12 Outdoor Upgrades You Think Add Value, But Are Really a Waste of Money

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For homeowners, it’s a fantasy to convert their outdoor spaces into charming retreats, hoping the improvements will also boost property value. A dreamy deck, lush garden or gleaming outdoor kitchen may be tempting, but every investment does not translate into a higher resale value. Outdoor improvements might even lead to buyer disappointment when it’s time to sell because the improvements don’t provide the value we feel they do or don’t appeal to most buyers.

So before you invest in your backyard, it’s helpful to understand which upgrades are going to run you way more for less. These are a few of the outdoor upgrades that on first glance might seem like good investments but are usually way more trouble than they’re worth.

High-Maintenance Gardens

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Most homebuyers aren’t interested in taking over a high maintenance horticultural hobby in the form of a carefully curated garden with exotic plants. While it looks great in photos, the plant itself can be time consuming and costly to maintain and water. That’s because it will be seen by many potential buyers as more of a chore than an asset, and that could actually drive them away.

Swimming Pools

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While the thought of pools may be a dream of a win for adorning properties when it comes down to warm climates, they’re not always a win for property value. They take a lot of maintenance, and for families with young kids, pools can be a danger. Some buyers see pools as a luxury, others see them as money pits, with untold work, chemicals, and utility bills to require constant maintenance.

Outdoor Kitchens

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Outdoor kitchen with grills, counters, and mini fridge sounds enticing but it does cost high. Most buyers won’t see enough benefit to justify the cost unless you live in an area where you can enjoy outdoor cooking all year around. Also, outdoor appliances are prone to wear out quick due to the elements that they are exposed to; therefore they might not be a safe bet, especially since they are more expensive.

Fancy Water Features

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While that bubbling fountain or trickling stream may bring tranquility to your garden, they don’t always live up to your expectations of value. Water features need electricity and some form of maintenance, and they attract bugs or even algae. Most buyers will see these as a future headache in maintenance, not a desirable feature, which may or may not be a personal joy to you.

Hot Tubs

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Lavish sounding hot tubs can leave us undecided by hit or miss. As most hot tubs are second-hand, not everyone is thrilled by the idea, and they can be costly to maintain. Like the others, hot tubs have higher utility costs and can’t be used in some climates during all its seasons. In most cases you won’t get buyers to pay more just because you added one.

Specialty Lighting

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Simple outdoor lighting can help with ambiance, but do not make it a specialty light and waste your money. Custom light installations can cost a pretty penny and don’t tend to do well over time, particularly in bad weather conditions. This is a pricey upgrade that most buyers want to install their own lighting systems and aren’t willing to pay for.

Expensive Decks or Patios

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Yes, it can help with curb appeal but if you’re all out with top tier materials and the intricate designs you will lose more than you will ever get back. Many potential buyers may not see the appeal of premium decking, or elaborate patios, when they’d rather spend their budget on indoor upgrades.

Elaborate Fire Pits

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A fire pit is cozy, but a highly custom stonework fire pit built into a huge pit with built in seating — well, it’s generally not the trouble it’s worth. These setups can be very expensive and may not appeal to everyone, particularly in regions where it’s simply not practical to burn outside all year round. Without the portability, expense or commitment of a fire pit, a simpler, lighter portable one is just as charming.

Artificial Turf

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Sure, artificial grass might seem like your low maintenance dream come true, but there are some downsides. Synthetic turf can be hot and uncomfortable. Installing it is also expensive and it will get worn down overtime. There are many buyers who see artificial turf and don’t think it has the curb appeal of a real yard and can even detract from the beauty of the property.

Outdoor Movie Theaters

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An outdoor movie theater might sound like the perfect upgrade in entertainment but returns on investment are typically poor. You won’t want to use projectors out in the elements much, and this setup is limited to certain seasons. An outdoor theater might impress guests, but it won’t impress most buyers who will expect to pay more for the home because of it.

Built-In Grills

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Another outdoor addition that sounds impressive on paper but is not always financially sensible is built-in grills. But they’re expensive to install, and in extreme weather, difficult to maintain. Buying the portable version means the same functionality with a lower price tag many prefer the ability to select the equipment you want.

Personalized Play Areas

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Swing sets, slides, climbing walls or play areas still have the same magic for families of young children. But such installations can use up a lot of yard space and aren’t very appealing to buyers without kids. As adults, these play structures begin to feel like unused clutter, hardly anyone playing, and thus buyers aren’t exactly thrilled.

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

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