Creating natural, relaxing and functional areas in your yard will add a new dimension to your home and increase its resale value. In Manitoba, people generally enjoy spending time outdoors in the warmer months and are attracted to the idea of having a beautiful outdoor living space. Not only will an outdoor living area enhance your own personal enjoyment of your yard, it will also give you an advantage if you decide to sell.

Outdoor living spaces with good ROI.

Build a deck.

Building a simple wood deck has a very high return on investment, especially when compared to other outdoor and indoor home improvement projects. According to Remodelling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for 2018, a wood deck addition will recoup 82.8% of it’s construction cost. That means if you hire a deck contractor to build the deck for you and spend about $10,950, you can expect your home’s value to increase by about $9,065.

If you can build the deck yourself and reduce the labour costs of hiring a contractor, you will make money on your deck addition at resale. Some building supply stores provide deck packages to make this DIY project easier to tackle.

Add a patio.

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors, patios were among the top 10 features that buyers look for in a new house. Just like you, buyers like the idea of having an outdoor space for relaxing, dining and entertaining. The best landscapers in Winnipeg can install an attractive patio area that flows well with the rest of your yard’s landscaping and your home’s design. You can have it at the entry of your house, accessible by the back door or kitchen door, so moving food in and out to the outdoor dining area is easy. Make sure that the patio has some privacy, as this is also important to buyers.

Outdoor living spaces on a budget.

If you are looking to sell your home quickly and don’t have time to have a deck or patio installed, or are on a tight budget, consider creating an outdoor living space with the landscape you already have. It could be as simple as building a fire pit area from landscaping materials purchased at the hardware store and buying some nice outdoor furniture to go around it. You can also upgrade your older outdoor furniture with modern, comfortable pieces and arranged them in an area of your yard, so buyers can visualize enjoying themselves in that outdoor space. Jazz things up with a few colourful flower pots and hanging baskets and include a nice patio table umbrella for shade.