The Clothesline Conundrum: What Do They Mean for Home Values?

When it comes to clotheslines, there tend to be two schools of thought about whether they are good for home values or not. On one end of the spectrum are the people who believe that clotheslines bring down property values because they are not aesthetically pleasing. Some people also associate clotheslines with impoverished living conditions. For these reasons, depending on where you live, there may be a ban or restrictions on hanging your clothes to dry outdoors.

The other camp of people is those who see the energy cost savings from clotheslines as a welcoming feature to a home. After all, dryers are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in a home. Some people have joined a “Right to Dry” movement to fight against clothesline bans. With climate change effects an ongoing global concern, many people are looking for eco-efficient homes as a win-win for the environment and their wallet.

Takeaway: Whether clotheslines affect home values or not is largely community-specific. If you don’t have a ban on hanging clothes outside in your area, it’s best to assess the vibe of your neighbourhood in deciding if you think the majority of prospective buyers would appreciate a clothesline or not.