Outdoor projects with high returns on investment

Everyone wants a great outdoor space, but backyard projects can be a lot of work — and in many cases, a lot of money. Here are value-building outdoor projects that pay off in more ways than one.

Add a wood deck.

Decks are great additions for multiple reasons. They expand your living space outside, creating a useful link between interior and exterior spaces. Wood decks also offer one of the highest returns on investment of any home improvement project. In fact, a wood deck will recoup more than 80 percent of its construction cost when you sell your home, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report.

Update your landscape lighting.

Lighting outdoor areas once required lots of wiring and professional installation, but advances in solar-lighting efficiency and brilliance have made landscape lighting easy. From uplights that illuminate trees and architectural features, to light strands that provide visual delineation of stairs and railings, a variety of solar lighting options are available. Installation often is as simple as putting a stake in the ground. Plus, it’s cost-effective.

Define your seating area.

Creating an outdoor room that feels like an extension of your home is a win-win. It increases the square footage of your living space, which in turn, increases the value of your property. Whether you’re designing a fully loaded, outdoor kitchen/dining area or simply installing a pergola with some builtin benches, you need beautiful, high-performance products.

Build a fire pit.

Right now, fire pits are the “hottest” thing in landscaping (pun intended). Landscape architects also cite a fire pit as an outdoor improvement that’s in high demand. That’s because they’re great for enhancing key areas and creating a sense of place, which in turn, adds value to your home. They can be both practical and fun. Installing one is relatively easy, too.

Incorporate raised planters.

Gardening is a popular outdoor pastime, and building raised planters or beds can make it easier to enjoy a variety of vegetables and flowers. Planting in raised beds — instead of directly in the ground — affords you greater control over soil quality, moisture and pests. Plus, tending raised beds is easier on the back.

According to many home renovation experts, it’s little landscaping touches like this that can add substantial value to your home.

This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.