How to Increase Home Value with Smart Exterior Upgrades

People are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve their homes. The right upgrades can improve the comfort, functionality, and value of a property. 

Increasingly, homeowners are turning their home-improvement attention outside. A carefully-cultivated exterior not only boosts curb appeal, but effectively extends the usable square footage of the property.

With this in mind, keep reading as we explore some of the best exterior remodeling projects that offer the greatest ROI potential in the Houston area. 

Fortify the Roofing

A new roof is one of the best exterior projects a homeowner can undertake. It will boost curb appeal. It will protect the home against inclement weather. When remodeling in the Texas Gulf Coast region, it is especially worthwhile to consider hail resistant shingles and other durable options. Buyers will be willing to pay more if they know that the house is well-positioned to withstand the hurricane conditions that occasionally strike the area.

Add Some Shade

Even the most stunning exterior hangouts will have little utility without adequate sun protection. Therefore, if you are building a patio, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, or any other type of exterior gathering spot, be sure to add some shade. Pergolas, awnings, and screen panels are a few straightforward ideas. In addition to sun mitigation, they also tie the space together for enhanced aesthetic appeal. 

Choose Low Maintenance Siding

There are many different siding types from which a homeowner can choose. They bring with them a wide range of benefits in terms of aesthetics, insulation, and maintenance requirements. Some common materials include stucco, brick, and wood planks. However, homeowners in the Houston area will get the greatest bang for their buck when upgrading to low maintenance options such as vinyl or fiber cement. 

These products do not need to be periodically painted to preserve their aesthetics and moisture resistance, making them the best choice for ongoing performance in the humid climate and driving rains for which southeastern Texas is known. 

Install a Permeable Gravel Driveway

Severe weather events are striking the country with greater frequency. In an area like Houston that already gets an average of 50 inches of rain each year, this makes the risk of flooding rather acute.

As such, having the proper slot drains in landscaping is crucial to protecting the property from water damage. It is also a great idea to consider moving from a concrete driveway to a permeable gravel option. When the concrete’s substrate erodes, it leads to buckling that is often irreparable without a complete replacement. With permeable gravel driveways, durable substrate pavers hold surface aggregate in place, eliminating the shifting concerns common to old-fashioned gravel driveways. This allows even the strongest runoff to sift through the gravel for ongoing driveway integrity. 

Upgrade the Decking

A quality deck is one of the best ways to add functional exterior space to a property. Unfortunately, far too many decks sit in a state of underutilization. This is because standard wood decks can quickly fall into a state of disrepair without assiduous maintenance. Warping, rotting, cracking, and splintering are just a few of the issues common to wood decks that constantly absorb moisture.

Therefore, homeowners wanting the classic wood deck aspect with far fewer upkeep concerns are turning to robust ipe wood decking. A premium Brazilian hardwood, ipe offers rustic charm that rivals fresh cedar or redwood in appearance but performs more closely to steel in application for the ultimate in high-performance, visually-appealing decks. 

Replace the Garage Door

It may come as a surprise, but a new garage door is one of the highest ROI remodeling projects a homeowner can perform. According to 2024 data in the Gulf Coast region, a garage door replacement recouped a staggering 149% of project costs through increased resale value. Furthermore, a garage door project can usually be completed in less than a day with professional installation, making it the ultimate in low-investment, high-return exterior upgrades. 

Give the Fencing Some Love

The fence is an underrated component of a home’s exterior. It plays a key role in aesthetics and safety. It will truly help a property stand out if the fence properly defines the perimeter and keeps it sequestered from wildlife and/or loiterers.

One low-cost, high-upside idea is to acquire a DIY vinyl fence gate kit. For around $1,000, you can provide a secure access point to your property while providing a stunning element of contrast against the rest of the fence for boosted curb appeal.

Choose Strategic Exterior Renovations for Optimal ROI

Improving the exterior is a great way to boost the value of your home. From robust roofing to stunning fence gates, explore any of the ideas listed above for the best ROI on an upcoming exterior renovation.