Experts Reveal: Does Building a Pond Increase Property Value?

While adding a pond in your backyard enhances the beauty of your house, it can also add a large number of values to your property that you might not have considered. Does building a pond increase property value? Well, having a water feature in the yard usually attracts many potential buyers who are willing to pay a large amount.

When built correctly, ponds can provide water for livestock and wildlife, fishing, boating, swimming, fire protection, aesthetics, and higher land value. Before digging, identify what value you hope to derive from the pond and incorporate those features into a carefully planned project. Pre-project planning will reduce long-term maintenance and repairs and lead to a better final result.

Have you ever wondered how creating a backyard pond can increase your property value? If not, you will learn all about it now!

Does Building a Pond Increase Property Value?

Does Building a Pond Increase Property Value

Yes, it does. However, the amount of value depends highly on factors like quality work and beautiful design. It means you will still need a valuable area, excellent quality housework, and an amazing design to get the best value out of your property.

There are many debates about how much value a pond can add to your property. While some suggest that the price might increase up to 7-10%, others believe that the value depends highly on the location of your house.

For example, warm places like California or Florida rarely face snowing or freezing. So, if you have a house with a backyard pond, you are more likely to get a higher price for your property.

However, ponds located in regions that experience heavy snowfall can only be enjoyed in the summer or occasionally in the spring. Because of this, people looking to buy in these areas may see ponds as impractical and won't be interested in paying extra for them. Hence, your property will end up devaluing.

However, some factors decide how much value will be added to your property. First of all, the place where your pond is located. It's best to place it in your yard since, no matter what, you would want people to look at the beauty you have in your property.

The quality of the pond materials also plays an important role. Using high-quality products and installation will only raise the price. Pumps and filters will keep the pond water fresh and clean, attracting buyers willing to pay a good value.

Decorations with plants and rocks will enhance the beauty of your yard and make your property appreciated by others.

Why A Backyard Pond Increases Your Property Value?

Installing a pond in your backyard can greatly boost the value of your property

Installing a pond in your backyard can greatly boost the value of your property. However, have you ever thought about why and how it increases the value?

Think about areas near beaches. Who doesn't like to have a water source right beside their house? The same happens with a pond, which certainly attracts a large number of buyers.

Not only does a pond bring water into your life, but it also gives an aesthetic look to your house, eventually increasing your value. Also, it gives you an elegance and style in the neighborhood.

Buyers love the extra beauty of the house and the fact that it is unique in the area. Hence, they are ready to pay those extra bucks for your property. Also, you will get extra points if your house is in a populated area.

Moreover, you might get a rising value for where ponds are in a supply and demand position area. In that case, any kind of water feature will be considered to be a plus point for your property.

So, you can see that a pond affecting your property value depends highly on the location of your house. But whatever your location is, it will surely increase the value even by 1%.

Things to Consider When Building a Pond

Water Source

The water source for your pond can be the natural water table, seeps or springs, surface runoff, or a combination of any of these. Note that pumping water to supplement a pond can be expensive and affect the flow of any adjacent wells.

Soils

Landowners can excavate a small area before beginning a full-scale operation to assess the soil type fully. Three or four diggings per acre are adequate to assess the soil profile over the site, although more may be required if there are substantial variations in soil conditions.

The suitability of the pond location depends on the ability of the soils and shallow bedrock near the bottom of the pond to hold water. The bottom should contain a waterproof layer and be thick enough to prevent excessive seepage.

Clay and silty clays are excellent soil types for this purpose, while coarse-textured soils, such as sand, gravel, or sand-and-gravel mixes, are highly permeable and often unsuitable. Permeable soil types may be acceptable if they have a spring or seep.

Shape

Ponds can take on any geometric shape, including rectangles, circles, or ellipses. However, you can create a natural shape by fitting the contours of the natural landscape.

Identify major viewpoints from which the pond will be seen. Locate the pond to ensure that the major sight line crosses the longest portion of the pond.

