a 267 percent ROI.

Related: 13 Mistakes Not to Make If You Ever Want to Sell Your Home

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Then consider installing an attached or detached wood deck, which will give you the perfect spot for grilling, sunbathing, and entertaining. Wooden decks also a major selling point. According to Remodeling Magazine, a 16' x 20' wood deck with stairs and railings runs an average of $13,333, but you’ll recoup $10,083 of that when it's time to sell. That’s a return of almost 76 percent!

Related: 18 Design Ideas to Make Your Deck a Destination

Installing a patio is another project that expands and enhances your outside living area while increasing the value of your home. According to the NAR and NALP, an 18' x 20' concrete paver patio costs about $7,200 and you'll earn around 69 percent.

Related: 8 DIY Pick-Me-Ups for a Plain Patio

Tree maintenance might not be the most exciting project, but it certainly pays off. In the joint NAR and NALP report tree care ranks in the top five of projects’ appeal to buyers. This includes three applications of tree fertilizer, regular spraying, trimming and pruning, as well as the possible removal of a tree. This can cost up to $2,000, but you’re expected to recover it all back.

Related: 10 of the Best Trees for Any Backyard

One of the best investments for a great-looking lawn is a buried sprinkler system. When calculating the ROI of installing a sprinkler system, which runs around $3,500, you should also consider the amount you'll probably save on water. According to the NAR and NALP report, you'll recover $3,000 or 86 percent from the project.

Related: 12 Confessions of a First-Time Home Seller

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