What can you do to a backyard that would make the value of the home raise and not drop? ?

Question

We are buying a home and the backyard is a nice size, but we really don't want to do anything that will lower the value of the home. We wanted to put a small basketball court, but that requires pouring the concrete in an area. We wanted to put down sand for our children under the playset, but we are uncertain of what all needs to be done for that. The entire yard is just grass. We wanted to eliminate some of the grassy area if it wouldn't lower the value, but that is more because of all the bugs and snakes in Texas lol! But we also don't want to be scared everytime our children go outside that something is going to bite them lol.

Answer 1

'Improvements' add to, or detract from, the value of a home according to fashion. So you need to find something that will still be fashionable when you sell up, or something that isn't fashionable now but will be trendy at the right time. Because the future is hard to predict, installing an 'improvement' is usually a losing game.

The most significant 'driver' of home value, is the relative desirability of your area. In a rising economy, property prices nearby will drag yours up as they rise. But in a diving economy, many different factors can reduce the price people will pay for your house.

Additionally, buyers in a slow market will look for reasons to 'pull back' their offer price. For example, the lack of a grassy back yard. Or the danger of a grassy back yard.

Sacrificing outdoor space to extend the house can often be a winning strategy, as long as there is still an acceptable amount of yard left afterwards.

Answer 2

Plant trees. People like the look of warmth and coziness. Designate one area for the children's play area. Buy a portable sandbox and place on a tarp if you don't want to put it on the patio. Make sure the sandbox has a cover to keep the cats out and a cover to keep the sun off of the kids. When you put in the patio, have small pebbles mixed into the cement. This is more pleasing to the eye than a plain slab on concrete. Give the patio enough room for entertaining with a nice overhang. I have an aluminum patio cover that looks just like painted wood.

Start by drawing several designs before you purchase anything. Have fun.

Answer 3

a pool would help, but with small childern i would think about that.

a very nice patio with build in BQ would go over ever good.  have water,open fire place,

out back away from the house i would put flowers, maybe a stone cactus garden,

I put down plastic and fill it with sand for my kids,  then when they got older i took it up and planted grass.

Answer 4

The number one thing you can do to add value is a nice barbecue area.

Second is a hot tub, especially is it's in a nice gazebo with a deck.

Third is flowers.

For your kids, try to do stuff that's not to hard to undo.  Put a portable basketball hoop in the driveway, don't pour concrete in the backyard.  

Answer 5

You sound as though your a prisoner in your own home. Live in it. If you want a play set with sand for the kids or a basketball court. Do it! Enjoy your home.