 More than Just Curb Appeal
Landscaping can add value during the sale of a home
Homeowners across the country are finding there's more to a well-landscaped yard than that simple bitof curb appeal. After all, well-manicured hedges and strategically placed trees often add to a home's resale value and reduce utility costs for the family that moves in.
Research on Home Values
Landscaping's effect on home values varies, according to a 1998 University of Florida study. Lot size, plant type, plant spacing and overall design all play roles in how much money homeowners reap from their beautification efforts at resale time. The report states thathomeowners added a lot of color to their yard if they wanted a quick sell, while those who were more concerned about a long-term payoff focused on trees and shrubs that would grow over time.
The Recommendation: Landscaping Pays
Overall, the report advises homeowners to invest in a good landscape plan for added value. "It's true," says Bonnie Van Fleet, spokesperson for the Reston, Va.-based Associated Landscape Contractors of America. "A properly installed and maintained landscape gives homeowners a 100 to 200 percent on their investment and increases overall property values in the neighborhood. And just think: You only get a 75 percent return on investment if you redo your bathroom."
Added Benefits
Van Fleet also says landscaping improves home security. She says insurance agencies put a great value on landscaping, and will pay the several-hundred-dollar replacement value for trees struck by lightning. Thorny shrubs are often planted under windows to deter burglaries, she says, and the practice is becoming so common that owners of commercial buildings are doing it. "Trees and shrubs are investments that grow," Van Fleet insists. "If you look at the same housing side by side, the house that is well landscaped sells by much more. Anyone who has looked at real estate taxes recently will see there's definitely a difference depending on a house's upgrades." |
