If you own a playset or plan to own one, you already know all the ways a playset can add value to your life and property. You probably see your playset as highly desirable, but when you are selling your home, potential buyers may not feel the same way. If you’re looking to sell your home, you still may be left wondering…
Do playsets lower property value? A well-made, nice looking playset will probably not harm your property value, and in some cases may add to it, but a worn out, poorly maintained playset will certainly have a negative impact on your property value.
The property value of your home is determined by a myriad of factors, and there is no easy answer to the question of whether or not playsets lower property values. Here are some things to consider if you are planning to purchase a playset.
Related: How Much Do Playsets Cost?
How a Playset Affects Property Value
Landscaping and outdoor structures can add 10-25% to the value of your home (source), and playsets can be a part of the outdoor appeal given the right conditions. Quality and condition, the neighborhood your house is in, the safety of the playset, and the general appeal of it will all factor into whether or not someone will see it as valuable or not.
Quality and Condition
A playset will add value to your home only if the buyer can see the value of it. A number of different factors are at play, but the quality and condition of the playset will have the most impact on whether your playset will add or detract from the property value of your home.
Nobody wants to have a 600-pound, splinter giving, sun-stained eyesore in their backyard.
On the other hand, a well-crafted, playset made of high-quality materials has the potential to reel in buyers with children. They will immediately see the value a playset will add to their summer break.
In addition, many parents will see the playset as an opportunity to get their kids excited about moving. A playset in the backyard can help ease a child’s transition to a new home.
Check out the section below about turning your playset into an asset to learn ways to help potential buyers see the value of the playset.
Neighborhood
Believe it or not, the neighborhood you live in will have a big impact on whether a buyer will be happy to have a playset in their backyard or not. Neighborhoods can sometimes attract people who are in a certain season of life.
If you live in a neighborhood that attracts families with children, your playset will likely be attractive to your potential buyers as long as the playset is in good condition.
If your neighborhood attracts young professionals or retirees, the playset it less likely to be hit.
Although it should be remembered that some forward-thinking young professionals might think of it as an asset if they are planning on starting a family in the near future. In addition, retirees with grandchildren might be happy to have something for their grandkids to do when they visit.
Safety
If a buyer perceives the playset as unsafe, it will detract from the value of your home. Buyers with children will see it as a hazard, and buyers without children will see it as a liability that must be dealt with.
Most recently made playsets will have all the safety features a family could want, but if your playset is over ten years old or was the product of a DIY project, there may be some features a buyer is looking for that are missing.
That is not to say that a DIY or older playset is without merit. There is plenty of fun to be had, but different families have different safety needs depending on the age and maturity of their children.
Be sure all necessary railings are present and not missing any of the balusters. All platforms should be enclosed with a railing or half wall.
Use sandpaper to smooth out any splinters and replace rusted brackets or hardware that looks unsafe, especially if it is not recessed.
Be sure there is plenty of space all around the playset. The playset should have six feet of open space on all sides.
If your playset has a swing set, the clear space in the front and the back must be double the arc of the swing. If the swing beam is 6 feet high, and the swing is 1 foot off the ground, the swing arc if 5 feet.
That means the swing must have 10 feet clearance in the front and 10 in the back. The greater the swing arc, the more space you will need at the front and back of the swings.
Climbing nets with holes that are between 17 and 18 inches pose entrapment hazards.
Buyers might not know the nitty-gritty of all of the safety rules that concern playsets, but if the swings feel cramped, or a platform doesn’t have sufficient railing, they won’t need to know the nitty gritty for them to write it off as unsafe.
Keep it Generic
A princess, superhero, or cartoon character theme might appeal to some children at certain developmental stages, but if you’re trying to resell your home, the playset should appeal to the widest range of children as possible.
Keep any enhancements you make to the playset simple and generic if you plan to sell your home in the near future. If you have not purchased your playset yet, try to select one that can be used by children of varying ages.
Keep the Playset Removable
If all else fails, make sure that you or the buyer can remove the playset without too much trouble. High-quality playsets can be resold and dismantled, but if the playset is anchored to the ground with concrete or if the ground cover is exceedingly difficult to remove, you might have trouble getting rid of it.
A buyer who doesn’t want a playset may still be willing to buy your home if they think they can remove it, or they may request that you remove it before they take possession of the home.
Turning Your Playset into an Asset
If the playset on your property is falling apart or rusted out, you’d probably be better off taking it down than trying to repair it. The cost of repairing a broken playset might exceed any benefit you would get from fixing it up.
Clean the Playset: Possibly the easiest and most effective way to turn your playset into an asset is to give it a good cleaning. Get rid of any cobwebs or insect nests lurking in the corners, pressure wash away any build up on the wood, and wipe down all the plastic pieces. Take out any weeds that might have sprung up from the ground covering.
Refresh the Accessories: To give your playset a quick makeover, replace any missing or worn out accessories. Replacing rusty swing chains or worn out swing seats can go a long way to making your playset look as good as new.
Take down any worn out ropes and replace them with fresh ones or if it isn’t noticeable, you could just leave them off. A missing rope is better than one that looks like it is about to fall apart.
The canopy that provides shade on many playsets is prone to getting damaged and wearing out. If your playset’s canopy is broken or unattractive, it can usually be replaced inexpensively.
Spruce Up the Wood: If your playset is made of wood, give all wooden parts a careful inspection. Sand away any splinters, stain the wood and reseal it to make it look its best. If any pieces are broken or rotten, replace them.
Landscape: You want the playset to look like an extension of the rest of your home. This can be achieved with coordinating colors or matching landscaping.
To give your playset a polished look, surround the play area with landscape lumber, and fill it in with mulch or another appropriate filler like pea gravel or sand. If you already have mulch under your playset, top it off with new layer so that it looks fresh and well cared for.
A few flowers or bushes can go a long way to making the playset look like a natural part of your lawn and not an afterthought.
These little touches will show potential buyers that you have taken good care of the playset, and if you take good care of the playset, you have probably done the same for the rest of your home.
Stage the Playset: The charm of playsets is that they are all about childhood nostalgia. You can put that nostalgia to work.
First, make the playset as welcoming as possible by clearing out as many toys as you can, and leave a select few to “set the scene.” Put a curtain up in the playhouse window or some twinkle lights in the rafters for an extra dose of charm and childhood whimsy.
Will a Playset Raise my Property Taxes?
An increase in the value of your property will often also cause an increase in the property tax you must pay. Since, under certain circumstances, a playset might raise the value of your property, you might be wondering if it will also increase your property taxes.
This is not the case most of the time for playsets. In most cases, adding a playset to your property will not make a difference to your property taxes nor will it trigger a reassessment of your property’s value.
Most regulations do not consider playsets to be permanent structures. A playset might be considered a permanent structure if it has a permanent foundation or electric is run to it. This kind of playset would be a child’s dream, and would certainly add value to your property, but most playsets are simple, and somewhat temporary structures.
Will a Playset cause my Homeowner’s Insurance to Go Up?
Maybe. You will need to check with your insurance company on this one. Insurance companies don’t all handle playsets the same way. Many insurance companies will cover your playset without an increase in your premium, but that is not the case across the board. Some insurance companies require that your yard be fenced in if you have a playset, which would drastically increase the cost of installing the playset. Others won’t cover your playset at all, while some will even cancel your insurance if you don’t abide by their rules concerning playsets.
