11 Outdoor Renovation Ideas That Will Decrease Your Resale Value

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When you plan to renovate your outdoor area, it is very tempting to go over the top with your designs and make it as appealing as possible. But not all upgrades actually make your property more attractive to potential buyers. Now, what might be a dream project could turn into a burden later if it doesn’t fit with what others like or requires too much maintenance.

Before you embark on a grandiose outdoor revamp, you need to think about how your investment will affect your home’s future value. To help you, here are some outdoor renovation ideas that could hurt your home’s resale value.

Permanent Hot Tubs or Spas

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A hot tub might sound like ultimate relaxation tool, but unfortunately not everyone wants one. Hot tubs that are permanent can use up outdoor space and you will have to maintain them. They can also cause the buyers to worry about repair costs and energy consumption. Some will see a hot tub as a luxury that they simply don’t need or want to maintain.

Extravagant Outdoor Kitchens

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An outdoor kitchen with a grill, sink, refrigerator and storage built right in can be great for entertaining. Potential buyers, however, can also see it as unnecessary. If you live in an area that doesn’t have suitable climate for year round outdoor cooking or if your buyers don’t share your passion for entertaining, this feature can feel like an expensive, impractical addition.

Over-the-top Water Features

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While fountains, waterfalls and koi ponds can be very serene, they can also be considered too much for a potential buyer. Water features require regular maintenance and, in addition, can raise utility bills and repair costs. Even if they seem enchanting to you right now, buyers might see these as more of a headache than a benefit.

Artificial Turf

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Artificial grass is supposed to be a low maintenance lawn that stays green all year, but for many buyers, it’s a big turn off. It usually doesn’t look realistic, turns sizzling hot to direct sunlight, and requires special cleaning. And for buyers who prefer a more traditional, natural lawn, the idea of synthetic grass can be off putting and impossible to replace.

Personalized Hardscaping

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Patios, walkways or stonework that are customized to your taste may not appeal to everyone. A future buyer might not like that brightly colored tiles or intricate stone patterns make you happy. In fact, in some cases, removing or redoing the hardscaping may not be a benefit at all, it might be considered an additional expense.

Outdoor Entertainment Systems

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It’s fun to have a high end outdoor sound system or large television setup in your backyard but not everyone will appreciate it. Not many potential buyers will see the need for such luxury, especially if they don’t entertain often outdoors. Also, these systems can be expensive to maintain and repair, which isn’t a selling point.

Oversized Decks and Patios

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Outdoor living spaces don’t always need to be bigger to be better. Granted, a deck or patio that’s more than a modest size can be an excellent extension of your home — but an overbearing structure can be too much. It can be seen by buyers as wasted space or a feature that isn’t suited to the space of their yard. If you have too much hardscape, it can leave little room for greenery or any other kind of outdoor activity.

Extensive Outdoor Lighting

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Some outdoor lighting can be nice and warm and inviting, but too much can make your yard seem like a theme park. Lighting systems that are too bright or flashy can be expensive to maintain and expensive to run. Potential buyers may also be concerned with light pollution, or unnecessary complexity.

Unconventional Fencing

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Oversized or overly ornate fencing that’s out of the norm is not to everyone’s liking. Even if you love a unique wrought iron fence or a brightly painted wooden barrier, others will see it as something they’ll have to replace. A standard, well maintained fence will usually hold more resale value.

Highly Customized Play Areas

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If you have children, a large, elaborate play structure is a dream for your yard. Not all buyers, however, will have kids or want to have to take care of a big jungle gym. And these structures can take up valuable yard space, and buyers will see them as something that will have to be eliminated, detracting from your home’s overall appeal.

High-Maintenance Gardens

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If your outdoor space is a botanical wonderland of exotic flowers and rare plants, you’ve created a piece of heaven on earth, but one that also sends would be home buyers running. Most people want a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that doesn’t require much maintenance.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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