Landscaping- An Investment that Grows

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. And the best first impression a home can make is its landscaping. Beyond visual appeal, investing time and money into landscaping really pays off. Professionally landscaped homes have proven to add close to 15% to your home’s value- that’s up there with the added value of bath and kitchen remodeling. Landscaping can reduce the time your home is on the market by as much as six weeks. Plus, investing in landscaping nets 150% return on investment when it comes time to put your home on the market (source).

image via bobvilla.com

If the idea of upgrading your curb appeal and landscaping is intimidating to you, you’re not alone. There is a lot to think about, whether you’re choosing to do a complete overhaul of your yard and entryway or just a minor facelift. One of the best tips to consider when landscaping is to have a cohesive plan. To truly add value to your home, do more than just plant a couple of flowers and bushes. Prospective buyers look for sophisticated design- a landscape that looks nonsystematic or unorganized will turn them off. Let’s break it down some ways to upgrade your current landscaping.

A good place to start is to do some maintenance on your existing yard. Remove dead trees and branches and give sick trees the attention they need to thrive. Prune and cut back any plants or trees that are overgrown for a neater look. If you don’t have trees in your yard, plant one this spring. Mature trees help a property sell, so the sooner you plant, the better.

In addition to a clean, green lawn consider pulling out the big guns. Updating or adding lighting, new fences, garden paths a fire pit or some sort of deck or terrace are more expensive but make for a greater impression. Don’t forget, even a fresh coat of paint on your front door can work curb appeal magic. Landscaping is an investment that grows. And even if you’re not thinking about putting your home on the market this season, putting the time into landscaping now means it will be there for you to enjoy it.

What are some of your landscaping ideas for this spring?