Will A Backyard Shed Increase Your Resale Value? What You Need To Know

If you are looking to sell your home in the near future, you might be trying to figure out how to increase its resale value. Completing repairs, installing new appliances, and ensuring your HVAC and electric systems work properly are all great ways to do this. However, Eric Bramlett, realtor and owner of Bramlett Residential, revealed that adding a shed to your backyard can help boost your home's resale value, too. While speaking exclusively to House Digest, the expert explained that a shed may increase the resale value of a home by 1% to 5%. If you are interested in installing this addition behind your home, you should know that potential homebuyers' interest in it will vary depending on where you live and the quality of the shed.

Even though these factors exactly impact how much a shed will boost your home's resale value, the investment may still be worth it. Bramlett shared that "it could be just enough to give you a competitive edge in the market, as people care about having an easy place to store their gardening equipment for example." Let's dive further into Bramlett's expert advice to help you decide whether installing a backyard shed is right for you.

You need to take your location into consideration before installing a backyard shed to improve the value of your house, because its usefulness will depend on your surrounding environment. "For instance, if the property is in a suburban or rural area where outdoor space is highly valued, and the shed can serve a clear purpose, like storage or a workspace, then I would say it's worth doing," Bramlett explained while speaking exclusively to House Digest. A shed may also be a great fit for you if you have the perfect amount of empty space in your backyard for it, according to Bramlett.

The expert confirmed that the installation might not work well for those who live in highly populated cities with small yards. "It's important to assess whether the addition of a shed aligns with buyer expectations in the area and whether the investment can be recouped," said Bramlett. "In many cases, other upgrades, such as landscaping or minor renovations, could provide a more reliable boost to the home's value."

If you are able to conclude that a shed will work well for your home, you need to ensure it meets certain criteria during the building process in order to appeal to potential buyers. It should be made of high-quality materials and the proper size for your backyard. "Buyers will appreciate a well built, durable structure with secure locks, good ventilation, and weatherproof materials," Bramlett explained. "There's no point getting something that doesn't meet these standards."

Since you should not cut corners by purchasing cheap materials to build your shed, you will need to rely on other methods to save money. While speaking exclusively to House Digest, Bramlett revealed that the easiest way to do this is by assembling your shed yourself. You might want to opt for square or rectangular designs because they should be more DIY friendly, according to Bramlett. He also shared another money-saving tip. "If you have the time, look out for sheds on sale, but always ensure that they are durable and in good condition to ensure they add real value to your property," the realtor explained.

There is a chance that the shed is not the right fit for you or simply does not fit your preferences. If so, you might be happy to know that you have plenty of options. "To increase the value of a backyard, the key is to create a versatile and well-maintained space that appeals to a wide range of buyers," Bramlett explained. "You don't have to do much to your garden, but adding things like a seating area, having healthy grass, and ensuring that the garden is tidy can have a big impact on potential buyers." Keeping up with routine maintenance like mowing and trimming is also helpful. You may want to consider adding an outdoor deck to increase your home's value as well.