Backyard Landscape contributing to value?

[asusak]

Hi,
This is a general real estate question for our primary property...
We are in the midst of completing a large 14X16 deck off of our main floor kitchen, as well as an 8X10 deck off of our second floor master bedroom with a single french door leading out to it. Because we live on a pie sized lot, we had to use a mini bobcat to get into our backyard... it has left damage in its wake to our front pavers & back yard.
We had considered putting in a pool a few years from now because the pie lot has given us a ton of backyard space in a regular cookie cutter neighborhood (aka - small lots with little backyards). Now that I have to repair what the bobcat has destroyed, we are wondering if we should just put the pool in now and save ourselves fixing all the damage twice...

We are outside the GTA - are pools & decks (plus landscaping) still considered to increase the value of your home? Are do they detract from the value? I`m ok if its something that takes long to sell...

Thanks!

 

[EdRenkema]

To my knowledge landscaping if well done adds to the value of a home, a pool does not for the simple fact a pool takes maintenance and at least half of buyers will simply be turned away by a pool - I know I would.
I think the question you need to ask is do you want a pool or do you need a pool, same with the decking. Added value means nothing unless there is a willing buyer or if you are leveraging the money through a HELOC.