The Pros and Cons of Adding a Water Feature to Your Home

Amber RandhawaHomeowner and Homebuyer Tips

If you have an expansive backyard, chances are good that at some point you’ve questioned what to do with all of that open space. And if you’re thinking on your toes, you’ve likely considered the effect any improvement project could have on your home’s resale value later on down the line. One common project people often settle upon when they have large yards is a water feature, such as a koi pond, waterfall, or fountain. These features can be relaxing, peaceful and provide just the right amount of zen to allow you to unwind from the day in the comfort of your home while still experiencing a spa-like atmosphere.


But will this type of improvement add to your home’s curb appeal when you decide that the time has come to sell? Or will it simply be looked upon as an unnecessary waste of space? The answer is…..well, it depends. Unfortunately there’s no one solid answer to that question. Some buyers will consider a water feature to be an intrusion into an otherwise open backyard. Others will see it as the show-stopping feature that puts your house at the top of their list when deciding what to view in person. This unpredictability means that you should likely only install a water feature if you will gain value and personal enjoyment from it yourself.

Natural Water Features

Natural water features are ones that appear on your property without needing to be installed. These include small ponds and creeks that meander through your yard or along your property’s edge. The best thing about a natural water feature is that you will need to spend very little time on maintenance. Mother nature will take care of most of the needs when the body of water is natural, though you may need to check the water flow and embankment stability from time to time. Also, a water feature that no one can see doesn’t add value to your home, so you may need to spend time and energy on maintaining the area near the feature so that it is easily viewable by prospective buyers and for your own enjoyment.


“Natural” Installed Ponds

Installed natural ponds are a basic landscape feature, though they are not natural at all. They are ordinarily built by digging a large hole and lining it with a rigid or flexible liner. This excavation process can be quite extensive depending on the size and depth of the pond you are having installed. A filtration system and a submersible pump must be also installed to keep the water in a natural pond clean. A waterfall is often built in to the pond both for aesthetic reasons and to mask the sound of the pump which will be constantly in operation.

Natural ponds will not work in just any yard. They are intended to match the surrounding landscape so that they appear to be a naturally occurring phenomenon. If your yard is obviously not the type of location where a pond would be found, it may look out of place and awkward. The average installation costs from $5,000 to $10,000. Upkeep is required, as you want to make sure that the liner does not rip or leak. Additional costs will come in to play if you decide to add koi to your pond. A fully stocked koi pond normally contains around $200 in fish. Food is another cost to consider. For example, Amazon sells 50 pound bags of koi pellets for around $150. Lastly, when fish are added to a pond, the necessity of keeping the water clean and oxygenated becomes even more important.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls can be installed as a part of a pond or pool, or they can be added as a stand alone feature with no accompanying body of water. Common materials used include real stones, sculpted concrete, or possibly even fiberglass that is painted and decorated to look like actual rock. Waterfalls do require quite a bit of maintenance, as you will need to make sure that the water gathering at the bottom does not grow stagnant. This upkeep will be similar to that of a natural pond. As for cost, it depends greatly on the size and material used, but most waterfalls cost around $5,000 to install, which does not include the price of the pond.


One of the most important things to keep in mind if you decide to install a waterfall is making sure that the size and appearance matches the surrounding area where it will be installed. You would not want a tall rock outcropping taking up the majority of a small yard. This doesn’t mean that you cannot incorporate a waterfall into your outdoor decor just because you are working with a smaller space. This is where a pondless waterfall often comes in to play. Without a pond or pool at the bottom to collect water, you can fit a waterfall into a corner or closer to your home. This will also lessen the amount of upkeep you will need to stay on top of since there is no pool to keep from stagnating. You can simply add water every couple of weeks to account for evaporation, or install an autofill feature to maintain the water supply.

Fountains

Whether placed in front of the home, centered in the middle of a circular driveway, or installed in a more private backyard location, a fountain can instantly give a home a more distinguished and luxurious feel. Even the most minimalist style fountain can be a show-stopping feature when your house is put on the market. Like a waterfall, fountains are pleasing to multiple senses, and often the babbling sound of the water cascading over multiple fountain layers can be a source of peace and relaxation for the homeowner. It’s also hard to argue with the bump in curb appeal you are likely to receive when you have an ornate fountain in front of your home greeting prospective buyers.


As far as installation and maintenance, almost all fountains have a collection pond from which water is pumped back up through the top of the fountain, to be repeated whenever the fountain is in operation. Many fountain that are being installed currently include a light display, with LED being the most popular choice due to the low maintenance involved with this sort of light. Most fountains are hardwired directly into your home’s electrical and plumbing systems, which cuts down on the maintenance needed. The price of a fountain depends on the size and intricacy of the design. You can install a basic model for as little as $2,000 but the average fountain addition can run as high as $10,000. Fountains require periodic cleaning, so you’ll need to add chemicals from time to time. Filters will also needed to be cleaned, as leaves and other debris can clog the pump after a while.

Reasons to Install a Water Feature

According to a recent study by Psychology Today, water features, often called “blue spaces” by such experts, reduce stress and lower the risk of depression. Likewise, researchers with the American Association for the Advancement of Science have determined that just looking at moving water can increase your mental health and well-being. But all of these scientific studies just tell us what people already know – water features can add a beautiful and relaxing element to any home.

Aside from these mental health advantage, another reason you may consider installing a feature such as a fountain, waterfall or pond is to increase your home’s curb appeal. When installed correctly and maintained appropriately, these features can be incredibly appealing to buyers. of course there are a lot of way to increase your home’s curb appeal, such as with improvements to your shrubs, an updated front porch and freshly painted shutters, but one advantage a water feature has over all of the rest is that it is both a visual and auditory experience. Moving water gives off a calming, relaxing sound, enticing your buyers to linger longer and give your home even more consideration.

The Down Side to Water Feature Installations

As mentioned in each water feature description above, these additions to your home require varying degrees of ongoing maintenance. Keeping up with water levels and monitoring water pump performance are critically important in order to lengthen the life of your feature and equipment, and to avoid having pools of stagnant water on your property. Cost is another key factor when deciding whether or not to add a water feature to your home. Initial installation costs tell only a part of the story when it comes to planning and budgeting for a water feature addition. In fact, maintenance can sometimes be enough of a bother that people use an outside service to handle these needs for them.


Another thing you should consider is that not everyone likes or wants a water feature on the grounds around their home, so it will not be a selling point later down the line for everyone. What might appear to be a beautiful koi pond to one buyer may look like nothing but a money pit and time waster to someone else. You should never decide to add a water feature to your home solely for the purpose of increasing your home’s value for a sale down the line. Intead, a water feature should be added if you will be in the home long enough to enjoy it yourself. If you will gain peace of mind and a pleasant stress reduction through the addition, then a water feature may in fact be a wonderful addition to your home.