How Do We Create An Outdoor Space With Great Resale Value?

Dear Dave,

My wife and I have been in our new home for about a year now. We are considering putting in a hot tub.

We have a couple of different options to locate the hot tub and wanted your advice. One idea would be to put the hot tub on the small patio that is off our master bedroom. However, that would be the only access and we aren’t sure that is a good idea. The other option is to put it on our patio off the dining room - which would definitely be a more central location, but not as secluded.

Do you think it makes a difference for future resale potential? And if so, what do you think is best? Thanks for your feedback!

Joe and Sydney, Grand Junction

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Joe and Sydney,

Making improvements on your outdoor living space is always a smart move! For resale it is hard to beat the bang for your buck of outdoor home improvements.  Outdoor living spaces are very in vogue and there is little that lights the fire of a home buyer like a really well done outdoor living area. One thing to keep in mind is that hot tubs are a bit like pools, people either really like them or they really don’t and there generally is not much in between. If you simply add a hot tub to an existing deck or patio your financial return will likely be quite underwhelming, however creating a truly amazing outdoor space will add real money and end up being a real selling point when and if you ever decide to sell. All that being said, there are a couple of things you can do to maximize the space and the improvement.

First, concentrate on making the space not just a hot tub space. Make the effort and spend the time to create a space that provides not only a home for your hot tub, but a space that creates an atmosphere and ambiance of a true outdoor living area. Marry your hot tub with a multi-purpose area that serves as an entertaining or sitting area and see the impact soar. I am not sure it matters if you situate the hot tub off the master bedroom or off the dining area if you really create something wonderful. Both locations will have their appeal, if you go off the master you probably want something a bit more intimate and private and if you decide to locate off the dining area you want to shoot for making it conducive to entertaining. 

On another note, make sure to add the extra element of lighting to your area. Lighting is far too often overlooked as a very inexpensive item that provides high impact and is essential when trying to create a mood and ambiance. If you go the extra mile and enhance your landscaping to accentuate the new hot tub/entertaining area you will be well on your way to creating a space that many hot tub lovers and even those who are not will covet!

Dave Kimbrough

The Kimbrough Team

RE/MAX 4000, Inc. 

Which Decking Material is Best for Resale Value?

Dear Dave,

 We have been considering a deck “make over” in the spring and are undecided about what type of material to use for our decking. We really have no intentions of moving, however always have the “what would be best if we did have to sell?” mentality when making home improvements.  What are your thoughts on composite deck material, like Trex, versus a standard redwood or natural wood decking material? I want something that is going to last, add value to my home and stand up to kids and dogs. I am leaning towards a Trex type decking, but it seems to cost a lot more.

Thanks for the help!

Joel - Orchard Mesa, CO

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Joel,

Good question and paying attention to your outdoor living space is VERY smart.  It is nice you can make this decision based on what you want and not have to make the decision based primarily on monetary return will be. Since you are going to keep living there, then the return on your investment is not paramount and getting what you want becomes a larger part of the equation. Outdoor living space has become increasingly important and buyers will absolutely pay more money for a home if the outdoor living area is top notch and dialed in! Decks can be an awesome feature on any home, especially in Western Colorado where we enjoy over 300 days a year of sunshine. A deck can also be a huge liability to any home if it is in disrepair or in bad need of a major overhaul. Much of your decision should be based on your homes setting, price range, and your budget.

What do I mean by your setting? Your home’s setting is a crucial part of deciding how far to take this endeavor. If you back up to wonderful views, a private field, the Gunnison River or Valley floor then spending extra money will pay off and might pay off in a big way. If you have a special setting then the value of an awesome outdoor living area takes on a higher value and will become a significant selling feature in the eyes of future buyers. In turn, if you are located in a typical neighborhood setting with smaller yards and rows of fence line, then the importance of the material is less important as you are not really capitalizing on a special setting. The location of the deck on your home is also a major player in this decision. How does the deck lay out in reference to the rest of your home’s living space? If you have a large deck that extends from your kitchen/eating or main living room and is easily usable in the day to day and for entertaining, then the importance is heightened. If, for instance, your deck is off the side of your home and accessible only through the office then the importance is significantly diminished and I would suggest finding another feature to highlight.  

“The price point of your home is also a major player in the decision making process.  The higher the home value, the more likely the extra cost of a Trex decking or more exotic natural wood will be appreciated. ”

The price point of your home is also a major player in the decision making process.  The higher the home value, the more likely the extra cost of a Trex decking or more exotic natural wood will be appreciated. I have seen some amazing exotic wood and Trex wood decks that were no doubt a serious selling feature and were significant value ads, especially for those who live and covet the outdoor lifestyle. The one thing you do not want to do is over build or over improve your home and the value of homes in your neighborhood. If you add a $10k deck to a $160,000 home it is not as likely you will get all that money back.  In turn, if you add a $25k deck to a $400,000 home there is a good chance you can recover those costs.  

