Anne Frewen
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If you're planning to invest in your home this year, outdoor improvements are one of the smartest places to start. Not only can they make your home more enjoyable, but the right projects can also help protect its value and improve its marketability when it's time to sell.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® and National Association of Landscape Professionals' Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features, some of the highest-return investments aren't expensive additions or dramatic renovations at all. Instead, many of the projects with the greatest potential return focus on enhancing a home's exterior, preserving its condition, and creating a welcoming first impression.
While every property and market is different, we found the results especially interesting because they reinforce what we've experienced helping buyers and sellers throughout Fairfield County: thoughtful maintenance often delivers more value than flashy upgrades.
Why Outdoor Improvements Matter
When homeowners think about adding value, kitchens and bathrooms usually get the spotlight. But a home's exterior is the first thing anyone sees, and it often shapes expectations before the front door even opens.
Over the years, we've noticed that buyers often make assumptions about how well a home has been cared for based on what they see outside. An overgrown lawn, neglected shrubs, or a cracked driveway can unintentionally raise concerns about the home's overall condition. On the other hand, a well-kept exterior immediately builds confidence and sets a positive tone for the showing.
Even if you have no plans to sell anytime soon, investing in your outdoor spaces can help preserve your home's condition while making it a more enjoyable place to live.
The Top Outdoor Home Improvements with the Best ROI
1. Standard Lawn Care Service
Cost Recovery: 217%
This is the standout number in the entire report, and the one most homeowners overlook. Routine lawn care (mowing, edging, fertilizing, weed control) is the least expensive outdoor project NAR and NALP tracked, yet it delivers by far the highest return of any project measured, more than doubling its cost at resale.
It's not glamorous, but it's the single best dollar-for-dollar outdoor investment a homeowner can make.
2. Landscape Maintenance
Cost Recovery: 104%
Landscape maintenance ranks as the second-highest return in the report. This category covers pruning trees and shrubs, refreshing mulch, seasonal cleanups, and maintaining healthy planting beds.
Beyond improving curb appeal, regular maintenance demonstrates pride of ownership and helps preserve your home's long-term value and marketability.
3. Overall Landscape Upgrade
Cost Recovery: 100%
Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. Refreshing foundation plantings, replacing overgrown shrubs, adding seasonal color, or incorporating native plants can dramatically improve the appearance of a home without requiring a major renovation.
Thoughtful landscaping creates an inviting first impression and helps showcase a property's character.
4. Tree Care
Cost Recovery: 87%
Removing dead or hazardous limbs, pruning mature trees, and general tree upkeep protect one of your property's most valuable and hardest to replace assets. While tree care recovers somewhat less than lawn care or general landscape maintenance, it remains one of the stronger-performing outdoor investments, and it's often the project REALTORS® are most likely to recommend before a listing goes live.
Outdoor Projects That Offer More Enjoyment Than Return
Not every project needs to maximize resale value. Some improvements are worth making simply because they enhance the way you live in your home.
Landscape Lighting
Cost Recovery: 59%
Landscape lighting adds beauty, improves safety, and allows you to enjoy your outdoor spaces well into the evening. The financial return is more modest, but many homeowners consider it well worth the investment for the day-to-day enjoyment it adds.
Fire Pits & Outdoor Fireplaces
Cost Recovery: 56%
Fire features create inviting gathering spaces that extend the use of patios and outdoor living areas throughout much of the year. Although they typically provide a lower return than maintenance-focused projects, they often deliver something just as valuable-more opportunities to spend time with family and friends.
A Note on Driveways
Driveways weren't part of the NAR/NALP outdoor features study, so we don't have a comparable, verified ROI figure to share for resurfacing or sealcoating. That said, in our experience showing homes throughout Fairfield County, a cracked or deteriorating driveway is one of the fastest ways to undercut an otherwise well-maintained exterior and a well-kept one reinforces the same "cared-for" impression that drives buyer confidence elsewhere. If you're weighing a driveway project, we're happy to give you our read on whether it's likely to matter for your specific home and market.
Should You Make These Improvements If You're Not Selling?
Absolutely. One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is that improvements only matter if they're preparing to list their home.
In reality, the best outdoor projects improve the way you enjoy your property today while helping protect its value for tomorrow. Think of lawn care, landscaping, and tree care as ongoing stewardship rather than pre-sale preparation. Consistently caring for your home's exterior can help prevent larger repairs, preserve its condition, and ensure it's ready whenever the time comes to sell-whether that's next year or many years from now.
Our advice is simple: make improvements you'll enjoy today while also considering how they'll contribute to your home's long-term value and marketability.
Our Perspective
One of the most rewarding parts of our job is helping homeowners decide where to invest — and just as importantly, where they don't need to.
While no improvement can guarantee a specific return, we've consistently found that buyers respond to homes that reflect thoughtful care and ongoing upkeep. A healthy lawn, well-tended trees, and an inviting exterior create confidence before buyers ever begin evaluating floor plans or finishes.
The Bottom Line
The outdoor projects with the greatest potential return aren't always the most expensive. In many cases, the best investments are the ones that protect your property's condition, enhance its appearance, and make your home more enjoyable every day.
Whether you're planning to sell in the near future or have no plans to move at all, thoughtful outdoor improvements are an investment in both your lifestyle and your home's future. Focusing on maintenance first and enhancements second can help preserve both your property's value and its marketability for years to come.
Thinking about which outdoor projects make sense for your home? We'd be happy to walk your property and share our honest take on where your investment will go furthest. Reach out to the Auerbach+Frewen Team at Coldwell Banker Realty to talk it through.
Source: 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features, National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This remains the most recent and most detailed report on outdoor project ROI, NAR's newer 2025 Remodeling Impact Report shifted its focus to interior projects like front doors, closets, and bathrooms, so the 2023 outdoor data is still the best available benchmark for landscaping decisions.