Size

There are factors you need to consider before getting a pond on your property

People typically correlate size with surface water area, not water capacity. But a pond the size of a football field and a foot deep holds the same amount of water as a pond that is a quarter the size of a football field but 10 feet deep.

What Type of Pond Will You Build?

An excavated pond is dug into reasonably flat ground. This type of pond is best suited to locations where the water demand is small. Because excavated ponds can be built to expose a minimum water surface area in proportion to their volume, they are advantageous where evaporation losses are high, and the water source is primarily runoff during the wet season.

The simple design, compactness, low risk of damage from flood flow, and low maintenance requirements make them popular in many areas of the state.

An embankment pond is a pool of water that collects behind a dam. The surrounding areas may have slight to steep slopes. Embankment ponds are more complex than excavated ponds and may require an engineer to design them.

It's important to ensure water does not back onto an adjacent owner's property or into an area of specific concern and that no homes, buildings, or roads would be affected by a dam failure.

In a combination pond, excavated material is used to build the dam, saving time and money. An engineer may need to design the project and oversee construction.

What is Your Pond Worth?

Many people don't manage their ponds actively because they don't understand how valuable it is. It's always a good idea to ask, "How much is my pond worth?" Sure, you might not consider swimming in your pond, and it's too small to use a boat, but it still has more value than you might think. 

If you view the surface as just a barrier in your yard, you're missing the point. That pond has depth, with three dimensions to consider. A one-acre pond having an average depth of five feet holds 1,630,000 gallons. If all that water were above ground rather than below, it would look much more impressive in the landscape.

Water helps keep temperatures steady and creates a green environment around it. Nothing in the scenery is more important than water. It draws in animals and creates its unique ecosystem. Certain aspects of this ecosystem are more desirable than others. This is when management becomes crucial. You can take steps to manage a pond and experience its natural benefits.

Regarding value, real estate adjoining water has a higher value if it is maintained. Suppose it has some naturally occurring issues, like trash accumulation, algae overproduction, and unkempt vegetation along the edges, making it appear swampy.

In that case, it will negatively affect the property value. This is everyone's problem nearby since the lower-valued property will be utilized as a comparable property for appraisals.

Steps To Increase The Value Of Your Home With A Pond

you should know how to increase your home's value with a pond

Now that you have a clear idea of how and why a backward pond increases your property value, you should know how to increase your home's value with a pond.

Step 1: Choosing The Location

First, you will need to choose a place to build your pond that is open from all sides, has no obstacles, and can be easily seen from the outside. Make sure there are no trees beside the area.

Step 2: Think About The Size

After that, you must choose a pond size suitable for the entire yard. While something too big will seem inappropriate in the area, something too small will not be seen easily.

Step 3: Decorations

Adding extra decorations like fish, plants, and rocks will be another plus point for your whole water feature. However, ensure those things are compatible with your weather and region. Also, don't add things that you won't be able to maintain regularly.

Step 4: Filters & Pumps

Then come the filters and pumps. If you decide to install those, make sure you choose the ones of high quality. You can't imagine how much value they will add to your house. You can also invest in chemicals to maintain a healthy pH level and reduce algae and bacteria.

So, the best thing to do is to maintain a proper balance in the area, size, and weather. Also, add some decorations to make the yard look more attractive.

Conclusion

While building a pond can depend on your location and weather, it's usually a great investment in any area. If you are planning to have a pond on your property, we at Shilling Excavation can help! Please reach out to us today!

Experts Reveal: Does Building a Pond Increase Property Value?

While adding a pond in your backyard enhances the beauty of your house, it can also add a large number of values to your property that you might not have considered. Does building a pond increase property value? Well, having a water feature in the yard usually attracts many potential buyers who are willing to pay a large amount.

When built correctly, ponds can provide water for livestock and wildlife, fishing, boating, swimming, fire protection, aesthetics, and higher land value. Before digging, identify what value you hope to derive from the pond and incorporate those features into a carefully planned project. Pre-project planning will reduce long-term maintenance and repairs and lead to a better final result.

