Renovating a rental property to attract better tenants?
Most landlords spend their entire budget on kitchens and bathrooms... Then they completely ignore the backyard. Big mistake.
The backyard is one of the first areas tenants notice. An overgrown and weedy backyard shouts: "there's no way this place is worth your rent." On the other hand, a smartly landscaped outdoor space can dramatically increase your rental dollars.
Here's the truth — most rental owners are leaving serious money on the table.
In this blog, you will discover an overview of why the backyard is important and precisely what upgrades to concentrate on. Let's dive in!
Here's What's Inside:
Why The Backyard Is Your Secret Weapon
The Best Backyard Upgrades For Renters
Why LED Pool Lighting Is A Game Changer
Smart Landscaping On A Budget
Why The Backyard Is Your Secret Weapon
The backyard does more for your rental than most landlords realise.
Here's why: Renters today are seeking outdoor space. Space to entertain guests, relax and enjoy their morning coffee. According to industry insights, renters' expectations are shifting — and outdoor space is now one of the top amenities renters inquire about.
When you upgrade the backyard, three things happen:
You can charge higher rent
Vacancies drop significantly
Tenants stay longer
A rundown pool area can be detrimental to your rental income, as tenants often see it as more hassle than benefit. On the other hand, an attractive and well-lit pool area is top-dollar real estate.
You don't have to spend thousands to upgrade an entire space. Simple, smart changes can have a big impact. If you are interested in pool remodeling for your rental property, consider lighting, surfaces and safety features. Anything that does the work for you while minimizing maintenance is key. A quality LED pool lighting upgrade can totally transform the vibe in the evening.
(There's that "small changes, big results" idea in action.)
The Best Backyard Upgrades For Renters
Not every backyard upgrade is worth the money.
Some are gorgeous in pictures but cost an arm and a leg to upkeep. Others are cheap to install but break after one season. The secret is to find upgrades that fall in the sweet spot: low-maintenance, low-cost and tenant-approved.
Outdoor Decks and Patios
Decks are still one of the smartest backyard investments out there.
Backyard wood decks have 45% to 55% ROI, and the trend toward outdoor living space is only increasing. That includes new builds. Builders are including patios in 64% of new builds.
When it comes to rental properties, a simple composite deck is your friend. Why? It doesn't require staining, sealing, or annual maintenance like a wood deck would.
Pool Area Improvements
This is where the big money is in your pool property. A clean, updated pool area can easily support several hundreds dollars more in rent. Focus on these items:
Resurfacing: Old, stained pool surfaces look terrible
Coping and tile: Refresh the edge for a modern look
Lighting: This is the biggest impact upgrade you can make
Pool upgrades can be affordable. Consider phasing the work over several years.
Privacy Fencing
Privacy is of paramount importance to renters. They want to feel that their backyard is their own private space, not a fishbowl for the neighbours to peer into. A quality privacy fence can accomplish two things:
Increases the perceived value of the property
Makes the yard feel bigger and more usable
Choose materials that last. Vinyl and composite fencing are more expensive initially but you won't be replacing them in 5 years.
Why LED Pool Lighting Is A Game Changer
Now let's talk about the upgrade that delivers the biggest bang for your buck...
LED pool lighting.
If your rental has a pool with outdated halogen or incandescent lights, you're literally flushing money down the drain every month. In addition to costing money, your pool likely also looks dated and dim – not the ambiance you want to pay top dollar rent for.
Here's why LED pool lighting wins every time:
Massive energy savings: Use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting and last 25 times longer
Longer lifespan: Less maintenance, fewer service calls, fewer headaches
Better aesthetics: Modern colour-changing options that wow tenants
Safety: Better visibility means fewer pool accidents at night
Fun Fact: The general energy savings also total out to be quite a bit. The average home saves $225 per year in energy costs by using LED lighting.
Why LED Pool Lights Beat Traditional Bulbs
The numbers don't lie when comparing the two...
A standard incandescent pool bulb has a life span of about 1,000-2,000 hours. An LED pool light? From 25,000 to 50,000 hours. That's an "install it and forget it" product for years.
When it comes to a rental property, this is the bee's knees. Property owners don't want to have to call a pool technician every few months to replace bulbs that have burned out. LED pool lighting pretty much rids you of that recurrent expense.
Colour-Changing Tech
Contemporary LED pool lights are available with colour-changing features. These brighten up the poolside area at night. Tenants will be thrilled, since it makes the property look like a five-star hotel. You can even link these up with smart controls to let tenants change colours from their smartphone. Pretty neat, eh?
Smart Landscaping On A Budget
You don't need a professional landscaper to make the yard look amazing.
The reason 99% of rental landscaping is an abysmal failure is one simple reason: most landlords select plants that are high maintenance and die when a tenant doesn't water them. The solution: Select tough, low-maintenance plants that pretty much take care of themselves.
Stick to plants like:
Succulents and drought-tolerant species
Native grasses
Hardy shrubs that don't need pruning
Mulch beds in tricky areas
The aim is to create a yard that appears to have been planned and tended but not the creation of any more work.
Outdoor Lighting Beyond The Pool
Don't neglect the rest of the yard. Pathway lights, string lights and feature lights can make a huge difference at night time and are inexpensive to install. Solar powered LED lights are also a great option for rentals because they require no wiring and are pretty much self-installed.
Final Thoughts
Backyard upgrades are one of the most underrated ways to boost your rental's value.
Your competition, by and large, is only investing in what's inside the property. This means there is a huge opportunity for you to differentiate by investing outside. Here's a quick recap:
Don't ignore the backyard — tenants notice everything
Pool areas are where the biggest ROI lives
LED pool lighting is the smartest upgrade you can make
Stick to low-maintenance landscaping that looks great year-round
Privacy fencing and decks deliver strong returns
A beautiful backyard makes a rental feel like a home, not just a place to crash. And homey rentals command higher rents. Start with these high-return improvements and work down the list.
