Modern items such as an outdoor kitchen space can also be beneficial. It increases the usable square meters of the house and returns 83% of the amount spent. However, building a tennis or basketball court may not be as profitable, as it only returns 43%.
Finish properly and protect the space for your climate to last for many years. That means building a fire pit in cold climates and making sure there is good shade and air circulation in the warmer ones. The presence of landscaping can give real estate a 15 percent increase in value, according to a study by Virginia Tech. The study found that the perceived value of a home is affected by the size, type, and design of the floor plan in landscaping.
If your approach to landscaping is piecemeal, doing a little here and a little there, your property could be disjointed. Although the idea of living among large and beautiful trees may seem idyllic, a forest-like landscape could detract from your home's value. Matt Ward, real estate agent and team leader at Tennesse-based The Matt Ward Group, says lighting also helps maximize the exterior appeal of your property.
Sellers can get between 5% and 12% more value for their home (depending on where the property is located) with well-maintained landscaping. The Appraisal Institute advises homeowners that “Improving the landscaping of your property can result in a significant return on investment when selling the home”. Attractive landscape lighting not only improves security around your home but also increases the value of your property.
You can also look for landscaping companies that can help you plant mature trees, however, keep in mind that this can be costly depending on the size of the tree, relocation, and difficulty of planting. A minor factor, but one that is still worth considering, is the diversity of plant life within the landscape design. Such landscapes often eliminate the need for irrigation, which is a definite draw at a time when the cost of water is skyrocketing.
Good landscape design can add up to 20 percent to your home's value, so it's important to make sure you invest in quality landscaping that will make your property stand out from others on the market. First impressions are hard to undo, and the first impression homebuyers get is of your garden and landscaping.
