By Linda Wolfla-Thomas
Choosing outdoor upgrades for your home can be a balancing act. You may want an upgrade that your family can enjoy, but on the other hand, when it’s time to sell, you’ll want this upgrade to bring a good return on your investment.
Whatever you decide, the right outdoor upgrades will add to the value of your home. In Zonda Media’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, outdoor upgrades returned the greatest value on investment, but lawn care and landscaping improvements are smaller ticket items with big ticket payoffs when you sell your home.
The Best Upgrades for ROI
The upgrades that get buyers’ attention are those that enhance curb appeal or extend the outdoor lifestyle. So, let’s look at some of Zonda’s top performers and their average return on investment:
1. Garage Door Replacement
Average cost: $4,672; Average resale value: $12,507; Average return 268%
A garage door is one of the first things a buyer will see, so a new door will transform the way your house presents itself. New doors also offer secure locking systems and energy savings through insulation.
2. Steel Entry Door
Average cost: $2,435; Average resale value: $5,270; Average return 216%
Like a garage door, an updated entry door makes a good first impression. Steel doors have other pluses, too: They offer more security, are low-maintenance, and with their insulated foam cores, offer energy savings.
3. Manufactured Stone Veneer
Average cost: $11,702; Average resale value: $24,328; Average return 208%
Manufactured stone veneer can bring an upscale look to your home, offering durability and the promise of low maintenance to prospective buyers.
4. Fiber Cement Siding
Average cost: $21,485; Average resale value: $24,420; Average return 114%
Besides its aesthetic appeal, fiber cement siding has many selling points: It withstands harsh weather, it’s fire- and pest-resistant, and has a 30- to 50-year lifespan.
5. Vinyl Siding Replacement
Average cost: $17,950; Average resale value: $17,313; Average return 97%
Replacing vinyl siding consistently brings a good ROI for sellers. Modern siding offers energy savings, low maintenance, and durability.
The ROI of Landscaping and Lawn Care
A healthy ROI isn’t limited to big-ticket upgrades to your house. Many lawn and landscape items can bring a good return on your investment:
Lawn Care
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), routine lawn care can return more than 200% of your costs. Landscape plantings and mulched beds can bring 100% ROI. A well-maintained lawn will get a prospective buyer’s attention. It tells them that your home is cared for, and likely won’t surprise them with immediate repairs.
Deck Additions
According to Zonda, a wood deck addition will return 95% of your investment, while using composite materials will return 89%. Part of the difference is cost: It’s less expensive to build a wood deck than one from composite. Also, wood decks may offer more aesthetic appeal to prospective buyers.
Patios
The National Association of Realtors says a paver patio can return 95% or more of your investment, while a concrete patio can return 50% to 75%. Stamped concrete or high-end finishes may boost your returns, as will selling in a warm-weather region.
Outdoor Kitchen
If you live in the Sun Belt, the Southwest, or any area with long outdoor living seasons, an outdoor kitchen could be on buyers’ “must-have list.” These days, NAR says, the trend is toward upgraded kitchens, with cabinets, islands, outdoor electric ovens, and granite or polished concrete countertops.
With a typical price range of $5,060 to $17,280, this could be considered a big-ticket upgrade, but NAR says you can expect a 100% ROI. Other data puts it in the range of 50% to more than 200%.
Making the Choice
Choosing an upgrade to your home is a highly personal decision. But with an eye to your budget and some research, you can find the perfect upgrade to enjoy now as it increases your home’s value in the future.
Linda Wolfla-Thomas is a freelance writer and editor living in the Midwest who has navigated the process of buying and selling homes over the years. She often writes about lawn care and home improvement projects.
