Which Backyard Upgrades Add the Most Value to Your Home?

A well-planned backyard does more than give you somewhere to enjoy your summer. It also adds real value to your home. For homeowners across the greater Baltimore area, the right outdoor upgrades can speed up a future sale and bring in higher offers, while letting you actually use the space in the meantime. Lazo Outdoors has been designing and building outdoor living spaces in Central Maryland for more than two decades, with every project handled by an in-house team and built from premium materials. This guide walks through the backyard upgrades that consistently deliver the strongest return, and how to choose the ones that fit your home and your timeline.

The backyard upgrades that add the most resale value are typically patios (60 to 70 percent cost recovery), decks (68 to 83 percent), outdoor kitchens (55 to 200 percent), and professional landscaping (which can boost overall home value by 15 to 20 percent). Fire pits, pergolas, retaining walls, and hardscaping also strengthen buyer appeal.

Backyard Design Ideas That Will Add Value to Your Home

Plenty of reasons drive a backyard upgrade, but resale value is one of the easiest to measure. The improvements below show up year after year in cost recovery reports and buyer surveys as the projects most likely to pay you back when you sell, especially when they are professionally designed and built.

1. A Custom Patio

A patio is the foundation of almost every value-adding backyard. It defines the outdoor living space and supports the features buyers want next, from grills and seating to fireplaces and dining areas. HomeGuide estimates patio cost recovery at 60 to 70 percent on resale, and a well-designed patio in premium materials such as bluestone and travertine, plus porcelain pavers will outlast and outperform a basic concrete slab. The right patio sets the tone for everything else you put in the yard.

2. A Deck

Decks are one of the highest-ROI outdoor projects in the country. The 2024 Cost vs. Value Report found that a wood deck addition recoups about 83 percent of its cost, and a composite deck recoups roughly 68 percent. Buyers value the extra square footage of usable living space, and composite or other low-maintenance materials are increasingly preferred for the lower upkeep over time. Decks pair naturally with patios on uneven lots or homes with elevated grades. Some of the brands we work with for decking are Fiberon, Trex, TimberTech, and Wolf

3. An Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens have shifted from luxury to expectation in many markets. HGTV estimates that an outdoor kitchen can recoup anywhere from 55 percent to 200 percent of its cost depending on quality, location, and how well it fits the home. A 2024 Zillow analysis of more than 2 million home sales found that listings mentioning an outdoor kitchen, shower, or TV sold for 3.1 percent more than expected. A built-in grill, durable countertop, prep sink, and a compact refrigerator make up the core; storage and a bar area lift the perceived value further.

4. A Fire Pit or Outdoor Fireplace

A built-in fire pit or outdoor fireplace turns a patio into a year-round gathering space and is consistently cited by real estate agents as a strong staging feature. Built-in versions add value in a way that portable fire bowls don’t, because they read as a permanent improvement to the property. Materials matter: natural stone like bluestone and travertine, plus porcelain pavers, brick, flagstone, and custom metalwork all hold up well and look high-end in listing photos.

5. A Pergola or Pavilion

A well-built pergola adds defined outdoor architecture and creates shade without closing off a patio. A pavilion (essentially a pergola with a fixed roof) extends the season further by adding rain and sun protection. Both improve the look and the functionality of an outdoor space, and a professionally installed structure presents to buyers as a meaningful, permanent improvement.

6. Professional Landscape Design

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) estimates that professionally designed landscaping can boost a home’s resale value by 15 to 20 percent. The trick is restraint and quality. Buyers reward clean lawn lines, healthy plantings, defined garden beds, and outdoor lighting. They penalize overgrown shrubs, dated landscape design, and overly personal touches that read as work to undo. A landscaped property photographs better, shows better, and signals an owner who has taken care of the home.

7. Hardscaping and Retaining Walls

Hardscape elements, the non-living parts of the yard, are what turn a yard into a structured outdoor space. Walkways, driveways, masonry, retaining walls, and outdoor lighting all play a role. Retaining walls do double duty: they stop erosion on graded lots and can create terraced planting beds or built-in seating. Premium materials such as Techo-Bloc, and natural bluestone deliver the look buyers expect at this price point.

8. An Inground Pool (With a Caveat)

Pools are the upgrade most affected by location and climate. In warmer markets a pool can add significant value. In shorter-season markets, the return depends heavily on neighborhood norms, lot size, and how well the pool integrates with the rest of the outdoor space. In the Baltimore area, the pool will perform best as part of a larger outdoor living investment that includes hardscaping and an entertaining zone, not as a standalone feature.

Backyard Upgrades by Average Cost Recovery

Upgrade	Typical Cost Recovery	Why Buyers Value It
Wood deck	~83%	Adds usable outdoor square footage
Composite deck	~68%	Low-maintenance materials
Patio	60–70%	Foundation for outdoor living
Outdoor kitchen	55–200%	Premium entertaining feature
Professional landscaping	15–20% home value boost	Stronger curb and resale appeal
Built-in fire pit	Varies by market	Year-round entertaining anchor

The Best Outdoor Contractors are at Lazo Outdoors!