Have you ever wondered how creating a backyard pond can increase your property value? If not, you will learn all about it now!

Does Building a Pond Increase Property Value?

Does Building a Pond Increase Property Value

Yes, it does. However, the amount of value depends highly on factors like quality work and beautiful design. It means you will still need a valuable area, excellent quality housework, and an amazing design to get the best value out of your property.

There are many debates about how much value a pond can add to your property. While some suggest that the price might increase up to 7-10%, others believe that the value depends highly on the location of your house.

For example, warm places like California or Florida rarely face snowing or freezing. So, if you have a house with a backyard pond, you are more likely to get a higher price for your property.

However, ponds located in regions that experience heavy snowfall can only be enjoyed in the summer or occasionally in the spring. Because of this, people looking to buy in these areas may see ponds as impractical and won't be interested in paying extra for them. Hence, your property will end up devaluing.

However, some factors decide how much value will be added to your property. First of all, the place where your pond is located. It's best to place it in your yard since, no matter what, you would want people to look at the beauty you have in your property.

The quality of the pond materials also plays an important role. Using high-quality products and installation will only raise the price. Pumps and filters will keep the pond water fresh and clean, attracting buyers willing to pay a good value.

Decorations with plants and rocks will enhance the beauty of your yard and make your property appreciated by others.

Why A Backyard Pond Increases Your Property Value?

Installing a pond in your backyard can greatly boost the value of your property

Installing a pond in your backyard can greatly boost the value of your property. However, have you ever thought about why and how it increases the value?

Think about areas near beaches. Who doesn't like to have a water source right beside their house? The same happens with a pond, which certainly attracts a large number of buyers.

Not only does a pond bring water into your life, but it also gives an aesthetic look to your house, eventually increasing your value. Also, it gives you an elegance and style in the neighborhood.

Buyers love the extra beauty of the house and the fact that it is unique in the area. Hence, they are ready to pay those extra bucks for your property. Also, you will get extra points if your house is in a populated area.

Moreover, you might get a rising value for where ponds are in a supply and demand position area. In that case, any kind of water feature will be considered to be a plus point for your property.

So, you can see that a pond affecting your property value depends highly on the location of your house. But whatever your location is, it will surely increase the value even by 1%.

Things to Consider When Building a Pond

Water Source

The water source for your pond can be the natural water table, seeps or springs, surface runoff, or a combination of any of these. Note that pumping water to supplement a pond can be expensive and affect the flow of any adjacent wells.

Soils

Landowners can excavate a small area before beginning a full-scale operation to assess the soil type fully. Three or four diggings per acre are adequate to assess the soil profile over the site, although more may be required if there are substantial variations in soil conditions.

The suitability of the pond location depends on the ability of the soils and shallow bedrock near the bottom of the pond to hold water. The bottom should contain a waterproof layer and be thick enough to prevent excessive seepage.

Clay and silty clays are excellent soil types for this purpose, while coarse-textured soils, such as sand, gravel, or sand-and-gravel mixes, are highly permeable and often unsuitable. Permeable soil types may be acceptable if they have a spring or seep.

Shape

Ponds can take on any geometric shape, including rectangles, circles, or ellipses. However, you can create a natural shape by fitting the contours of the natural landscape.

Identify major viewpoints from which the pond will be seen. Locate the pond to ensure that the major sight line crosses the longest portion of the pond.

Size

There are factors you need to consider before getting a pond on your property

People typically correlate size with surface water area, not water capacity. But a pond the size of a football field and a foot deep holds the same amount of water as a pond that is a quarter the size of a football field but 10 feet deep.

What Type of Pond Will You Build?

An excavated pond is dug into reasonably flat ground. This type of pond is best suited to locations where the water demand is small. Because excavated ponds can be built to expose a minimum water surface area in proportion to their volume, they are advantageous where evaporation losses are high, and the water source is primarily runoff during the wet season.

The simple design, compactness, low risk of damage from flood flow, and low maintenance requirements make them popular in many areas of the state.

