Adding a fire pit or an outdoor kitchen adds to a home's value, Zillow data show.
Keeping the outdoor space well maintained is also a value-add, Perry said. Prospective buyers often judge a home based on how the exterior looks, he noted.
Investing in better doors both inside and outside the home
Investing in better-quality doors indoors and outdoors - even the garage door - is also helpful in enhancing the home's appeal all around, experts said.
"If your garage faces the street, treat that door with the same seriousness as your front door," Linn said. "It can account for up to a third of your home's visible exterior, and it's the most underrated, overlooked surface on the property. It sets the tone before a buyer even reaches the porch, and an old, dented door with a squeaky opener undercuts every other improvement you've made - no matter how sharp the landscaping looks around it."
