When you’re making any home improvement, it’s worth thinking about the impact on the value of your home.
In general, it’s a good idea to make improvements that also add to the value of your home because then you will ultimately profit. Of course, your home is also the place where you spend most of your time, so if an improvement will make your life better, it can be worth making even without thinking about your house price.
Think about the target buyer for your home
When thinking about whether a deck will add value to your home, the first thing to think about is who is likely to be buying your house when you come to sell?
Smaller homes are often sought out by first-time buyers, who are generally younger and don’t have any dependents. This type of buyer would probably enjoy having an additional space for entertaining outside and would also appreciate having less lawn to take care of!
On the other hand, larger properties are likely to be sought out by families, who may enjoy having outdoor entertaining space, but who also might prefer to have a larger lawn area for children to play on.
If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to contact your real estate agent for advice.
Weigh up the cost
The next question to ask is how much does a deck cost?
The answer to this question will depend on how large your deck is, what material it will be made from, and how much labor will be involved to build it.
Wood decking will generally be between $4 and $8 per square foot, whereas composite decking will generally be between $8 and $15. For labor, you can probably expect to spend between $8 and $22 per square foot.
These are estimates based on building a deck in St. Louis. To get an idea of the cost in your area, it’s a good idea to get a few quotes so that you can compare them.
Consider your location
Where you live will impact whether or not a deck will increase the value of your home.
If you live in an area where people enjoy a more outdoor lifestyle, then it’s more likely that people will be drawn to a home with decking. If, however, you live somewhere where the weather isn’t great, and people like to stay indoors more, then a deck might not be the best thing. Unless, of course, you can make your deck area feel so cozy that they will want to be outside, even in the cold!
Will you enjoy it?
This is the most important question to ask if you are thinking about adding a deck to your home and planning on living there for a while.
If having a deck will add joy to your life and give you great experiences entertaining outdoors, then it’s probably worth doing because, ultimately, your home is for you to enjoy first and an investment second.
