The Backyard Premium: What Outdoor Space Is Really Worth to St. Louis Buyers

It’s hard to say goodbye to a great backyard. You’ve made memories watching the kids climb trees, cooking out, or swimming with neighbors if you have a home with a pool. Now that you’re ready to find a buyer, it’s natural to think that others will be willing to spend an arm and a leg for the same outdoor space you’ve enjoyed. 

The question, though, is whether your backyard will be worth as much to buyers as it was to you. Will they want to maintain your pool? Mow a big lawn? Do they have pets or kids to truly appreciate the fenced-in yard? Will they be willing to pay more for your house than the house down the street, simply because yours has a deck for entertaining? 

With so many uncertainties regarding what buyers really want, it’s hard to know the true value of your home. With these backyard selling tips and advice from a reputable St. Louis realtor, you can be sure your home is priced right as soon as it hits the market. 

Since the pandemic, buyers have continued to seek functional living space outside the home. Square footage that extends outdoors tends to be worth more than other renovations, with appraisals for usable outdoor space increasing property value significantly. Here are some features that buyers are willing to pay the most for:

A great deck or patio. According to the Journal of Light Construction, a wood deck addition usually recoups 95% of its cost, while a composite deck recoups 89%. If your home has a deck, be sure to re-stain it if it’s faded and fix any missing rails or loose boards. If you have a patio, pull weeds from between pavers and replace broken ones. Then, stage the area with nice patio furniture and plants. Your goal is to impress buyers as soon as they see the potential living space.  

An outdoor kitchen. According to HGTV, an outdoor kitchen recoups anywhere from 55% to 200% of its cost when it comes time to sell. A recent Zillow analysis also found that listings with outdoor kitchens sold for an additional 3% more than expected. It’s definitely worth your time and money to make sure outdoor appliances are in working order before showing the home. 

Television. Yes, television. In the same study where Zillow examined top outdoor features buyers are looking for, they discovered that outdoor spaces with TVs sold for as much as 3.1% more than expected. With that kind of statistic, it’s worth it to mention in the listing that the outdoor TV will stay.

Outdoor lighting. Not only do landscape and bistro lights add a nice ambiance to the backyard, well-lit pathways make the home feel safer when maneuvering as well as deterring intruders. Homes with outdoor lighting typically sell for 1.2% more than similar homes without, so if your space is dark, consider adding string lights to the patio and path lights along walkways.

Many families in humid St. Louis summers would be thrilled to find a home with a pool, and are willing to pay 1.5% more to get it. However, not all buyers want to put in the work to maintain a pool, or have the budget to do so. 

Since it’s not possible to remove an in-ground pool to please those who aren’t interested, the best marketing tactic is to target those who are. Homes with pools are generally larger in square feet and located in higher-priced neighborhoods, so they typically appeal to those who can afford to maintain them — or pay someone to. Still, it’s a good idea to be honest about the expected maintenance and utility costs, such as pool heater and water bills. It’s also in good faith to mention the potential bump in homeowner’s insurance when purchasing a home with a pool. You can ease their minds by adding safety features like pool fencing to keep kids out — which could help them avoid an attractive nuisance claim. Besides, many municipalities require it.

An experienced realtor will take photos that make the pool look inviting in online listings, complete with beautiful landscaping, shade umbrellas, and lounging chairs.

There’s no doubt that a home with a large backyard, or even a moderate-sized yard, will appeal to buyers with kids and pets. If it’s fenced—chances are that buyers will jump on the property even faster. It’s exciting to picture children playing wiffle ball, or being able to let the dog out without a leash. So while it may not dramatically increase your home's appraised value, having a fence acts as an emotional selling point. 

According to research from Angi, a fence typically only gets about 50% ROI, but homes with fences tend to sell two weeks faster than those without. So, if it’s not already fenced, you might look into doing it before selling, since potential buyers might consider it a hassle to install after they move in.

As you prepare to sell your home, contact Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties. We know the value of a great backyard in St. Louis, and will market your home to reach buyers looking for a property like yours – and who are willing to pay top dollar for it. We can also recommend small changes that will improve first impressions so your home will sell fast. Contact us today to get started.