Does Landscaping Increase the Value of Your Home?

Curb Appeal

• Curb appeal is a phrase that is commonly used by real estate agents. It refers to the first impression a home makes. This impression may have little to do with the actual quality of a home. If you are preparing your home for sale, it is important to upgrade heating, electrical and utility systems. But it is just as important to cater to the emotional appeal of your home. Make your home beautiful on the outside, and people will want to see what's inside.

Starting Early

• Because of the nature of plants, the earlier you begin developing your landscaping, the more it will benefit you financially when you sell your home. Newly planted shrubs, trees and flowerbeds will make a house look nicer but will not be nearly as impressive as landscaping that has had several years to grow and mature. In addition, the earlier you get started on your landscaping, the more you will be able to enjoy it yourself while you live in your home. Think ahead, and do some work soon after you move in. It only takes an hour to plant a tree, but that tree will need years to reach its landscaping potential.

Saving Money Through DIY

• Hiring a professional landscaper can allow you to benefit from that person's skill, knowledge and experience, but none of these things come free. If you're operating on a slim budget, and you want to maximize the profit that you realize from your home, get yourself some comprehensive landscaping books, and learn how to do it yourself. Landscaping isn't rocket science, after all, and if you have the motivation, time and energy, you can transform your property on your own.

Price and Saleability

• Beautiful landscaping will increase the market value of your home, and it will also make it easier to sell. These two factors are not the same thing. Some elements, such as a new furnace, will increase your home value but won't necessarily enchant prospective buyers. Landscaping is different; it can make your property more inviting and draw people in in a way that will motivate them to buy.

Price Increase

• Given the wide variation in value, conditions and location among properties, it is difficult to estimate the exact amount that good landscaping can add to the value of a property. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that planting trees on your property can increase a home's value by as much as 10 percent. This means that if you live in a house that's worth $250,000, you could make $25,000 by planting some nice trees around it.