Often new houses include front yards but not backyards. In this case, landscaping can only add value. But, by making the deck as comfortable as any another room in their home, with furniture, a hot tub and lighting, you're essentially increasing the square footage of your home as well as the value.

While installing a natural wood deck might save you money now, at about half as much as composite decking, you will be refinishing the deck every year, costing you more in the long run. Composite decking is virtually maintenance free and with a large deck, a composite deck is often the clear choice.

A water feature is a great looking addition to a yard but it can be a little intimidating to a future homebuyer. By getting a quality pond kit, you can keep you water feature relatively maintenance free. Plants like marsh grass and animals like fish and turtles help keep the algae and mosquitoes away.