Lazo Outdoors serves the greater Baltimore area, including:

• Baltimore County and City
• Carroll County
• Harford County
• Cecil County
• Anne Arundel County
• Frederick County
• Montgomery County
• Prince George’s County
• Southern York County PA
• Southern Lancaster County PA
• Howard County

Every project is handled by the in-house Lazo team, with no subcontractors and no handoffs, which keeps quality consistent from initial design through final inspection. Premium materials from manufacturers like Nicolock, Belgard, Techo-Bloc and Cambridge, along with natural travertine, bluestone, slate, and brick, are standard across patio, hardscape, and wall projects. The services below deliver the most value, with links to each.

Custom Patios

Lazo designs and builds custom patios in natural stone like bluestone and travertine, plus porcelain pavers, from compact backyard retreats to expansive entertaining spaces. Each patio is built to integrate with the home’s architecture and any future hardscape additions such as fire pits or outdoor kitchens.

Outdoor Kitchens

Lazo’s outdoor kitchens are handcrafted with natural stone like bluestone and travertine, plus porcelain pavers, brick, stainless steel appliances, weather-resistant cabinetry, and durable countertops. Builds include licensed electrical work for grills, refrigeration, and lighting, and are designed to function year-round. Each Lazo outdoor kitchen is backed by our workmanship warranty.

Fire Pits and Outdoor Fireplaces

Lazo builds custom fire pits and outdoor fireplaces in natural stone like bluestone and travertine, brick, landscape block, flagstone, limestone, and custom steel. Wood-burning, gas, propane, and natural gas options are all available, and every fire pit is designed to fit the surrounding landscape rather than sit on top of it.

Retaining Walls

Lazo’s retaining walls are engineered to stop erosion, support graded lots, and create functional outdoor seating, all while looking like an intentional part of the landscape. Materials include Nicolock, Belgard, Cambridge, Techo-Bloc, and natural bluestone, and every wall is backed by our workmanship warranty.

Hardscaping

Lazo’s hardscaping practice covers walkways, driveways, masonry work, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, fire features, pergolas and pavilions, water features, and outdoor lighting. The team can sequence projects in stages or deliver a complete backyard transformation in one engagement.

Value That Lasts Beyond the Sale

The backyard upgrades that hold their value best are the ones that look intentional and feel permanent, built from premium materials by a team that handles every detail in-house. For homeowners across Harford, Baltimore, and Howard counties, Lazo Outdoors brings more than two decades of central Maryland experience to that work. Request a design consultation today to start planning the upgrades that will lift your home’s value and let your family use the yard you already own.

Frequently Asked Questions

1: How long does a typical backyard upgrade project take? 

Timeline depends on scope. A standalone patio or fire pit can be completed in a few weeks once the design is approved. Outdoor kitchens, larger hardscape projects, and pool installations typically run several weeks to several months from contract to completion, depending on permits, weather, and the season. Lazo Outdoors handles every phase in-house, which generally shortens turnaround compared to projects with multiple subcontractors.

2: Which backyard upgrade has the best ROI? 

For most homes, a custom patio, a deck, and an outdoor kitchen consistently rank at the top for return on investment. Wood decks recoup around 83 percent of their cost on average, outdoor kitchens 55 to 200 percent, and patios 60 to 70 percent. Professional landscaping can add 15 to 20 percent to overall home value by itself.

3: What materials hold up best in the Maryland climate? 

Maryland’s freeze-thaw cycles, summer humidity, and seasonal storms put pressure on outdoor materials. Natural stone like bluestone and travertine, plus porcelain pavers from manufacturers like Nicolock, Belgard, Cambridge and Techo-Bloc all perform well over time. For decks, composite and treated hardwoods resist warping and require less ongoing maintenance than untreated lumber. Some of the decking brands we work with are Fiberon, Trex, TimberTech, and Wolf.

4: Do I need permits for backyard upgrades in the Baltimore area? 

Most major hardscape projects, structures (such as decks, pergolas, and pavilions), pools, and outdoor kitchens with electrical or gas connections require permits in the counties in maryland and PA we service. Requirements vary by jurisdiction. A contractor familiar with the local code can pull and manage the permits as part of the project, which avoids delays and inspection issues if you later sell the home. `lazo Outdoors will pull and manage all permits, coordinate the county inspections, and handle the final pass on all permitted work. 

5: Can I finance backyard upgrades? 

Yes. Lazo Outdoors offers financing through HFS Financial with low fixed rates, no money down, and up to 120 percent financing for qualified buyers. Specific terms depend on the project size and the applicant’s qualifications.

6: Should I make upgrades right before selling, or earlier? 

You’ll get more enjoyment, and often a better visual result, from upgrades completed one to several years before listing. Plantings need time to mature, materials weather in, and the space settles into the home. Last-minute projects can still help, especially patios, fire pits, and landscape cleanup, but planning ahead delivers a finished outdoor space that photographs and shows best.