Seller Tip: Landscaping Dos & Donts

Seller Tip: Landscaping Dos & Donts 

There is no doubt that landscaping impacts the first impression of a home for potential buyers. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) asserts that professional landscaping can increase a home’s listing price 15 to 20 percent at the time of resale while a 2018 study at Virginia Tech found that a well-landscaped home had a 5.5 percent to 12.7 percent price advantage over a home with no landscaping. We believe the value of landscaping holds true six years later. 

However, before you run out and take on a big project, it is important to understand the difference between softscaping and hardscaping. Softscaping is short for ‘soft landscaping’ and refers to natural things such as flowers, trees, and grass while hardscaping refers to man made items such as steps, fountains, and ornamental statues. Pinterest would have many of us believe we need elaborate landscaping to entice buyers, but we have taken the time to consider landscaping project ‘dos’ and ‘don’t’s. 

Improving Home Value

The most financially rewarding landscaping projects do one of two things: expand living space and/or add low-maintenance beauty to a property.

Ideas:

• Decks
• The only landscaping project listed on Remodeling.com annual Cost vs Value study, which analyzes home improvements with the best ROI (return on investment), is to build a deck. While it is an expensive project, this upgrade is asserted to recoup 50-40% depending on material used. 
• Mature Trees
• Established plants appeal more to buyers, but for sellers looking for a solution, purchasing mature trees and shrubs can yield a bigger impact. 
• Peace of Mind
• Buying a home can be daunting so providing things that will make their lives easier, such as sprinkler systems or improved security like installing lights will help your listing stand out and feel secure. 

Projects to Avoid

In short, sellers looking to upgrade their outdoor space should avoid making large investments on niche projects. We do not recommend the following projects if the purpose is to increase home sale price:

• Pools & Ponds
• Buyers may find the upkeep and additional insurance cost too high. They could also be considered a safety hazard.
• Custom Lifestyle Features
• Some people love the idea of a chicken coop or an extensive outdoor kitchen while others may not. The money would better allocated in other areas.