8 Landscaping Trends That Will Up Your Home’s Value
Curb appeal is the name of the game when it comes to increasing the value of your home. The American Society of Landscape Architects stated that the value of residential properties with trees and vegetation is three to 10 percent higher than properties without! Landscaping is a relatively easy, and cost-effective, option for you to increase your home’s value before you put it on the market. Having an appealing and vibrant yard makes your home stand out to prospective buyers and allows you to get a return on your investment when it comes time to sell.
Continue reading to learn all about the most popular landscaping projects that will add value to your home when you’re trying to sell.
Curb Appeal Counts
Since buyers always see the front of the house first when viewing online photos and visiting, you’ll want to make sure it’s a good first impression. After all, if a prospective buyer isn’t impressed with the exterior of your home, they may not want to view the inside because they assume it’s in the same condition as the outside. You want the outside of your home to reflect the beauty that’s on the inside — this is where landscaping comes in!
“Curb appeal is the window to the rest of the home.”
Landscaping is described as the process of making a yard or another piece of land attractive by altering the existing design, adding some ornamental features, and planting trees and shrubs. Paying special attention to your home’s landscaping will pay off when it becomes time to sell, as buyers will attach more value to your home — ensuring that you make a profit after the sale is complete.
Related: The Importance of Curb Appeal
8 Landscaping Trends to Increase Your Curb Appeal
There are so many ways that you can easily and inexpensively spruce up the exterior of your house. Let’s take a look at eight landscaping trends that our real estate agents have found will help to increase the value of your home.
1. Match Your Landscaping with Your Home’s Style
A great way to receive a return on investment in your landscaping efforts is to make sure it matches and blends well with the style of your home. Your yard will look much more put together if you coordinate your landscaping with the existing architecture of your home. For example, if you live in a ranch-style home, you’ll likely see shady trees, multi-layered plants or flowers, and gravel and mulch rather than more modern touches like a koi pond or extravagant fountains.
Making sure that the layout and details of your landscaping match the architectural style of your home allows the exterior to look as cohesive as possible. If potential buyers fall in love with the outside of your home, it sets a great tone for them to view the inside as well.
2. Install Landscape Lighting
Once you create a cozy outdoor living space, you’re going to want to see it all the time. This is where lighting comes into play — it’s time to dust the cobwebs off your old light fixtures or invest in new ones altogether. Lighting can elevate the appearance of the exterior of your home and make it feel more inviting.
When deciding how to incorporate lighting into your landscaping, consider where light is needed for safety and security, as well as any general areas you want to highlight. However, you want to make sure not to overdo it. You want your yard to be visible at night, but don’t want it to feel like a spotlight on your guests — in other words, don’t try to be like Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation.
A great option to consider that will increase the value of your home is outdoor solar lights. When the sun is out, the solar panels will absorb the light from the sun and produce electrical energy that can be stored in a battery to illuminate your home at night. Not to mention these types of lights are easy to install, relatively inexpensive, and stylish.
3. Aim for a Year-Round Style
If you live somewhere that experiences all four seasons (like the Carolinas) we suggest that you pick a focal element for your yard for each season. Depending on the weather, plants can either thrive or wither away — which can either enhance your curb appeal or make it look less than appealing. Choosing a focal element for your yard and planting season-specific flowers ensure an increase in home value and fast sale no matter what season it is.
If you don’t want to go through choosing a new focal point for your landscaping every season, some beautiful plants can survive all weather types, such as:
- Euphorbia characias
- Hydrangea Arborescens
- Rosa
- Iris Pseudacorus
4. Install an Automatic Sprinkler System
If you’re going to have a beautiful and luscious lawn, you’re going to need an irrigation system to keep your plants and grass fresh and alive. Unless you have an unusually long watering hose and plan to never leave your home for more than a day, an automatic sprinkler system is a necessity that can increase the value of your home.
An automatic sprinkler system takes the guesswork out of how much and how often you have to water your plants. While it may not be the most exciting upgrade, it’s a preferred method to protect your landscaping investment and increase the perceived value of your home.
5. Put Your Green Thumb to Work
A big part of increasing the value of your home is making sure that the outside of it is picture-perfect. The best way to achieve this is by sprucing up your lawn with trees, flowers, shrubs, mulch, and gravel that match the style of your home. You really can’t go wrong with plants, especially trees, as they provide shade, reduce carbon dioxide levels, and can even grow fruit!
“Curb appeal matters. So, plant some flowers.”
Other plants such as shrubs, bushes, and flowers should be strategically placed around the home to enhance its beauty. However, you want to make sure not to overload your yard. Creating an inviting, visually appealing home is an easy landscaping project you can do to add value to your home.
6. Increase Your Privacy
Everyone values privacy in their home, but people also value the aesthetic of big open windows that let in the natural light. Though most people’s first thought is to add curtains for privacy, they can close off a room rather than help it feel more open. A great way to have the aesthetic you want with the privacy you need is to incorporate shrubbery outside your windows to serve as a “privacy fence”. In addition to providing privacy, the shrubbery will enhance your curb appeal and increase your home’s value!
7. Have a Low Maintenance, High-Quality Lawn
Everyone loves a nice green and luscious front lawn, but not everyone likes doing yard work. There are plenty of grass types that require little maintenance — such as fine fescue. With this type of grass, you’ll only have to mow your lawn once or twice a year and won’t have to worry about fertilizer or pesticides because it naturally crowds out weeds.
No matter what kind of lawn you have, the most important thing is that it is properly maintained. A great way to ensure a healthy-looking lawn is to hire a lawn care service six to 12 months before you want your home to be listed on the market. This way, your lawn is already in the best shape possible when it comes time to take your listing pictures.
8. Design a New Pathway
Everyone, including prospective buyers, will enter your home through your front door, so the pathway leading to it should stand out in all the right ways. Instead of having a stained, cracked sidewalk, create a new and more put-together pathway into your home. Designing a pathway that is both visually appealing and inviting will make visitors excited and eager to view the inside of your home. Additionally, a new pathway will increase potential buyers’ perceived value of your home.
Let Our Expert Agents Be Your Guide
While preparing your home for sale is no easy task, you don’t have to do it alone! Remember, you should always consult with your real estate agent before making any changes to your home, as they can provide you with their expert opinion and suggestions. Here at The Redbud Group, we want to be there for you every step of the way before, during, and after the selling process to ensure your experience is seamless.
If you’re ready to start the selling process and want to prepare your home for sale, click the button below to get into contact with one of our incredible real estate agents and schedule a complimentary consultation!
