Will Using Pavers In Your Landscaping Increase Your Home Value? Here's What We Know

Even if the major financial benefit of an increased real estate property value comes later when ultimately selling the house, a higher home value can benefit you in several ways even sooner. For example, depending on the type of loan, you can cancel your private mortgage insurance when your home value hits a certain mark — meaning more cash in your pocket — or tap into your risen home equity to get a loan for an item you need, such as a car. Fortunately, there are many clever hacks to increase your home value. Tastefully installed pavers, for instance, can improve your curb appeal and raise interest in your property, making it sell faster. 

Partly because of the enhanced curb appeal of a paver driveway, or the appeal of a sunset dinner on a clean, beautiful patio, pavers can hand you a 109% return on investment (ROI), according to a 2021 HomeLight survey (via Elite Coastal Landscaping). The extra 9% is something to ponder. 

To put this in perspective, the cost to build a paver patio can be as low as $10 per square foot or as high as $25 per square foot. Working within the lower range, a reasonably spacious 400-square-foot patio can set you back about $4,000. On the bright side, it will add about $4,360 to your home value, which is quite decent by all accounts. Still, don't start budgeting with these figures, especially because certain factors will still come into play.

First, your paver layout does not have to be fancy or elaborate. This may come as a surprise, but patio ROI is often higher for basic designs. The trick, therefore, is to hook buyers with something plain but thoughtfully set, knowing they will outfit the outdoor patio space according to their taste when they eventually buy the property. The other factor that often comes into play is location and buyer preferences in the area. In the U.S., patios are not as popular in New England as they are in the South or the Mountain region. 

That said, if you want to use pavers to ramp up your home value, consider hiring a professional when installing pavers. You don't want your pavers popping up because of a technical aspect you missed. Ensure your patio is well-proportioned to your house and space, and that one is not overpowered by the other. Also, ensure your paver patio or driveway blends easily with your house and is not outrageously distinct. Go for durable materials. Travertine, for example, is quite resilient. Other hacks include maintaining your pavers to always look crisp and new, and using vignette staging to help buyers visualize their soon-to-be outdoor space.