A well-built fence, deck, or other outdoor project is a significant investment, so it is worth prioritizing the projects that add the most value, or ROI, to your Bay Area home.
Whichever of the following ideas fit your goals, using a licensed contractor is the most important first step. It makes sure the project is built properly and designed to serve your goals today, tomorrow, and decades into the future.
5 Ways to Optimize the ROI of Backyard Fences and Hardscaping Projects
Some outdoor improvements hold more long-term resale value because of material selection or overall desirability, and many of those depend on where you live. After nearly 40 years as a fence and deck contractor in the Bay Area, here are five of the best things homeowners can do to increase the ROI of their outdoor improvements.
1. Work with licensed contractors
There are real benefits to working with licensed contractors rather than improperly licensed landscapers or self-proclaimed handyman services.
Protecting the safety of your property, family, and pets. Fences, decks, patios, and other backyard features should improve the safety of your property and the people on it. Licensed contractors put safety first, use professional-grade materials, and never cut corners that compromise the integrity of a structure.
Increased value and lower lifetime costs. Skimping on materials and craftsmanship can seem to lower a project’s initial cost, but you pay for it many times over in maintenance, repair, and replacement. A professional, long-term approach saves you money over the life of the fence.
Access to the highest-quality materials and installation. Quality materials and professional installation support safety and security, improve longevity, reduce seasonal maintenance, and come with manufacturer and labor warranties you would not have otherwise. Professional quality also improves curb appeal. And remember, if a fence sits on a shared property line, a poorly built one can lead to an unnecessary neighbor dispute. There is a reason the old saying “good fences make good neighbors” still rings true.
2. Build a beautiful perimeter fence
Real estate professionals consistently rank attractive landscaping and curb-appeal upgrades among the outdoor projects with the strongest return at resale. A professional-quality fence boosts curb appeal and keeps kids and pets safe, which is a top priority for most future buyers.
Fences are almost always utilitarian, but there is no reason they cannot also be designed to add to your property’s beauty. For a fence to add value, it should:
- Use materials that match your property’s geographic and architectural style.
- Accommodate the property’s slope, drainage, and other site-specific features so it stands up to the elements.
- Keep present and future goals in mind: kids, pets, grandchildren, entertaining, and future landscape plans.
- Consider fire-safe materials, which are increasingly desirable depending on your property’s location and risk level (more on that in number five).
Your fence should also balance security with safe, easy access for your family and for emergency responders like EMTs and fire crews.
3. Consider fences that balance privacy and rooms with a view
Some property owners do not need a fully enclosed yard but appreciate smaller fence projects that prioritize privacy. Privacy fences are designed to deliver the level of seclusion you want while using design strategies or custom materials to preserve the view.
Privacy fences are most often used:
- Between neighboring properties where exterior walls or shared edges feel uncomfortably close.
- To block the view into the front or rear of your home and yard from drivers and passersby.
- Between homes that sit next to commercial properties.
A privacy fence can also serve as an acoustic barrier to help block sound from neighboring yards or busy streets.
4. Use decks to improve outdoor function and play
Decks and patios add value too, especially here in the Bay Area where people prize indoor-outdoor living. They are among the more reliable outdoor investments for resale, and the return tends to be highest in warm climates like ours, where the space gets used most of the year.
Decks and patios also help in our wet season by keeping you, your guests, and your two- and four-legged family members out of the mud. A well-built deck can accommodate:
- An outdoor kitchen and dining area.
- Private nooks for reading and sunbathing.
- Sanctuaries with water and fire features.
- Secure, enclosed areas for kids and pets to play within sight of caregivers.
- A private spot for a hot tub or cold soak tub.
As more people work hybrid or from home, a deck can also create an outdoor extension of your home office.
5. Reap the lifetime benefits of fire-safe outdoor improvements
Fire-safe building practices have never been more important for Northern California residents. Demand is rising for fire-safe fencing and deck materials that help protect your home and property.
Fences built for fire safety slow the spread of wildfires. Beyond being fire-resistant, fire-safe fences are designed and maintained to create a buffer between your home and the fence line. They are increasingly expected in high-risk areas, and they are a real ROI advantage if your property sits in the path of a future wildfire.
Fire-safe fences add current and future value. Your fire-safe fence starts working the minute it is complete, and it is more appealing to future buyers, especially those affected by the wildfires that have hit the Bay Area and nearby areas over the past decade.
You may gain value from insurance savings. Fire-safe fences, especially those made of fire-resistant materials, can potentially lower homeowners’ insurance premiums in wildfire-prone areas. They become part of “home hardening,” a proactive fire-protection strategy that includes fire-resistant fencing, roofing, and defensible landscaping. Integrating these features can make a home more insurable and less likely to face a future fire claim.
Duce Builds Outdoor Improvements That Add Value to Bay Area Homes
Want to learn more about optimizing the ROI of your fences, decks, patios, and other features? Schedule a consultation with Duce Construction Deck and Fence. Our experienced, licensed design and build team is ready to help you customize your next project. Contact us to get started.