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For people who want to get the best value for their dollar, nothing beats basic landscaping, says Tarek El Moussa, co-host of “Flip or Flop” on HGTV. A long-time television host, real estate agent and investor, El Moussa says that cleaning up the landscaping is essential when you want to update your outdoor area and attract buyers. Homeowners don’t have to spend a fortune to make improvements. Simple, cost-effective updates that add value include trimming overgrown hedges, clearing away brush and dead plants, repairing sprinkler heads and making sure that everything looks fresh and new. “I put colored mulch in my planters to add depth. I might also add new plants to brighten up the area. Things like that, anybody can do. Put some seed down, throw some fertilizer down,” El Moussa says. “If you don’t want to put in grass, you can put in decomposed granite, which is nice, or gravel, which looks nice, too. It’s OK to mix material. You can mix pebble with concrete, it looks great.” 2 Appraisers judge condition — not how expensive the materials are
If you plan to sell your home in the near future, fancy updates might end up costing you money you won’t recoup. Before you splurge on the most expensive materials, think about how much return you want on your investment, says Ran William, real estate inspector and owner of OR Valuation Services. Home appraisers look at what shape your home is in when they evaluate it, not necessarily the materials. A with expensive glass tile will add the same amount of value as a new pool with porcelain tile. What matters is whether there are chips, cracks and overall wear and tear. People who put in quartz countertops — a premium material that can cost up to 40 percent more than granite, for example — are probably not going to get their money back, William says. “If you put in a brick patio rather than concrete, I’m not going to give you more credit for brick, even though it’s much more expensive — it’s the condition I’m judging,” William says. Make sure you price compare materials so you get the most mileage out of every dollar you put into your outdoor projects, especially if you plan to sell your home. 3 Your neighborhood s homes factor into your home s price
Sometimes you have to do what everyone else is doing if you want to eventually sell your home. Homeowners might have to invest money into certain upgrades to meet neighborhood standards, like having a pool, otherwise the property will get devalued. “Let’s say the cost of the pool is $68,000 with hardscape. Although this is a lot of money, in high-end neighborhoods where everyone has a pool, the property will sell for much less because it doesn’t have one,” William says. “Sometimes it’s not just the cost of the improvement, but it should be on par with what your neighbors have.” That said, less-expensive homes likely won’t see a return on a pool. For people in starter homes, the main thing to focus on is the condition of your outdoor space. If you have a nice view, putting in a deck is a better investment than pouring money into a pool, El Moussa says. 4 Before sunset is the best time to show off beautiful backyards
Outdoor entertainers can create a dazzling ambiance by focusing on three economical features: a patio, lighting and music. Installing extras like fire pits also adds to the overall mood and is considerably less expensive than sinking money into a spa or rock wall pool. Creating a festive outdoor area might not add significant value to the house, but it can help it sell faster, William says. If you’re selling your house, show it at the right time of day to maximize your backyard’s charm. “In cases where there’s a really nicely done backyard, I would have a potential buyer see it right before the sun goes down so they can tour while there’s light. And let them spend a little time there, so they can see what it looks like at night with the lights on and the fire going,” El Moussa says. “When you’re selling a house, you’re selling a lifestyle. At the end of the day, you’re trying to show people what they could have.” 5 Financing options may be available
Although some outdoor projects can be DIY ventures, bigger jobs might require financing. For homeowners with equity, a or a (HELOC) are two low-cost options that might fit their needs. Equity-based loans are cheaper than credit cards, which have an average interest rate of around 16 percent. As of early March 2022, home equity loan rates averaged 5.26 percent, while HELOCs were around 4 percent. These loans are often less expensive than personal loans, as well. “Many people are not familiar with home equity lending,” says Jon Giles, senior vice president of home equity lending at TD Bank. “Home equity today is one of the most affordable ways to borrow money. Your average home remodel is about $45,000, so this is where a home equity loan or HELOC can help.” The is that with a home equity loan, you get a lump sum of money with a fixed interest rate. A HELOC, on the other hand, extends a maximum line of credit to you, which you can draw from during a set period of time known as the draw period. During the draw period, you make payments only on the interest. Beware, however, as some HELOCs come with a balloon payment — or the total amount due once the draw period ends. This is important, as you risk losing your home if you can’t make the payment or . The benefit of a for is that you only owe what you use, which is beneficial if you aren’t sure how much the final amount for a project will be. Equity-based loans are also tax-deductible if you use them for home improvement projects. For people who are struggling to make their mortgage payments, home equity loans are risky. Because they use your house as collateral, you can end up losing your home if you fail to make payments. When you apply for a home equity loan, banks look at three main things: The amount of equity you have in your home. Most require you to have at least 15 percent to 20 percent equity. Your credit score. Most banks require a minimum 660 FICO score. The loan-to-value ratio, or LTV ratio. A little planning and research can go a long way in helping you get a good ROI on your backyard renovation. Learn more
SHARE: Jeff Ostrowski covers mortgages and the housing market. Before joining Bankrate in 2020, he wrote about real estate and the economy for the Palm Beach Post and the South Florida Business Journal. Aylea Wilkins is an editor specializing in personal and home equity loans. She has previously worked for Bankrate editing content about auto, home and life insurance. She has been editing professionally for nearly a decade in a variety of fields with a primary focus on helping people make financial and purchasing decisions with confidence by providing clear and unbiased information. Related Articles