What Brings More Value to My Home: Adding a Fence or a Paver Patio?

Patios and Space

• Patios and decks are comparable renovations, as patios are on-grade structures and decks are above-grade structures. Decks are a reliable outdoor improvement and return 85 percent of the cost on resale, reports "The Wall Street Journal." Patios are less expensive to build than decks and offer privacy. Aesthetics and authentic materials such as brick pavers are important to house buyers.

Fences and Privacy

• Recovering the cost of a fence is not as likely as other renovations. Landscaping improvements up to $1,000 usually pay for themselves, but buyers won't be persuaded by more expensive features such as fencing.

Decisions

• Renovation values differ according to region, the local real estate market and the economy. The privacy that fences offer is important to some, but the cost probably can't be recovered on resale, whereas a patio ranks high for bringing more resale value to your home.