Asking the question here on a form where everyone loves ponds is like asking a question as to the value of sports cars to a gearhead on a Muscle car group. You know the answer you will get before even asking the question. You will get a positive answer and statements that it adds value.
Truth is that if there are few properties around with water features and there is a demand for water features, then it will add value. If however there are lots of properties around with water features and there is not a great demand for it, then it won�t add value.
On the positive side we can find many reasons we feel it adds value. Just ask us and we can come up with many.
But on the flip side it is an insurance risk. For some it takes more work to maintain than grass. For others the smell and what it attracts is undesirable. You also may have to deal with regulatory bodies that you would not with land and no water features ...etc The list and issues go on and on.
So the answer is for those of us who love water features it is desirable and would add value. For those who don�t it doesn�t add value. The trick is selling to someone who does value it and doing it in an area where it is unique and not common place to have water features.
Thus the best bang for the buck is to build a good pond that holds water in somewhere like Arizona and you can be assured you have a good investment. But if you build one in Minnesota ( land of 10,000 lakes ) you may not get back the money you invested in building the pond.
As for the question of viewing from the road you run into the same issues of it depends. Some would say for initial viewing and a draw to the property it adds more value for it to be seen from the road. For others (like myself) it is a major detractor to have it seen from the road. One of the joys and value of the pond is to give a piece of wildlife and peace and quiet without the outside wolrd peeking in. I personally think that it adds more value when it is contained and not viewable from the road and here is why. When you can see it from the road, so can others and when others can see it there is a chance that they will visit it without your knowledge or approval. You could then have people fishing or worse yet dumping fish into your pond and you lose control over your investment. I wont even go into the legal problems you may get into around people coming on your property ilegally and getting hurt and taking you to court over it.
I think that a pond viewable from the road may bring more people in for a first look but if it is out of view you will get people who will pay more for that privacy than he people wanting a view from the road. Thats just my $0.02.
