3 Ways Landscaping can Boost your Home’s Value
Making home improvements that will increase a home’s value is one of the smartest investments any homeowner can make. While a new coat of paint, updated colour scheme, and state-of-the-art appliances will go a long way in boosting home value, many homeowners neglect the power of curb appeal. The first impression prospective buyers have of your home comes from the outside, not the inside.
Depending on the type, landscaping can increase a home’s value by over 10 per cent! That’s a return on investment in the tens of thousands for most homes. But not all landscaping “improvements” are worth the money. Just like giving your home a fresh coat of mustard-coloured paint, some work will actually lose you money.
3 Ways Landscaping can Boost your Home’s Value
Let’s take a look at three landscaping tips you can use now to boost your home’s value and two that you should avoid.
Invest in a Professional Design
While the out-of-pocket cost of hiring a professional landscaping designer may be intimidating, you’re bound to make it all back, and a good bit more, when your home goes to market. A designer can examine the space around your home and neighbourhood and then determine the best layout for your particular situation.
By using time-tested methods of famous artists and the latest in design technology, your designer can create an outdoor space that flatters your home. Because first impressions leave such a lasting feeling on the beholder, the initial view buyers have of your home can affect how they experience your home even after they’re inside. Landscape artists also know how to make the most of your outdoor areas by designing greenspace and shrubbery in a way that is cosy and inviting or even making your yard look bigger than it actually is.
Professional designs often impact viewers’ subconscious more than homebuyers realize. Their designs draw the eye in ways that can evoke feelings of home or sophistication. By shaping your land to resonate positively with prospective buyers, professionals use landscaping to boost your home’s value by a substantial margin.
Have a Solid Entertaining Area
Another feature that will boost your home’s value is investing in a quality entertainment area. Outdoor kitchens and seating make the outside of the house feel as inviting as the inside. When prospective buyers notice an outdoor grill, brick fire pit, or airy pergola, they are invited to imagine fun outdoor activities with friends and family.
Be sure to match your outdoor area to your particular climate. Pergolas may be used less in Saskatchewan, and fire pits may be a waste of money in southern Texas. It is also essential that your furnishings are properly weatherproofed for your area so that buyers will be able to enjoy their outdoor spaces for years to come.
Going all-out with a full, permanent outdoor kitchen can be very expensive and typically returns a bit less than the investment, but it does place your house in a higher tier of buyers. That can equal more competition among the most desirable clients, which can lead to bidding wars that drive your home price higher than you expected.
If taking that risk is not feasible in your situation, you can always opt for an all-weather, middle-of-the-pack grill with some quality patio furniture. Click here for some ideas of affordable patio furniture you can purchase online.
However you choose to go about it, having an all-weather outdoor entertaining area appropriate to your local climate can boost your home’s value in a big way.
Keep it Neat
Above all, your outdoor areas should look well cared for. It does not matter if you have the best landscape designer on the market; if you let your grass grow unchecked for a couple of months, all your potential buyers will notice is the uncut grass.
Just keeping the lawn mowed and the weeds in check makes your home look inviting from the road. Parents will appreciate having an area for kids to play. It is one of the most basic ways that you can show that you’ve been caring for this home, which helps build trust with your buyers.
To do this well, keep your grass fed with proper fertilizer so that it has a nice, healthy green coloration. Make sure that any boundaries, natural or otherwise, remain well-defined to show intentionality in your design. You don’t want it to look like the forest is encroaching on your little piece of paradise. Keep hedges trimmed and gardens neat. Never underestimate the contrast a little fresh mulch can bring to the overall appearance of your home.
Despite how easy and relatively inexpensive it is to maintain your lawn, it actually has one of the highest returns on investment. According to one study, sellers could see as much as a 352% ROI! That’s well worth a little extra sweat.
How to LOSE Money with Landscaping
Now that we’ve discussed some of the best investments for your money when it comes to landscaping let’s talk about a couple of ways you can reduce your home’s value. Believe it or not, you can actually choose to spend money on certain “upgrades” that will end up costing you when it’s time to sell. Some can even drive buyers away, forcing you to lower your asking cost to garner interest!
Neglect is your enemy.
Any signs of neglect must be avoided at all costs. The most obvious is letting your yard devolve into a weed-infested jungle. A little lawnmower time goes a long way in keeping your curb appeal.
But there are also less obvious ways to keep your landscaping up to date. Tree limbs that grow too close to the house should be trimmed, and outdated patio furniture should be replaced.
H2O
Lastly, don’t waste money on water features of any sort. From fountains to birdbaths to swimming pools, water features almost universally drive buyers away. They used to be a draw in decades past, but modern consumers are looking for ways to simplify their lives. Pools, fountains, and the like have a well-earned reputation as being money-pits that require constant maintenance, and today’s buyers don’t want any part of it.
