Landscaping Increases the Value of Your Home

It’s a fact that a professionally landscaped property increases resale value.

So long as it’s done right, a landscape’s design can increase your home’s resale value by 20%. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, investing about 8-10% of your home’s value in landscaping (which includes soft and hardscape) will double your landscaping’s investment. Although you might not be looking to sell your home tomorrow, or even in the next year, planning for the future can have a big impact. Improvements to your landscaping such as trees and/or plants mature over time—so it’s important to start early.

If you’re interested in increasing your home’s value, designing and installing a new landscape is both a great way to realize your goal and have the yard of your dreams. If you are interested in making improvements to your home by re-doing you landscaping, you don’t have to do it all at once. By having an architectural landscape design that’s drawn to scale, you can install it in phases, spread it out over a period of years without losing the aesthetic or “flow”.

While Jefferson Landscape and Design is a Design and Build company, not everyone needs a new landscape design to maximize the potential of their property (although it is often recommended, it depends on the state of your existing yard). Not every homeowner has to start over, has made the same progress or is at the same point in their project. Unless it’s a Do-It-Yourself endeavor, you may have to go through a number of contractors to find the right fit for what you need: contractors who are willing to do portions of the landscape as opposed to a complete overhaul. We will list some things to consider whether you elect to re-design your landscape (all or in part) that will help you achieve an increased appraisal on your home.

There are many improvements that will add curb appeal to your home.

The first thing someone sees when visiting your home is its exterior. You want to make a good impression. If your house isn’t aesthetically pleasing, chances are potential buyers won’t make it inside. Your home’s exterior should serve as a snapshot of what’s to come when potential buyers enter. Even if you aren’t selling your home, creating curb appeal helps to increase the value of your neighborhood and makes your home a more inviting and attractive place to relax with family and friends. And keep in mind, even if you can’t afford to re-do your landscaping (or don’t need to) there are still things you can do that will give you a better return on your investment.

Create an Elegant Entryway

The hardscape you select for the front pathway and porch can make a real difference and add charm to your entryway. Selecting something that stands out like stamped concrete or a flagstone overlay, natural stone will make your home stand out. Choosing the right color for your hardscape isn’t that tough—use a color from your home such as the roof or the trim to tie the color of your home into your landscape.

Update Your Planting

Remove older plants and replace them with newer ones. Create and update planter areas that direct people’s eyes to the front entry. Choose plants that pop with color. There are many vibrant colors to choose from. It’s another way to add visual interest, color and texture to your landscape.

Outdoor Lighting

It’s important to provide potential homebuyers with a safe path to your front door. Use path lights to illuminate walkways and brighten the walkway to your front door. Use spot lights to highlight your trees and give depth to your yard at night.

Match your Landscape to the Style of Your Home

One of the best ways to increase your home’s value is to extend your home’s style to your yard. To achieve this, you want to make sure the exterior style of your home matches the style of your garden. For example, if you have a cottage, a Japanese garden would be out of place. If you have a log-cabin styled home, incorporating wooden elements in your landscape is ideal. Another example: if you have a stucco exterior finish, include stucco pieces in your hardscape. The goal is to create a harmonious balance for the eyes.

Plant Trees

Even if you aren’t planning on selling your home in the next year or two, it’s important to plan for the future. According to the U.S. Departments of Energy, planting just three trees in the correct locations around the perimeter of your home can cut your energy costs by $250 a year.

Add Patio Furniture

This may fall under “staging” with your realtor, but outdoor living is increasingly popular. Homeowners enjoy soaking in the elements of nature while still being in the comfort of their own home.

Avoid Geometric Shapes and Straight Lines

Landscaping is as much a journey for the eyes as it is for the many functions it has. When planning your soft or hardscape elements, consider avoiding 90-degree angles and straight lines. In nature there’s no such thing as a straight line—straight lines should be reserved for architecture—man conquering nature. While some lines may look visually appealing, incorporating too many straight lines can produce an unnatural look (unless you have an Eichler home or a very specific architectural style). Curved pathways and natural-looking shapes in your landscape layout will help make your yard appear more natural and increase its visual appeal, which will increase the overall value of your home.

An attractive home with a well-manicured yard, complete with soft and hardscaping, increases the aesthetic of your home. In turn, this directly increases your home’s property value and adds value to appraisal for potential buyers. Again, even if you aren’t selling now, it’s important to plan for the future.