Investing In Property by Landscaping

People get nervous when the daily news hammers about a shaky financial environment. Do not be fooled. People are still buying homes, investing money into their property to improve the property value.

Landscaping can not only add value but also make a home easier to sell. Put yourself in the buyers’ shoes. When would your “buyer beware” radar go up if the house you were thinking of buying looked bad without landscaping or was landscaped and cared for.

The front yard may give curb appeal but it is the backyard where the money needs to be spent. The University of Michigan did a study and discovered that consumers put more value into a landscaped home. In fact they valued the same home with good landscaping 11.3% percent higher than the same home without good landscaping.

The first question is where should you spend the money in the back yard?

Backyard To-Do’s

As the population continues to age and grow older – Less is More. As baby boomers begin to retire they have little interest in mowing the lawn or paying someone to lawn the yard. Less lawn means less mowing and more time to do what you want!

Ground covers can provide seasonal color and brighten areas. Buyers see landscaping as more sophisticated and polished.

Best Bang for the Buck – Trees

The best money you can spend around the house is to plant trees. If you plan on staying in your house for only 2 or 3 more years consider planting some trees in the 8-foot range. The cost should be in the $50-$75 range. Dig a nice big hole for the tree to grow, as the tree matures so will the value of your home.

Outdoor Living Spaces

People enjoy the sun and outdoors. A landscaped patio can raise the value of a home by as much as 12.4%. Anything you can do to incorporate the outdoors with the indoor comes as a buyer premium.

Water is a key feature in a backyard landscape but that does not men a pool! A fountain, a small pond or a hot tub can do the trick. The key is to make the area a comfortable place to sit and relax.

Landscape Lighting

Outdoor lighting today is so easy to install because of solar powered lights. Landscape lighting is sometimes referred to as “Malibu lighting.” Lighting the landscape can silhouette trees, light up the garden, keep visitors save by lighting their path and prove security from potential burglars.

Check the Soil

Get your soil tested by the state agricultural department. Take a soil sample for testing to see what the soil lacks to make your yard grow!

Backyard Landscaping NO’s

Forget the Pool

As attractive as a swimming pool is, investing in a pool to increase the property value rarely happens. There are some cases where all the homes in the neighborhood may have a pool it could be a selling point. However, a $60,000 to $75,000 in a pool will not give the same return for each dollar spent. Landscaping averages $3 return for every $1 spent.

From a homebuyers perspective a pool translates into maintenance, additional cost and fencing because of local ordinances and laws.

If you’re putting in a pool – DO NOT put a pool in for investment reasons for future money. Put a pool in for put enjoyment but make sure you landscape around the pool!

SAY NO to “Sports Courts”

Backyards with a tennis court or basketball court can be like a pool. Do it for your enjoyment not property value. These additions limit who could be interested in buying your property. It would have to be a people or family with the same interest.

Perspective buyers look at a sports court and immediately start to calculate the money it will take to rip it out and replace it!

Concrete Patio is Not an Option

Patios are a great idea – but building a patio and pouring a concrete slab is not. Concrete is viewed as very 1950’s and blue-collar. A wooden deck is better even though it does have a limited lifespan.

Concrete cracks, puddles water and does not look as good as a wood deck, landscape brick or pavers, especially for buyers.

Conclusion

Many landscapes could use the assistance of a professional landscaper. However, the cost can be more than what many can afford. Hiring a professional to design and draw a plan, which is “designed to work”, is money will spent. The landscape plan can incorporate many of the above elements for installation over a few years.

Consider hiring a professional landscaper – not necessarily a landscape architect but a landscape designer to draw a plan for you to execute. The cost should be about $75 per hour. Take some time to check out their past work to see how their landscape designs have held up over time.

When hiring any landscape professional, make sure they are licensed and insured. You do not need any liability issues.

In both uncertain financial times and times of prosperity – landscaping your property is a wise investment strategy.

Related Articles Of Interest:

• Landscaping Ideas – 5 Landscape Features To Improve Any Backyard Design
• Landscaping Designs Ideas – Planning Makes Your Ideas Come Alive
• Tips on Selecting the Contractor for Your Landscape
• Landscape Lighting – Add Security and Accents to Your Home and Landscape

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