Not only does landscaping improve exterior appeal, but it can also give real estate a 15 percent boost in value, according to a Virginia Tech study. The research found that the perceived value of a home is affected by the size, type, and design of the plants used in landscaping. Gardening can add tens of thousands of dollars to the value of your property. In fact, it's one of the few improvements you can make to the home that not only adds value immediately, but also increases in value over time.
While interior design and decoration concepts become outdated and mechanical systems wear out, plants become fuller and more robust as the years go by. Additionally, data consistently shows that exterior appeal, in the form of attractive landscaping, is highly beneficial. Sellers can earn 5% to 12% more value from their home (depending on where the property is located) with a well-maintained landscape, according to de Jong. Here are 10 landscaping projects that industry experts say are worth investing in to increase the value of your home.
Randomly placing plants may satisfy your inner gardener, but a professionally organized design will take your landscape and retail price to the next level. They can be equipped with sensors that detect air quality and water levels in your garden and water only when necessary. If you plan to sell within a year, you can take several immediate steps to spruce up your landscape and increase your selling price. Erosion and the flow of contaminants and sediments can be reduced to nearby water bodies when dampers are planted in the landscape.
As attractive as a pool is, you rarely invest in a pool to increase the value of the property. A neat lawn leaves buyers with the impression that they are seeing a landscape that is easy to maintain. ASLA has reported that members have seen 10 percent growth in customer demand for drought-resistant gardens. Niemiera, a horticulturist at Virginia Tech, found that a well-landscaped home had a price advantage of 5.5 percent to 12.7 percent over a home without landscaping, according to Chase and Patti Michels of Chicago real estate agency Michels Group.
And while their services may overlap, certified landscape architects often go beyond designers and can provide top-notch plans and installation help. A Virginia Cooperative Extension survey found that landscaping expenses, especially large ones, “significantly increase perceived value”. Therefore, you may want to invest in larger trees and mature vegetation that appears more established for your landscaping project. Let's take a closer look at when landscaping decreases or increases home values and which projects may offer the best opportunity to get the most out of your investment. Whether during uncertain financial times or times of prosperity, landscaping your property is a smart investment strategy.
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) states that professional landscaping can increase the price of a home “15 to 20 percent more at the time of resale”. First impressions count, and when a buyer sees your home for the first time, exterior appeal and care of the landscape are the first indicators of how well the home has been maintained.
