The Answer is Yes! Let’s Explore Why
The first introduction to your home is your landscape. Not only does it provide value, but it also provides enjoyment, a place to create memories, a place to explore the offerings of nature, a place to increase your awareness and clear your mind as well as many emotional, mental, and physical perks that can appeal to a buyer. Let’s explore the advantages of a well-designed landscape before placing your home on the market.,
How Much of an Increase Will You Receive for Your Investment?
Research reveals your landscape can increase the resale value of your property up to 14 percent. There are several aspects regarding landscaping to take into consideration that can provide a positive increase in your property value. Consider these points:
- A beautiful landscape can reduce the amount of time it takes to sell your property.
- Curb appeal can create a positive first impression, and you only have one shot at a first impression.
- Strategically designed patios can have a mental and emotional impact on the buyer and how attracted he or she is to the environment you’ve created in this space.
- Hedges creating a sense of privacy can be very appealing to your buyer.
- According to Plant Care Today, The Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) did research and compiled the following statistics for landscaping return on investment:
- Landscaping can increase the resale value of a property by as much as 14%.
- A well-designed patio can raise property value by 12.4%.
How much a well-designed and installed landscape can increase the value of your home depends on the current value of your home, the location of your home, the condition of your home, and more. There are variables to take into consideration which can affect the percentage of return.
Why Does Landscape Make a Difference to the Buyer’s Attraction to Your Property?
Curb Appeal – As noted above, curb appeal gives that first impression. It creates a mental decision by captivating the buyer with a desire to view your home or have no desire to even look.
The curb can be enticing and inviting to your buyer. I can create an expectation of what’s inside. It can bring your buyer in, or cause the buyer to pass and keep looking.
A Work of Art – Your home is the focal point of the artist’s creation (your designer), and your landscape is the frame of the masterpiece your home. This can visually attract buyers and heighten their curiosity to look inside.
It Tells a Story – How well-designed your landscape is tells your buyer that you take great care of your home and your property. It can give the buyer confidence that the inside is as well-maintained as the outside.
Emotional Pull – The buyer wants to feel comfortable in his or her new home and in the surrounding outdoor living space. Private spaces can provide relaxing outdoor experiences attractive to a buyer creating an emotional pull to your property.
What is a Reasonable Budget to Spend on Your Landscape to Receive an Acceptable Return?
Somewhere between five and ten percent of the value of your home is considered a reasonable amount when upgrading your landscape to increase resale value. There are certain design elements that typically won’t contribute to your added return. Some of these include a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, fire pit or built-in barbecue. There are exceptions such as living in an area where most of the homes have a swimming pool that may give added value.
Your real estate agent will be a great resource to determine the design elements that will or will not increase your return on your landscape investment for the area where you live.
A landscape designer can help you determine the best use of your landscaping budget to receive the greatest return. Together you create a list of design elements that qualify for the outcome you’re looking for.
What Should Your Landscape Budget Be Focused On, and What Will Appeal to Your Buyer?
The baby boomer population continues to retire, and landscape maintenance is usually not a high priority for many. A lot of grass means a lot of mowing or hiring someone to do the mowing. Not always appealing!
Consider a drought tolerant landscape for buyer interested in saving water and lowering their water bill.
If you live in an area challenged by droughts, think about installing a drought tolerant landscape to save money on water and so your buyer can save money on water. Water districts can impose irrigation restrictions that limit the time and how much you can water. Consider drip irrigation since it uses a lot less water and places the water exactly where it’s needed.
Often the water restrictions don’t include drip irrigation. Saving money is always a plus to the buyer. Automate your irrigation system. If you do have grass or ground cover, then sprinklers will be necessary for that part of your landscape. Most of the remaining landscape can be irrigated by drip system, but if you can work it into your budget, automate it. Convenience is always a plus to the buyer.
A beautiful patio can catch the eye of your prospective buyer and would be a reasonable place to invest in attractive patio furniture (not necessarily expensive), pots with plants bringing color, and life to this space as it presents as a refuge from the day. It can also represent family and friend gatherings and making memories.
If you’re considering installing a new patio, consider options other than concrete. Concrete can present as cold. A wood deck can present as warm, cozy, relaxing and bring more positive emotions into play. Even pavers or stone such as flagstone set in concrete offers a much more creative appeal than concrete. If you’re budget demands concrete, consider staining with a warm color or staining and stamping with a creative pattern.
Landscape lighting can also bring a lot of appeal, especially if a prospective buyer is viewing your home at night. There are solar lights available that can provide a soft ambiance in the garden to more expensive lights on timers that can be controlled directly from your cell phone. It all depends on your budget.
If you’re not using solar lights, automate your lighting system. Have it controlled with a low voltage transformer and timer so it can be set up and require little effort for the new buyer.
Be selective about investing in elements that will not bring a good return. Think about the community you live in and the dominant age group that lives in that area. Consider the age-related wants, needs and lifestyle that fit your community.
If you know you are going to sell your home in the near future or the next year or two, this is information to seriously consider. However, if you plan to remain in your home for several years or maybe you haven’t even decided to sell, make your landscape fit your needs, desires and lifestyle. It may cost more than five to ten percent of your property value to accomplish what you want in your landscape, but sometimes your own personal enjoyment, family activities, and friends to entertainment is worth the investment for you. In addition, a few years’ growth presents a more mature landscape which is a little higher on the attraction scale.
WRAPPING UP
Why Should You Improve Your Landscape When Preparing to Put Your Home on the Market?
- If your landscape isn’t at its best, increasing the quality of your landscape will increase the value of your home.
- Having an inviting landscape can reduce the amount of time it takes to sell your home.
- Beautiful landscaping can catch the eye and intrigue the buyer to view your home instead of passing it by.
- A well-designed and well-maintained landscape can send a positive message to the buyer that the inside of your home is likely as well-kept as the outside.
- If your situation changes and you decide not to sell, voila, you have a beautiful, inviting, relaxing outdoor living space to enjoy for years to come and that’s a win-win!
How Can a Landscape Designer Make Your Life Easier and Save You Money?
- If you want to put your home on the market quickly but the landscape needs a face lift, an experienced designer can assess the changes needed and work within your budget to accomplish the goal of showcasing your outdoor space as beautifully as your indoor space.
- A landscape designer’s experiences and skills can provide creative solutions to problems while keeping balance and cohesiveness to all aspects of the design.
- Having a landscape design gives you the order in which the installation process should proceed so costly mistakes are avoided.
- It is much faster and cost effective to eliminate problems on paper before installation begins.
- If you plan to stay for an undetermined amount of time, then your designer can create your outdoor living space to reflect exactly what you want in your landscape. Check here for an outline of our design process and how you can prepare to make the process easier and faster.
Let us create the results you’re looking for. Are you ready to get started? Contact us today!
Please share in the comments below any ideas or experiences you’ve had regarding the importance the landscape when selling your home.
Hi. I’m Linda Rose. I have 17 years of professional experience as a landscape contractor and landscape designer. I’m passionate about nature and using nature’s palette to create beautiful gardens for my clients. I’m an advocate for the Earth with a mission to encourage people to connect with the Earth and receive the abundant gifts of beauty, health, and balance. My goal is to create your ultimate outdoor experience at home.