The bottom line is this, if you are looking for durability, low maintenance and can afford the larger investment then I would go with a high quality TREX product. Be careful of going with a copycat product, not all composite decking is created equal. If you are looking for a more budget friendly option, go with natural wood and water seal it every year to ensure it looks great for years to come and does not become a maintenance issue. Even if you go with a pressure treated natural wood deck and keep it maintained it will look great and last for years. You don’t have to go expensive to be fabulous, but you will have to maintain it. I hope you love your new deck and it provides incredible memories for years to come!

Dave Kimbrough
The Kimbrough Team

Have a Question? Ask Dave!

Affordable Landscaping Tips with Big ROI

Dear Dave,

I have about $5,000 saved up to do some landscaping around my house this spring/summer. I'm trying to decide what my focus should be for my yard/house. I am only planning on staying in this house a couple more years, so I want to make improvements that add the most value. I would really appreciate your advice on the most important landscaping elements in a yard - front and back. They both need work - I just don’t know where to start or where to focus with my funds.

Thanks,
Bobby - Fruita, CO

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Bobby,

The yard is one of the most overlooked elements of any home, when it comes to potential buyer appeal, so you are wise to pay it some attention and focus some of your resources on your yard. A study done by the University of Michigan showed that buyers valued a well landscaped home by 11.3% more than a home with poor landscaping. Another study done at Virginia Tech determined the value may increase by as much as 12.7% for a home with good landscaping vs. one with minimal or poorly designed landscaping. Here is one more number to ponder…you can expect a 150% return on your landscaping investment. That is what I would call good ROI (return on investment)! Regardless of what number is right and how much of your investment you can expect to get back one thing is very clear, all this data clearly points to the fact that your landscaping is VERY IMPORTANT!

“Regardless of what number is right and how much of your investment you can expect to get back one thing is very clear, all this data clearly points to the fact that your landscaping is VERY IMPORTANT!”

Let’s be honest, $5,000 is not an exorbitant sum of money to invest in your landscaping, but if done wisely can make a big impact on your home’s value and overall appeal and easily provide you with a great ROI! The old adage of, “go big or go home” needs to be in your rear view window, as we are going to be swinging for singles and doubles. Most of these things are not expensive, but will make a significant impact when done in conjunction with one another.

For your front and back yard we are going to mostly keep it simple. Step one is to make sure your yard and beds are weed free and create cleanly defined lines between your grass and beds. Cleanly defined lines make keeping your yard maintained much easier and are pleasing to the eye. With your budget let’s go with the metal edging to help create those boundaries and keep your costs down, but make sure when you do it to edge nicely along the grass for a clean line. Also remember to create a clean edge around your walk ways and sidewalks. Next, make sure to put down good weed barrier and add new rock to your beds to freshen it up. You may have to remove what is there to lay down new weed barrier, but it is likely you can recycle the medium you remove and just add new to it. Again, let’s go for the clean look, but go cost effective by using a small (1/2 – 3/4 inch) river rock or some type of mulch. This will look great and keep your costs down. Next, add some pops of color to your flower beds or by using potted planters around your front door and walk ways. Most homes lack good color in the yard and that is a mistake. Color is what makes the world go round and using it wisely can really help make your yard stand out. 

If you don’t have many/any trees, don’t be afraid to do a little budget splurging on slightly larger trees. I believe spending a bit more on a larger tree (15 gallon size) can help give your yard some dimension and you don’t have to wait as long to see some results. Trees can also be great to help hide or obscure something that you don’t want to see. They can be very good screens to create privacy. 

Lastly, try to keep aside $2,000 (of your allotted $5k) to create something special. Creating an outdoor living or entertaining area is the “wow” factor you need to really take it to the next level. It DOES NOT have to be expensive. It can be a small flagstone or paver patio with fire pit or small water feature. You could build a small raised party deck with some nice lighting that extends your patio and creates some back yard magic! Don’t be afraid to get creative and use resources like Pintrest or Houzz.com to find cool outdoor patio or entertaining area ideas. 

Have a blast with it and send me a picture of before and after! Hope this helps and it turns out great.

Dave Kimbrough
The Kimbrough Team

Have a question? Ask Dave!

Outdoor Living Features with Excellent & Poor Resale Value

Dave,

We want to do some outside renovation to our home this spring/summer and are considering all of our options. In your experience, what do you think people value the most in outdoor living spaces?

