Landscaping is a chore. Planting, weeding, trimming and manicuring lawns and shrubbery may seem insignificant to a home’s value. Yet, a well-landscaped home has a significant price advantage over a home without landscaping. This advantage ranges from five percent to twelve percent or more, depending on the type of landscaping and the home’s original value. So if your home is worth $300,000 that can translate into an extra $16,000 to $36,000 in value.
Should you rush out and plant trees, shrubs and flowers to entice buyers?
The answer is simple: Don’t overdo it. Everyone wants immediate perfection, but instead of cramming in a bunch of crowded bushes or trees into a single area, plant them with space to grow so they’ll be stronger and healthier as they mature. It’s all about the design aspect that buyers appreciate with landscaping.
The best part about landscaping? Even though it’s one of the most valuable home improvements you can make, it’s also one of the easiest. Just make sure that you design your landscape with a plan, and don’t let the plan become so complex that the mere thought of all the maintenance chases away your buyers.
