Does Landscaping Increase the Value of your Home?
When selling your house most people will make interior improvements to help increase the value of the house they
are selling - but what about gardening and landscaping? If you send hundreds of pound on landscaping will you recoup
that investment - you may wonder if your efforts have been worthwhile compared to interior improvements.
In reality, landscaping comes back in resale value more than you may think.
Research in both the UK and USA showed that home landscaping has been valued at around 15 percent of a home's
total value - and some areas add more to the home than others. A good design can constitute 42%, plant size is 36% and
good range of plants 22%. The studies showed that a £150,000 home could rise by between £8,000 and up to £19,000
with a well landscaped exterior.
Landscape Design
The design of the landscape is the first consideration, whether you do it yourself or use a contractor. If you
plant anything without a layout in mind, you could run into maintenance issues down the road. This is why you
might use a landscape gardener to help, they have the expertise when it comes to creating landscape right for
your particular home - which tree, shrub or flower mix that will work. The end result will be a manageable,
uncluttered and beautiful exterior that can improve the value of your property.
Plant Size
Adding different plant sizes will make the front of your home look more appealing. Adding different shapes
and colours will compliment your home and lawn. Mixing small and big plants will cut down on the clutter in your
garden. If you have too many big bushy plants, their roots and branches may get tangled and cause maintenance
issues. Plant varied types of trees, shrubs or flowers and make your garden as colourful and varied to
increase your home's appeal.
Different Plants
Along with the plant sizes you choose are threes also how varied they could be. You may want to plant only shrubs
and trees with leaves to give you garden a simple look, or you may want to vary it with fruit trees or shrubs that
have flowers to add a burst of colour. You also might choose annual and perennial flowers to plant throughout
the garden - you will need to replace annuals every year, which gives you the chance to try out different flowers.
Perennials, on the other hand, will last for many years and can endure those harsh winter conditions.
The Outcome
Whether you hire a landscape gardener or decide to tackle the front your garden yourself, be sure to include
these three elements. Adding them to your garden, front or rear, will pay back dividends in your resale value,
making it more attractive to buyers.