You can change paint, replace countertops, and update light fixtures. Changing the backyard you bought? That’s a little more complicated.
Recently, I’ve come across several listings that are priced competitively, beautifully presented, and have fantastic floor plans. Yet one feature keeps coming up in buyer feedback: the backyard.
Sometimes it’s a lack of privacy. Sometimes the yard is much shallower than buyers expect, or neighboring homes overlook the outdoor living space. Those details can limit what buyers are willing to pay—even when they love everything inside.
Look Beyond the Floor Plan
This is especially important when purchasing new construction. An empty lot can feel spacious and private before your home and the surrounding homes are built. Once construction is complete, the view and usable space can look very different.
Before choosing a lot, take time to understand:
How much usable backyard will remain after the house, porch, and patio are built.
Where neighboring homes will sit and how their windows and outdoor spaces will face yours.
Whether easements, drainage features, slopes, or setbacks affect your plans.
Whether the trees or open space behind the property are protected or could eventually be developed.
Whether there is room for the things you may want later, such as a fence, play area, or larger patio.
The lot’s total acreage only tells part of the story. How that space is laid out matters just as much.
A Lot Premium Can Be Worth Considering
When building, it’s easy to focus your budget on finishes. But a modest premium for a deeper backyard, better privacy, or a wooded view deserves consideration, too.
I’ve personally seen sale prices differ by upwards of $50,000 based on backyard layout alone in neighborhoods with many of the same floor plans. That doesn’t mean every lot premium will deliver that return, but it shows how much outdoor space can influence buyers.
Think about what will help your home stand out when it’s your turn to sell. A kitchen finish can be updated. A shallow lot is much harder to work around.
Plan for Privacy Early
If privacy is the main concern, thoughtful landscaping can make a meaningful difference. Green Giant arborvitae, where space and growing conditions allow, can create a substantial evergreen screen as they mature.
The key is planning ahead and allowing enough room for their mature size. Easements, utilities, and HOA requirements should also be considered before planting. We have great landscaping partners who can help evaluate options and provide pricing.
Buy With Your Future in Mind
You don’t have to choose a home solely for its resale potential. It should fit your life today. But understanding the tradeoffs before you buy puts you in a much stronger position later.
An experienced agent can help you look beyond the model home and ask questions about the lot, surrounding development, and features future buyers may notice.
My goal is to help you choose a home you love with your eyes wide open—so if life changes and you need to move, there are fewer surprises.