10 Features That Actually Make Your Land More Valuable
When you’re buying land, it’s easy to get caught up in what looks nice and forget what actually adds long-term value. Over the years, we’ve made some choices that paid off—either by making daily life easier or by giving us leverage when it came time to refinance or resell.
Here’s what actually added value to our place, no fluff.
Proper Driveway with Good Drainage
A solid, well-laid driveway changes how people view your entire property.
We spent more than we wanted to on it, but it made access easier year-round and gave the land a finished feel. Nobody wants to sink in mud every time it rains.
Multiple Water Access Points
Installing extra spigots around the property was one of the smartest upgrades we made.
Buyers (and appraisers) like seeing that the land is usable for animals, gardens, or equipment washing without dragging a hose across an acre of weeds.
Cleared and Usable Space
We left some trees but cleared a lot of junk brush early on. That made it easier to show what the land could be used for.
Open space gives flexibility. It also helps people visualize where a barn, pool, or second home could go.
Septic System Already In
If your land already has a working septic system, that’s a massive plus. It’s not glamorous, but it’s expensive to install and a pain to permit.
Ours bumped the value by more than what we paid to put it in.
Electric Set Up to Multiple Points
Instead of running power to one pole and stopping, we planned ahead and had multiple drop points installed.
That flexibility made it easier when we added a shop and improved the land’s appeal to others down the line.
Fencing That Was Built to Last
Decent perimeter fencing adds more value than people think—especially for buyers with animals.
Even if they don’t use it right away, they see the time, money, and materials it took. That adds to perceived value fast.
Shop or Outbuilding with Power
A solid outbuilding with electric is a huge boost. Ours became the most-used structure on the land before the house was even finished.
Doesn’t have to be fancy, but if it’s wired and dry, it counts.
Reliable Well or Water Tap Installed
Having water in place—and tested—is a massive plus. It’s a basic utility that gives buyers peace of mind and gives your land real value.
Ours came with a working tap from the co-op, and it put us ahead.
Multiple Access Points
Being able to enter or exit from different areas of the land—legally—was a huge plus when we brought in equipment or thought about subdividing.
Don’t underestimate how much access impacts future potential.
Legal Survey and Marked Boundaries
A fresh survey with clear markers saved us headaches and boosted credibility when it came time for financing and selling.
It’s not flashy, but it’s one of those things that makes your land easier to sell—and worth more on paper.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
