Does it help or hurt???
I have spoken with many homeowners who do not see the value in renovating the landscape or investing any money into yard for that fact. There have been many articles written in home and garden magazines that state dollar-for-dollar landscaping ranks towards the bottom versus renovations to the kitchen and bathrooms. Some articles I have read go as far as even saying that it could decrease your property value. Then they usually put a small foot note or quickly mention without elaborating that the reason behind this is that sometimes new landscape designs/styles do not appeal to potential buyers. With that thought in mind then any home improvement could be a waste of money and bring down property value. I have visited many homes in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that were newly remodeled and I scratch my head wondering what where these people thinking? My point being is that landscaping can increase or decrease your property just like any other upgrade that is done to the house.
Now that we got that out of the way, take yourself out of this speculative cycle of thinking and into the real world; imagine you are visiting open houses in an effort to purchase a new home. You are driving down the street and see almost two identical homes for sale, with the ONLY difference being that one has a lush and appealing landscape with a decorative concrete driveway, while the other is a decrepit wasteland of weeds, overgrown trees, and a cracked concrete driveway, which one would you be more attracted to and more likely to buy? Remember both these house are identical inside and out with the exception of the landscape. 99.9% of the human population would lean towards the house with beautifully landscaped home. Now, what about the price? It would be a safe bet to assume that the first one is also worth more.
The real facts:
- Truthfully, like many other renovations, if done right it can add tens of thousands of dollars to your property’s value. Landscaping is actually the ONLY improvement you can make that not only adds value immediately but also increases in value as the years go on. Any other renovation has the high potential to go out of style in the future.
- Research done by Virginia Tech horticulturist, Alex X. Niemiera, concluded that a well-landscaped home had significant price advantages over a home with no landscaping, with a price difference ranging from 5.5%-12.7%. That translates into an extra $16,500 to $38,100 in value on a $300,000 home.
- Niemera’s research also discovered that the number one thing buyers want in their landscape is sophisticated design with a diversity of plant life. Landscapes that had a well thought out plan and were installed by a landscape contractor had a higher value than those that didn’t.
- According to many realtors I have spoken with in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, a well cared for landscape is a signal to potential buyers that a home is well cared for and therefore more desirable.
Neil Hopkins Install-Hackberry Creek Las Colinas, TX
Neil Hopkins Install-Hackberry Creek Las Colinas, TX
So bottom line? A well-planned and thought-out landscape installed by a landscape contractor will add significant value to your home.
Clients First Landscape Solutions has a combined experience of 12 years. We have extensive knowledge of landscape systems and masonry construction. We are a premier landscape company that maintains a high level of professionalism. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about our blogs or would like to schedule an estimate.