When it comes to adding value to your Long Island home, the outside is just as important – if not more so – than the inside. Exteriors create both the first and final impressions of a home that stick in the mind of home appraisers and potential buyers alike. In this article we’ll look at the many ways your exteriors can increase the value of your property.
Curb Appeal
Curb appeal encompasses everything from the pavers you carefully selected for your driveway, to the plantings you choose for your front yard, to the color and type of wood you select for your front door. Although curb appeal isn’t everything, it is arguably the most important aspect of your home when it comes to creating a warm, inviting entrance for your guests as well as potential buyers.
Sufficient Indoor-Outdoor Space
The current market trend is towards homes with big, open, flowing spaces. This is where your hardscaping comes in. Patios, decks, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor entertainment areas create highly sought after additional living spaces that immediately open the floor plan and hence increase the value of your home. Now sure where to start? A backyard patio helps to create flow between your indoor and outdoor spaces and contribute greatly to the value of your property. Decking, with its lower cost, provides a decent return on your initial investment by creating outdoor space in areas that may otherwise have been unusable because of slopes or difficult topography.
Functionality
When thinking about functionality, it might help to consider what might contribute to a future buyer’s quality of life. Outdoor kitchens, entertainment areas, outdoor bars, and the like are all excellent examples of functional improvements that you can add to your home to increase its value and extend the use of your outdoor spaces.
Permanence
A potential buyer is unlikely to want to tear down your existing features and start from the ground up. Instead, the permanence and durability of features such as driveways, paved walkways, and patios is pivotal. Selecting hardy long-lasting and stain resistant material for your outdoor features will keep them looking great for as long as you live in your home and as good as new for the new owner when you finally hand over your keys. This will in turn save you money in maintenance over the years and last minute repairs and cleaning when you sell.
Overall Condition
Your exteriors contribute greatly to the overall impression of the condition of your home. A stunning backyard, attractive front landscaping, dazzling hardscaping, and well-maintained sidings are a sure sign that the interior will be equally impressive. On the other hand, a neglected landscape can greatly detract from the interior regardless of how impeccable it might be. When it comes to a home’s value, as much attention to detail should be paid to the outside as the inside of your home. Be especially sure to tend to often neglected areas that don’t get a lot of sun. These often tend to jar the eye of a potential buyer and stick in their memory if left unkempt.
