In the grand scheme of managing your house, landscaping may seem like a relatively small matter. However, it can have a disproportionately large impact on the value of your property. With the right landscaping choices and management, you can increase the selling price for your home and even sell it faster.
But why is this the case? And what should you consider when improving the landscaping around your house for the sake of improving its value?
The Many Forms of Landscaping
Landscaping is a way of increasing the curb appeal of your home. The curb appeal of your home refers to how inviting, attractive, and valuable your house seems to be from the perspective of someone at the curb, and presumably someone who has never seen your home before. As we’ll see, more curb appeal typically translates to faster sales and higher sale prices.
There are practically infinite ways that you can use landscaping to boost the curb appeal of your home. You can improve the thickness and vividness of your grass, you can plant trees and shrubs to frame your property, you can invest in a flower garden to add color and beauty to the front of your property, and you can even use walkways, paths, and other structures to make your outdoors more functional.
There is no single correct way to approach landscaping, since every house is different and every situation is unique. That said, even modest investments into beautifying your landscaping can have a significant impact on your home’s value.
The Power of Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is important for several reasons. There are many distinct ways in which it can boost your home’s value and accelerate its sale.
More attractive photos. For starters, having more attractive curb appeal means you’ll be able to take much more attractive photos. These days, most people begin their property search online, using one of several online listing channels. If your first couple of photos aren’t capable of making a big first impression, lots of qualified buyers will skip right past it. Conversely, if you have more appealing photos because of your landscaping, you’ll have a much richer, more consistent lead pool to work with.
More tours. Similarly, increasing the curb appeal of your home typically means you’ll be able to have more tours and showcases. Most people, whether they see your property for the first time online or in person, are going to be much more likely to want to see the inside of the house if the outside is already attractive. From there, you’ll have a much easier time attracting bids.
Better first impressions. First impressions can have a massive impact on your strategy. Even if they don’t realize it, most prospective buyers start making judgments about properties from the moment they see the exterior. Even if the interior is a disappointing mess, an appealing exterior might be enough to counteract some of those negatives. A strong first impression often translates to a higher likelihood of making a bid and a higher price if a bid is made.
Indications of care. Excellent landscaping can also be a subtle signal to a prospective buyer that this house is properly cared for. The types of people who typically invest time and money in landscaping are also the types of people who take good care of their houses in the long term.
Easy move-ins. Most people don’t want to move into a house and then immediately start some massive undertaking. If the landscaping is in disrepair, it can scare people off from making a genuine bid.
General aesthetic value. And of course, improved landscaping also lends itself to the general aesthetic value of your home. Appearances count for quite a lot in property values, and any beautification efforts you make are likely to be worth it.
Important Considerations
There are some important considerations you’ll need to bear in mind when evaluating your landscaping choices, however.
Neutral appeal. Not every landscaping option is going to be attractive to every buyer. When evaluating your landscaping possibilities, gravitate toward improvements that will be appealing to the average, typical buyer in your area. Neutral is typically better if you’re torn between options.
Long-term vs. short-term value. Some landscaping options are more likely to pay off in the long term, while others are merely short-term fixes. Depending on the existing state of your landscaping, you may need a mix of both for optimal results.
Your budget (and ROI). Your return on investment (ROI) for landscaping is going to depend on what type of landscaping you invest in and how much you invest in it. You should try to optimize for ROI if you want your money to go as far as possible. If you’re on a tight budget, calculate your options carefully – and lean toward upgrades that will give you the most bang for your buck.
With better landscaping, you can make your home much more attractive. As long as you don’t over invest in the project, this should allow you to get an excellent return on your investment, increase the sale price of your home, and sell your home even faster.
