The way your house looks from the street can impact its value. It can also shorten the time it takes to sell your house. And the same outdoor improvements you might make to get it sold can enhance your enjoyment factor if you and your family plan to stay in your home.
Deck. Adding a deck to your home is one of the most worthwhile of all home improvement projects. In fact, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value survey, a wood deck addition project returns on average more than 80% of the original investment—one of the highest values in the survey. One of the reasons that a deck is such a good investment is because it increases living area at a minimal cost per square foot.
Other recommended projects, says Jimmy Rane, president of Great Southern Wood Preserving:
A gazebo, whether freestanding or attached to a garden wall or roofed and open on all sizes, is a great way to add shade, shelter, and visual interest.
Planters and window boxes are both functional and ornamental. Some can be moved easily to account for seasonal weather or to create a change in scenery.
Picnic tables can you serve you well on a patio, deck, or under a tree in the yard.
A trellis can function as a sunscreen or as the framework for an outdoor hanging garden. Building it with pressure-treated lumber minimizes rot.
Trash can corral or compost bin. A trash can corral lets you hide unsightly trash cans. A compost bin lets you reduce your own carbon footprint in a way that doesn’t take away from the visual appeal of your yard.
Source: Business Wire
Publication date: 2010-06-08
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