Does Landscaping Increase Property Value?

Many people ask the question, does landscaping increase property value? The answer is a profound yes. Landscaping is one of the best things a homeowner can do outside of a house to increase its value. Landscaping can enhance the look of a property while adding value, creating a better financial standing when refinancing or selling.

The return on investment is not necessarily only financial; you can increase the enjoyment and comfort of your home for your day to day with various landscaping features as well. So, does a nice garden add value to your home? It adds financial value, along with the value of how you enjoy your surroundings.
Urban.com.au has prepared this guide, which delves into the effect of landscaping on property value and why a professionally designed, developed, installed, and maintained landscape could be a worthwhile property investment.

The benefits of landscaping
If you are wondering how much value does a garden add to a property? Clemson University Professor Mark S. Henry released a research paper that claimed even a small increase in the quality of your home's landscaping could increase the resale value of a property by around seven percent, and that is without much financial outlay. The more you invest in your landscaping, the greater the return.

The garden area of a home is directly related to the overall appeal and can significantly influence a buyer's perception of a property. It can also help you to create a more functional space for entertaining to have your neighbours around to help settle into your community.

There are many environmental benefits as plants improve the quality of our air, and inner-city neighborhoods with beautiful, usable outdoor areas see increased social interaction between residents. While it is not always appropriate to spend time in the garden all-year round, the visuals of your garden a ever-present. 

The best landscaping to add value
While there is more value in a landscaped home, you'll need to consider both the front yard, which creates curb appeal, and the backyard, which is often more used and where the money needs to be spent.
Keep in mind some of the following do's and don'ts:

• Less lawn means less maintenance, people may be put off by having to add the mowing of lawns to their to-do list
• A landscaped patio can raise the value of a home as it melds the idea of outdoors with the indoor 
• Water (not a pool) is an appealing feature to create a calming atmosphere, consider a fountain or small pond 
• Outdoor lighting with solar-powered lights creates security and a stylish aesthetic
• Swimming pools do not increase the property value as they create an additional cost
• The same applies to tennis or basketball courts, increased enjoyment? Yes- increased value? No. You will be limiting your sales options to those with a similar interest
• Choose a wooden deck over a concrete patio as it is easier to maintain and will offer more longevity 
• There are benefits to installing a sprinkler system including less water usage and less maintenance
• Avoid fake turf as it doesn't age well
• As people begin to focus more on sustainable, green living, the garden areas are receiving more attention. Even apartment living is heading down the sustainable route. 

Plants that increase property value
The plant options available to you when landscaping is often entirely dependent on the region you are in as well as how big your garden is. 
The native Lilly pilly hedge is a great way to add a sense of privacy to a home or yard area, which can often make things look more appealing. The best fast-growing trees are often eucalypts which offer plenty of varieties, but a reliable rule of thumb is that any native species will grow a lot quicker than imports. Bamboo, once again, is a fast grower and a popular trend currently is adding creepers to walls to help create a greener aesthetic, especially when you are dealing with an apartment complex.

Landscaping tips to increase home value
If you are landscaping to sell a house or even just to improve your property, here are some landscaping tips to consider:

1. Focus on your lawn edges. Edging your lawn is a big way to make your garden look neat. It also creates a tamed feel, which makes it look like it requires less maintenance, which is a great selling point. Edging is easy and can be done by yourself, or you can hire a professional to really ensure it looks great.

2. Add a lot of plants. The effect of a visual barrier from plants cannot be understated. It can also help to reduce street noise while creating shade in the summer months. It would be best if you kept a limited number of plant species as it is easier to maintain while creating a uniform look. Biodiversity is an excellent way to reduce pest impact and create colour; you just don't want to go over the top.

3. Mulching. Mulching (and weeding) also helps to create the visual effect that your garden is low-maintenance, and it simply makes everything much neater.  Utility mulch is your best bet, e.g., pine bark or forest fines, as they look neater.

4. Install new lawn. If selling, a lush lawn will really make an impact, and the most cost-effective option is Kikuyu lawn instead of buffalo grass. Patchy or browned lawns will benefit from lawn seed blend which will thicken and green the lawn.

5. Don't be afraid of some colour. Colourful flowers in planters and a range of pots with perennials will really create a comfortable aesthetic. Plus you can take them with you once you have sold the home.

6. Be a conservative pruner. Pruning is a great way to create a well-maintained look; however, you don't want to go overboard or hack away at things too much. Bare is bad, so just take a little off the top.

The advantages of hiring a professional landscaper
If you are wanting to avoid the DIY route and guarantee high-quality gardening services, a professional is the way to go. They will come equipped with specialised equipment and materials, such as more precise mowing equipment and varieties of fertiliser. It may cost a little more, but there are many costs involved with selling a home, few of which can help raise the price. Landscaping, is an investment, and the best way to get the most out of it, is to ensure the work is handled in a professional manner.

When using a professional, you receive their knowledge and skill. The training and experience offered will likely outweigh the capabilities of a DIY method, and they can provide a maintenance plan to ensure your garden continues to flourish and you are getting the most out of your investment.

It is also vital to preserve your landscape, which means not overwatering, or as we discussed above, over-pruning. Small mistakes can have a significant impact on the final look and health of your garden, so a professional will give you peace of mind that the job is being handled correctly. Above all, the time and energy you save when you work with a professional can be very valuable, on top of knowing you are getting the best result possible.

The real effect of landscaping on property value
The value of your property is dependent on the location and style of your home, but it also comes down to the presentation and care taken when looking after it. For this reason, a beautiful and functional garden or outdoor area is a very important element of ensuring your home looks its very best.

Any home improvements will assist in the value of your property. The visual element of a garden, however, which is the display of your property to the rest of the world, is one of the most important. First impressions last and you want potential buyers to understand that you have looked after your home. Convince them that this property is a low-maintenance task that is neat and tidy, and that they will be able to feel comfortable and enjoy the outdoor areas. There is a lot of competition in the sales market, so you want your place to stand out. All of this increases the value of your home and has you best-positioned for a good sale.

Article courtesy Luke Carlino & Urban.com.au