An embankment pond is a pool of water that collects behind a dam. The surrounding areas may have slight to steep slopes. Embankment ponds are more complex than excavated ponds and may require an engineer to design them.

It's important to ensure water does not back onto an adjacent owner's property or into an area of specific concern and that no homes, buildings, or roads would be affected by a dam failure.

In a combination pond, excavated material is used to build the dam, saving time and money. An engineer may need to design the project and oversee construction.

What is Your Pond Worth?

Many people don't manage their ponds actively because they don't understand how valuable it is. It's always a good idea to ask, "How much is my pond worth?" Sure, you might not consider swimming in your pond, and it's too small to use a boat, but it still has more value than you might think. 

If you view the surface as just a barrier in your yard, you're missing the point. That pond has depth, with three dimensions to consider. A one-acre pond having an average depth of five feet holds 1,630,000 gallons. If all that water were above ground rather than below, it would look much more impressive in the landscape.

Water helps keep temperatures steady and creates a green environment around it. Nothing in the scenery is more important than water. It draws in animals and creates its unique ecosystem. Certain aspects of this ecosystem are more desirable than others. This is when management becomes crucial. You can take steps to manage a pond and experience its natural benefits.

Regarding value, real estate adjoining water has a higher value if it is maintained. Suppose it has some naturally occurring issues, like trash accumulation, algae overproduction, and unkempt vegetation along the edges, making it appear swampy.

In that case, it will negatively affect the property value. This is everyone's problem nearby since the lower-valued property will be utilized as a comparable property for appraisals.

Steps To Increase The Value Of Your Home With A Pond

you should know how to increase your home's value with a pond

Now that you have a clear idea of how and why a backward pond increases your property value, you should know how to increase your home's value with a pond.

Step 1: Choosing The Location

First, you will need to choose a place to build your pond that is open from all sides, has no obstacles, and can be easily seen from the outside. Make sure there are no trees beside the area.

Step 2: Think About The Size

After that, you must choose a pond size suitable for the entire yard. While something too big will seem inappropriate in the area, something too small will not be seen easily.

Step 3: Decorations

Adding extra decorations like fish, plants, and rocks will be another plus point for your whole water feature. However, ensure those things are compatible with your weather and region. Also, don't add things that you won't be able to maintain regularly.

Step 4: Filters & Pumps

Then come the filters and pumps. If you decide to install those, make sure you choose the ones of high quality. You can't imagine how much value they will add to your house. You can also invest in chemicals to maintain a healthy pH level and reduce algae and bacteria.

So, the best thing to do is to maintain a proper balance in the area, size, and weather. Also, add some decorations to make the yard look more attractive.

Conclusion

While building a pond can depend on your location and weather, it's usually a great investment in any area. If you are planning to have a pond on your property, we at Shilling Excavation can help! Please reach out to us today!

What are the 5 Crucial Steps for Site Preparation for Residential Construction

When most people think about the construction industry, they think of heavy equipment or picture building metal structures or frames. Nevertheless, they fail to consider the most fundamental part of the building process: the construction site preparation.

Let's look at the importance of site preparation for residential construction, how it's done, and why ensuring quality work at this stage is of utmost importance.

Where It Begins — The Initial Considerations For Site Preparation For Residential Construction

The site preparation for residential construction begins with the contractor' and engineers' technical knowledge and understanding of this procedure. So, the entire process rests in the capacity of the people in charge.

Site preparation for residential construction in one of the most important step in the construction process.

There should be a fundamental understanding of what a site needs, different types of soil, and obstruction removal that will affect how the project moves forward. Several steps are part of site preparation, including land clearing, demolition, excavation, grading, and installing water, sewer, gas, and underground electric lines.

The subsurface and surface conditions need to be inspected and assessed. This could also involve checking the present installation of underground services. It means checking whether there are or have been certain installations in the past that need to be considered or reworked.

At the same time, engineers must consider any information presented in any land surveying or geotechnical report, calculate the presence of groundwater, and the grading level needed for proper drainage to push water away from the structure.

