When selling your home or seeking a professional appraisal, proper staging is a must. What you may not have considered is that staging the outdoor of your home is more important for snagging that vital first impression. You want your property to be impeccable.

This means focusing on the front as well as the back yard. Potential buyers want to be able to imagine themselves entertaining guests or relaxing out in the back. If your yard is cluttered with tools, toys, and overgrown plants, they’ll have a hard time imagining themselves living comfortably there.

You can get 3% – 5% more if you take the time to focus on curb appeal. Below are assured ways of boosting the value of your home from the outside –

Take Care of Your Lawn

If someone pulls up to your home and sees an overgrown mess of a yard, that isn’t going to make them feel good about what they’re going to see inside the house – especially considering the value of first impressions.

Make an effort to seed or sod your lawn and properly care for it. Don’t go overboard with the lawnmower. Short grass is more likely to die and turn brown, so keep it a nice medium length.

According to a National Association of Realtors (NAR) report, a professional lawn and tree servicing of the property was the most attractive outdoor feature according to homebuyers who bought in 2018. A professional landscaping job, estimated to cost $3,000 on average, was also found to have a 100% or more ROI with the sale of the home.

This is why the NAR report ranked a well-landscaped property as the number one outdoor upgrade that adds value to a home. Additionally, the subsequent 2nd and 3rd place also have to do with lawn servicing. Its importance cannot be understated.

Add or Update a Wooden Deck or Patio

The number 4 and 5 spot on the NAR list was a patio and a wooden deck, respectively. If you already have a deck or patio, make sure it looks great. However, you may see is much as 80% ROI if you replace it or contract one to be built where there wasn’t one.

Ideally, the space should be well-lit and take up just enough yard to relax while leaving enough room for greenery. This isn’t something you would want to add to a small yard.

The deck should be an extension of the home. It’s a great place for an outdoor kitchen and dining area. If you have enough room, adding a bench and some chairs away from the dining area gives you a great outdoor entertaining space.

A deck contractor can help you plan for the best deck that will suit both your needs and your budget.

Other Upgrades With Decent ROI

The following features are not necessary, but if you have the budget, they will have an impact on the overall value of your home and might be worth the investment.

Fire Features

Everybody likes to sit around a fire. Why not give them the perfect place to do it?

There are tons of great designs for fire pits with built-in seating around them, and a fireplace is a great addition to any patio. If you choose a fire pit, make sure it’s far away from the home. It’s also a good idea to have it surrounded by tile, stone, or rock.

The ROI for fire features was found to be around 67%. For both options, make sure you have permission from your town/city if you want to include a natural gas line.

Water Features

A fountain or a pool can also boost the value of your home. According to the report, water features and fire features alike vastly improved a home’s perceived livability and increased the owner’s desire to be home.

However, the ROI for both fire and water features are under 50% and should only be considered if the seller has the income. If these features are already present, then money should be spent to get them in the best-functioning state.

Choose Landscaping!

All of these things mentioned can impress professional home appraisers and add value to your home. However, the best investment is in landscaping – it is the only outdoor feature that is guaranteed to have a positive ROI. All others should come second.

Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey