How Much Does An Outdoor Kitchen Increase Your Home’s Value In 2024?
Not only is an outdoor kitchen a convenient, fun space to host family and friends, but this outdoor feature is a great way to boost the overall value of your home. When you decide to sell the property in the future, potential buyers will pay more because of the extra luxury features – such as an outdoor kitchen.
In this article, we will look at how outdoor kitchens and other features affect home values, as well as specific steps you can follow to maximize the value of your outdoor kitchen.
What Kind Of ROI Does An Outdoor Kitchen Provide?
It’s very difficult to put an exact number on exactly how much the value of your home can increase with an outdoor kitchen. There are a number of factors that can play into it, such as the value of the kitchen appliances, your home’s location, other amenities in your home, and much more.
Still, there’s no question that an outdoor kitchen has the potential to add quite a bit of value, and various sources estimate the ROI of an outdoor kitchen to be between 55% and 200 percent. Compare this to an in-ground swimming pool, which some estimates say can have an ROI as low as 7 percent.
To understand how this may end up being determined, it’s important to understand exactly what goes into determining a home’s value.
How Home Values Are Determined
When you are getting ready to sell your home, bringing in an appraiser to evaluate your home can be an excellent investment. This appraisal process gives you an unbiased opinion of a home’s value. Home appraisals are required in many situations before financing a property or a purchase transaction occurs.
Appraisers are looking at all of the factors that can influence property value. Not only do they take note of luxury finishes and additional details, but they also inspect the “bones” of the property.There are typically three approaches appraisers use to value a home:
- Sales Comparison Approach: The value of a home is connected to comparable properties in the area that have recently been sold.
- Cost Approach: A mathematical calculation looking at the price of the land, cost of construction and improvements, and subtracting any depreciation.
- Income Capitalization Approach: A consideration of the present worth of the property, as well as anticipated future benefits associated with this property.
Home values fluctuate depending on market demand and what buyers are willing to pay for a property. Each homebuyer has unique requirements for their purchase, and these factors are some of the details that can influence the overall value of a home:
Factors that Influence Your Home’s Value
What are the specific details that will influence the value of your home? Appraisers and potential buyers are looking at important details, such as:
- Age and overall condition of the home
- Location and convenience to access good schools, shopping, etc.
- Home size and usable space for family activities
- Views from your property
- Other upgrades and updates, including new features and renovations
- The size and condition of your yard
Each of these factors alone can influence home value. Consider multiple factors, and you can start to see the price of your home change significantly. Sellers can be strategic by considering market timing as well as specific upgrades and features that will positively impact their equity.
Some features that can add value to your home include:
- New paint on the home’s exterior
- Tree trimming and a maintained lawn
- Installation of new appliances
- Upgraded carpet and flooring inside the home
- Clearing out clutter and excess storage in the closets and garage
- Roof replacement, if needed
- An updated outdoor kitchen or other yard features.
Yards in particular can have a significant impact on a home’s value, and that goes well beyond just the size. If the yard is neglected or in need of repair, homeowners could be leaving significant value on the table. Studies show that a well maintained yard can increase a home’s value 10-12 percent.
Furthermore, yard upgrades – such as decks, patios, and outdoor kitchens – will have an even greater positive impact on the value of a home when done correctly.
How Do You Maximize The Value Of Your Outdoor Kitchen?
In order to get the best results and optimal value for your outdoor kitchen installation, make sure you consult the experts for personalized recommendations. Additionally, don’t cut corners on the most critical features, such as the quality of appliances, cupboards and workspaces, a cover over the kitchen, and more.
Remember: if a potential buyer doesn’t like how your outdoor kitchen looks or if they see that there are elements in desperate need of repair or replacement, the first thing they’ll think of are the costs associated with renovating. And that will certainly come into play when they make their offer.
Carefully Consider The Overall Cost
As with any major project, any homeowner will want to keep the cost of installing their outdoor kitchen manageable. But it’s also critical not to set the budget so low that you sacrifice the overall quality of materials and installation.
If your budget is tight, one option is to space out the costs over time. You don’t have to install all of the features at the same time. Instead, consider adding to your outdoor kitchen over time as your budget allows. But beware that costs can fluctuate over time, and your original estimates for various projects may change when you revisit them at a later day.
Also, determine which features you want to prioritize in your outdoor kitchen. If you are planning to spend a lot of time on food preparation, then it makes sense to prioritize a large counter and workspace. If you spend your time grilling meat, a built-in gas grill might be your priority.
Maximizing Aesthetic Appeal
While your outdoor kitchen will obviously serve a very functional purpose, it’s important to remember that it will also become a key visual element in your yard. The look of any kitchen, whether indoor or outdoor, will impact the value that it adds.
Ensure your outdoor kitchen’s design complements your home’s exterior features. This outdoor living space is an extension of your home, which is why you should choose features and materials that create a seamless, beautiful experience.
Keep this in mind when choosing appliances, materials, and other amenities as well. While budget and function are very important, aesthetic appeal can’t be completely written off.
The size and layout of your outdoor kitchen can also be considered. Make sure to pick the right location in your yard, so it is easily accessible and maximizes the available space. And consider your limitations! A smaller outdoor kitchen that takes up less livable yard space may make more sense than a larger one that dominates your entire yard.
Bottom line: always balance both function and visual appeal. In addition to creating a useful space, consider features that add an extra touch of luxury: enhanced lighting, beautiful landscaping, or outdoor furniture to name a few.
What Elements of an Outdoor Kitchen Are Most Impactful?
When choosing outdoor elements to install in your yard, consider that though the installation cost can be high, it undeniably impacts boosting the price of your home when you are ready to sell in the future.
There’s no question that demand for functional outdoor spaces is increasing, and that definitely includes outdoor kitchens. Both boomers and millennials are prioritizing their spending on outdoor entertainment spaces.
So that brings us to the big question: How much should you spend on your outdoor kitchen? There are a lot of factors to consider, and ROI is definitely one of them.
Here are a few of the most important features that will affect the ROI of your outdoor kitchen installation.
The Grill
A built-in grill is a very attractive prospect to a new homebuyer. No need to buy a standalone grill if there’s already a great one in your backyard! Make sure the grill compliments the aesthetics of the outdoor kitchen.
Also, ensure that you choose a grill with long-lasting features and minimal maintenance requirements. Needing to replace the grill pre-move to improve the value would not be ideal.
Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
The overall quality and look of your cabinets is obviously a key factor, but it’s easy to forget that durability is a huge factor, especially if your only experience is with indoor cabinets. Your outdoor kitchen cabinets should be made out of a strong material like UV-stabilized High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which has the added benefit of requiring very little maintenance compared to other materials such as stainless steel.
An outdoor kitchen with cabinets in need of replacement is going to have less value than an outdoor kitchen with strong, durable cabinets.
Quality Counter Space
Choose durable, quality materials for the countertops. Stone is the most popular solution, including granite or quartz. These materials are beneficial because they withstand the wear and tear of the elements and retain their value over a longer period of time.
Outdoor Appliances
The cost of outdoor appliances will play a significant role in the cost of outdoor kitchen installation, such as a refrigerator, ice maker, sink, etc. Just as it does with an indoor kitchen, the quality of appliances in an outdoor kitchen will boost its overall value.
Ensure the durability of your outdoor kitchen by choosing appliances designed for outdoor use. These products will withstand the elements, and they are easy to maintain.
Outdoor Kitchen Lighting
Installing quality lighting is a very cost effective way to increase the value of not just your outdoor kitchen, but your yard in general. Good lighting makes the area enjoyable, no matter the time of day.
Don’t cut corners on the quality of lights you choose to install. The overall value added from lighting will depend heavily on type, quality, and location. And again, ensure that your lighting system can stand up to any battering it may take from the elements.
Ventilation
It may seem counterintuitive to think about ventilation for a kitchen that’s…well…outside, but it can be more important than you think. If your grill is under a roof, then you may actually be required to install a vent depending on your local building codes.
And even if it’s not a requirement, a vent hood provides an added layer of safety and comfort by removing unwanted smoke.
Vent hoods can be one of the more expensive elements in an outdoor kitchen, but finding out your kitchen isn’t up to code would be a huge hit to its overall value.
Hitting The Market - Timing, Appraisals, & Long-Term Planning
Timing is everything. Current market conditions undeniably impact the value of your home, which is why sellers should be strategic about when their real estate listings go live.
Your appraiser can help you get an accurate estimate of the value of your home, and your real estate agent can help you find the sweet spot to get the most value. The goal is to make the price attractive to potential buyers: you want your home to stand out, especially when many other comparable options are available in the local market.
And of course, as you are talking to an appraiser about the estimated value of your home, ask questions about how various features (including your outdoor kitchen) impact home value and marketability. You may find some other projects worth doing before your home hits the market, such as basic repairs, small updates, etc.
Even if you have no plans to sell in the immediate future, these upgrades can boost the potential for rental income. And when you do decide that it’s time to move on, you feel much more confident in seeing the max return on your home investment.
Of course, expert advice is always needed. So, the best solution is to consult with a real estate expert and/or appraiser for personalized recommendations.
Beyond The ROI: The Functional Value Of An Outdoor Kitchen
With an investment as significant as installing an outdoor kitchen, it’s understandable to become hyper-focused on your financial ROI. That’s when it’s time to step back and look at a less calculable ROI: the years of enjoyment you and your loved ones will get out of the space.
In other words, don’t just consider what a future home buyer may want to get out of it. What do YOU want to get out of your outdoor kitchen?
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