Americans have been pouring money into renovating their homes — and they’re not stopping at the front door. They’re reinventing their outdoor spaces, too, screening in porches, bumping out decks, installing tennis courts and undertaking total landscaping makeovers to be able to make the most of the time they spend at home.

What’s more, they consider it money well spent: When homeowners were asked in a recent survey to rate how much joy outdoor projects had brought them on a scale of 1 to 10, pools, patios, landscape lighting and outdoor kitchens received 9s and 10s.¹

“Despite the rising costs of outdoor projects, lately it has been hard for homeowners to go wrong financially by investing in them,” says Amanda Pendleton, home trends expert for real estate website Zillow. “Our latest research finds that certain outdoor features are associated with homes selling faster than expected, and for more money than expected when mentioned in a listing description,” she says.

Wade Coffey, senior vice president and chief appraiser, Consumer and Small Credit Business Risk, Bank of America, agrees, adding that “outdoor improvements like well-maintained lawns and landscaping increase curb appeal of a property and enhance its marketability.”

 Which outdoor upgrades provide the most value?

Contractors note that some projects — like adding a fire pit or building a pizza oven — are relatively inexpensive, while others — such as a major landscaping job or a pool with furniture, fencing and the works — can easily run tens of thousands of dollars. Some upgrades provide a greater return on investment than others.

Given the current economic climate, Merrill Wealth Advisor Lisa Kent suggests approaching any five-figure home upgrade with caution. “More often than not, I’m seeing clients pausing big projects,” she says. In fact, after years of steady increases, overall spending on home remodeling is expected to slow by 2024 due to higher interest rates, a softer real estate market and uncertainty about the economy and the markets.²

Still, says Kent, “I'm a big believer in being grateful for what you have and looking for ways to enhance your quality of life.” The key is to have a plan for how you’ll pay for the project without sidetracking your other financial goals, such as saving for retirement or a child’s college education. “You need to be thoughtful about these decisions,” she adds.

 Are you investing in your home’s value or your own pleasure?

The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether the project is primarily for future buyers or for you. If your objective is personal enjoyment, follow up with a few practical questions before you commit: Given your area’s climate, for how much of the year will the improvements extend your living area to the outdoors? Do you plan to stay in your current home long enough to justify the expense?

Also consider the cost and time commitment of regular maintenance. Will you clean the pool and weed your new landscaping yourself? Or will you pay others to do it?

Upgrades that new owners will appreciate, too

If you’re renovating with the thought of ultimately making your home more attractive to potential buyers, begin with good maintenance of your lawn, plants and shrubs, says Coffey. “Outdoor living spaces with sitting areas, cooking appliances and firepits provide an extension of your overall property,” he adds. “Including lighting can enhance the ambiance, which will be attractive to the market.”

Also, be aware that not all outdoor upgrades have the same potential to lift your asking price when the time comes to sell. Swimming pools, for instance, have high installation and maintenance costs, but only raise a home’s expected sale price by 0.7%, per Zillow’s 2023 research. In addition, Pendleton says, “Pools are highly personalized features that not every buyer will appreciate. In certain climates, like Arizona, a pool is considered standard, but in states like Washington a pool could be viewed as a costly nuisance.”

Options for financing the project

The next big choice is deciding which of the many available ways of funding is appropriate for your situation. Typically, if you have built up a sizable amount of equity in your home, you might consider a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to cover the costs, but sharply higher interest rates have made borrowing far more expensive. “The game has really changed in the last twelve months,” says Kent. Her advice: “I'd rather see you use cash or perhaps even pull money out of your portfolio than borrow.” In 2022, more than four out of five homeowners who renovated tapped their savings, according to Houzz & Home’s annual renovation survey.³

What’s more, Kent suggests boosting your cash reserves from six to 12 months’ worth of spending to 18 months or more to guard against cost overruns coming just as you experience a financial setback. “You should have absolute risk-free, liquid cash that’s hopefully earning something in case you lose your job or experience a catastrophe at the same time your pool is going in,” Kent says. 

Whatever changes you decide to make, and however you decide to finance them, “ultimately, with anything outdoors, it’s really about upping the joy factor,” says Kent. She recalls clients who disliked their vacation home’s run-down back porch and yard but were reluctant to spend any of their savings to spruce it up until Kent convinced them they could afford to do it without disrupting their retirement plans. “Every July Fourth for years afterwards the wife called me to say, ‘I think of you when the entire family gathers in our backyard,’” Kent says. “They’ve had all those years of pleasure.”

Estimate the payment for a home equity line of credit.