We’re considering all options, from a built in BBQ, to a hot tub, maybe even a pool. We enjoy being outside in our wonderful Colorado weather and want to look ahead to when we sell our home as we undertake this project.

Thank you for your input.

Todd and Lacey - Fruita, CO

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Todd & Lacey,

I think any improvements to your outdoor living area will be beneficial and be a selling feature when you eventually sell your home. Most important I would suggest you evaluate your lifestyle and the family activities that you enjoy most and design your new outdoor living space to fit what your family enjoys most. 

This question is with perfect timing, I was just speaking with one of our builders this week about outdoor living spaces and how valuable they are to consumers. This value is magnified in our location, because of the wonderful weather we enjoy 8 months of the year (virtually all 12 months this year!). An outdoor deck or patio with pergola and built in BBQ or fire pit can be a neighborhood gathering area and the spontaneous parties with friends and family will provide memories that can last forever. This kind of upgrade is very valuable and fairly cost effective in the grand scheme of things and generally found to be of added value to most any home buyer. Hot tubs and pools can be much more polarizing.

If you are considering a hot tub remember they are often one of those, “we can take it or leave it items” for most buyers. It is my experience that a hot tub generally does not move the needle very far in either direction when it comes to perceived value. A pool is one feature that is VERY polarizing. If you are going to put in a pool, do so for your own enjoyment. Do not add a pool looking for a large return on your investment down the road, because it is likely not going to be there. People are either pool people or they are not…it is that simple. I do find that pools are becoming more valuable and sought after by consumers, but it is a specific subset of them, not the majority. As I discussed this week with a friend of mine, your general return on a pool is 50% max, and that can go up or down depending on the price of your home.

“The bottom line is this, whatever feature you decide to install will hopefully be with your family’s enjoyment in mind and the time you spend using it will further your relationships and really what more could you ask for!”

The bottom line is this, whatever feature you decide to install will hopefully be with your family’s enjoyment in mind and the time you spend using it will further your relationships and really what more could you ask for! Sometimes we do things that might not make financial sense, because they are done for pure enjoyment and there is nothing wrong with that! Life experiences and memories made are what these features are all about! Have a blast this summer and enjoy whatever you decide to create!

Dave Kimbrough
The Kimbrough Team

Have a question? Ask Dave!

Creating an outdoor living space with resale value

Dear Dave,

My wife and I have been in our new home for about a year now. We are considering, putting in a hot tub.

We have a couple of different options to locate the hot tub and wanted your advice. One idea would be to put the hot tub on the small patio that is off our master bedroom. However, that would be the only access and we aren’t sure that is a good idea. The other option is to put it on our patio off the dining room - which would definitely be a more central location, but not as secluded.

Do you think it makes a difference for future resale potential? And if so, what do you think is best? Thanks for your feedback!

Joe and Sydney, Grand Junction

---

Joe and Sydney,

Making improvements on your outdoor living space is always a smart move! For resale it is hard to beat the bang for your buck of outdoor home improvements.  Outdoor living spaces are very in vogue and there is little that lights the fire of a home buyer like a really well done outdoor living area. One thing to keep in mind is that hot tubs are a bit like pools, people either really like them or they really don’t and there generally is not much in between. If you simply add a hot tub to an existing deck or patio your financial return will likely be quite underwhelming, however creating a truly amazing outdoor space will add real money and end up being a real selling point when and if you ever decide to sell. All that being said, there are a couple of things you can do to maximize the space and the improvement.

“First, concentrate on making the space not just a hot tub space. Make the effort and spend the time to create a space that provides not only a home for your hot tub, but a space that creates an atmosphere and ambiance of a true outdoor living area.”

First, concentrate on making the space not just a hot tub space. Make the effort and spend the time to create a space that provides not only a home for your hot tub, but a space that creates an atmosphere and ambiance of a true outdoor living area. Marry your hot tub with a multi-purpose area that serves as an entertaining or sitting area and see the impact soar. I am not sure it matters if you situate the hot tub off master bedroom or off the dining area if you really create something wonderful. Both locations will have their appeal, if you go off the master you probably want something a bit more intimate and private and if you decide to locate off the dining area you want to shoot for making it conducive to entertaining. On another note, make sure to add the extra element of lighting to your area. Lighting is a far too often overlooked as a very inexpensive item that provides high impact and is essential when trying to create a mood and ambiance. If you go the extra mile and enhance your landscaping to accentuate the new hot tub/entertaining area and you should be well on your way to creating a space that many hot tub lovers and even those who are not will covet!

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and I encourage everyone who is reading this article to stop for a few minutes and remember those who served in our armed forces and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Without their sacrifice it is likely the world we live in would be much different and not nearly as good…Personally I am very thankful.

Dave Kimbrough
The Kimbrough Team