\u201cIt\u2019s no surprise that nearly all REALTORS\u00ae and most homeowners place a high value on the curb appeal of a well-maintained yard,\u201d says NALP CEO Britt Wood. \u201cHealthy outdoor living and green spaces help the environment, increase home values, make communities more desirable and improve people\u2019s mental and physical health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way Americans use their homes for daily living, relaxation and entertainment, adds Jessica Lautz, NAR\u2019s deputy chief economist and vice president of research. \u201cHomeowners have embraced their outdoor spaces, transforming them into oases with pools, patios, plants and greenery,\u201d Lautz says. \u201cThese outdoor features \u2026 can also attract buyers if the owner wants to sell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prioritizing Outdoor Projects for Resale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most homeowners indicate a desire for an in-ground pool or an outdoor fire feature, but the ROI on these items may not be as high as simple lawn care and landscape maintenance, the report finds. The survey defines \u201cstandard lawn care service\u201d as six seasonal applications of fertilizer and\/or weed control on a 5,000-square-foot lawn and \u201clandscape maintenance\u201d as mulch application, regular lawn mowing, pruning shrubs and planting about 60 perennials or annuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The features that make homeowners happiest, however, aren\u2019t necessarily the ones that earn the most at resale. The least expensive projects, such as standard lawn care service, have the highest cost recovery but one of the lowest \u201cjoy\u201d rankings from homeowners, according to the survey. Instead, the report found that the following outdoor projects received the highest satisfaction marks among homeowners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"NAR](\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/_next\/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.nar.realtor%2F%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fremodeling_survey1.png%3Fitok%3Dk-ZOxo-h&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_DrgLdhdbGmnACQrtNsNUUXq7VRBM\")
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