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These Backyard Features Will Dramatically Boost the Value of Your Home, According to Zillow

An outdoor TV shower, kitchen, and other desirable backyard features may help your home sell faster.

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Published on March 25, 2024

outdoor kitchen with green cabinets — Photo: Courtesy of LâAtelier Paris Haute Design

Looking for ways to boost the value of your home? You may want to consider making upgrades to your backyard. A new report from Zillow found that home buyers are willing to pay more for a backyard that is decked out with bells and whistles, like an outdoor TV and pizza oven.

The real estate market company found that homes equipped with an outdoor TV earn 3.1 percent more than expected—or $10,749 on a typical U.S. home. "That's the highest sale price premium of all 359 features Zillow analyzed across nearly 1 million home sales in 2023," according to a press release by Zillow.

Homes with other desirable backyard features such as an outdoor shower, pizza oven, and bluestone patio also earn more than anticipated when those features are mentioned in a listing description. "When certain home features or design styles are highlighted in a listing description, they serve as a signal to a buyer that a home is appealing and up-to-date," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow home trends expert. "As a result, those features can help a home sell faster and for more money."

Leaning into trends or viral features can also boost the value of your home. Rounded corners, which are currently a popular home design trend, can help a home sell six days faster than similar homes. And if you're a plant lover, you may want to consider adding a plant ledge to your space. According to Zillow, homes with a plant ledge listed in the description sell more than five days faster than expected.

If you are going to invest in an outdoor kitchen, know that soapstone now outperforms quartz as the leading countertop material of choice. And a beverage center is quickly becoming more popular than a wine fridge. Beverage centers, which offer different temperature settings for different types of beverages, can help a home fetch a 2.4 percent sale premium, compared to 0.9 percent for wine fridges.