These steps and components must be carefully considered so that the construction proceeds according to specified plans and requirements.

The Necessary Steps for Site Preparation — A Closer Look

When site preparation for residential construction is done correctly, all activities are straightforward. If constructing a building needs to be done in a specific place with tons of underground pipes, preparing the site is necessary. By having the site ready, contractors are helped in knowing where to dig and where not to dig.

A land preparation company should show professionalism and quality service.

It will prevent any issues related to underground pipe bursting. Implementing project management for construction is equally crucial because it lessens possible mistakes and delays that can lead to costly reworks.

Below are the five necessary steps to perform proper site preparation for residential construction.

1. Site Clearing

Clearing the site is the very first step in site preparation. The entire site must be in a clear and even condition. The process involves the demolishing of buildings, the removal of trees, and the elimination of any underground infrastructure. These obstacles should be cleared because they might affect the future building process. Completing the project might also be risky if clearing the site is unsuccessful. Hence, it must be prioritized once and for all.

2. Site Surveying

You might need to determine if you are building on the right block if survey pegs do not determine the building block. A surveyor is responsible for surveying the site and lining out the area where the road project or structures will be built.

The process of surveying land might not be an option but is mostly a requirement for zoning and permitting processes. Besides, surveying is the translation of the contractor's set of plans into an actual representation of the project site.

3. Soil Testing

Testing the soil is one of the most critical tasks that have to be done before the site is procured. The soil's main composition should be determined to test the ability to absorb water and examine the ability to withstand structure.

The site engineer must insist on performing all necessary soil testing procedures before commencing any structural tasks.

If the soil at the site needs to be more suitable for future projects, there might be no other choice but to look for another site with soil appropriate for the projects. A chart showcasing the different classes of soil is outlined below:

4. Site Plan Design

Soil testing is also a part of site preparation for residential construction.

After doing the soil testing, all necessary septic tanks and drainage should be installed. The next step will be modifying the design to indicate the placement of fixtures and septic tanks. There should also be a permanent record of the underground areas. A construction site is considered a living and breathing thing. Hence, it changes daily as the water tank's placements slightly change. Underground rock formations often cause changes. Using a crew scheduler superior is proven to be a helpful tool during site plan design.

Moreover, the site plan shows all newly developed access roads for temporary storage areas and construction vehicles. The site plan also depicts where the building must be placed after construction. Unlike any other steps taken during site preparation for residential construction, revisions are done in the office, and the site plan is always updated in the field.

5. Site Inspection

Inspection characterizes any proposed sites' rock, soil, and groundwater condition. A geotechnical site investigation is defined as evaluating site conditions and collecting data to construct and design the foundation of a structure. Parking lots, bridges, roads, and buildings are typical samples.

Well-planned strategy and management of a geotechnical site investigation is the primary key to acquiring correct site information. This data is generally used for structure designing with minimum surprises for effort and estimates needed. The preparation of reports and collection of geotechnical data must be considered in the following three stages.

Take a look below:

The Benefits of Quality Site Preparation

Several benefits come with quality and professional site preparation. All of these will ultimately have a lasting impact on the final structure or building that is being erected. The benefits include:

Removing Obstructions Makes The Rest Of The Job Easier

Increasing ease of access to the site for all the necessary workers and laborers. Clearing out the site removes these obstructions that might slow down further progress.

Damage Reduction

Site preparation offers many benefits.

One of the biggest benefits of proper construction site preparation is that the right foundation sets the stage. With good site preparation, there is less possibility of damage to the structure or encountering problems once construction starts.

Increases Lifespan

When the site is prepared with utmost caution and precision, it ensures quality and long-lasting stability for the project.

Get the Right Foundation & Site Preparation

So whether you are looking for full site preparation for residential construction or need a particular service like site clearing, leveling, excavation, or grading services like phasing, staging, compaction, or barrier, we at Shilling Excavation are here to take care of your business. We are experienced professionals with the highest quality training and equipment to ensure your construction site takes off correctly.