Trees that tower over your property are more than just beautiful — they can increase your home’s value.
Recent national surveys have shown that mature trees in well-tended yards can increase the house’s value by anywhere from 7 to 19 percent.
Surveys showed that a lush lawn with flower gardens was beautiful, but it didn’t increase the house’s value.
Buyers love landscaping
These numbers are not surprising to Pat Vredevoogd Combs (immediate past president of National Association of Realtors). She said, “People tell me they want privacy and trees behind.”
She said that well-tended yards with mature trees or bushes provide privacy and fetch higher prices. They also sell faster than houses without landscaping.
Surveys were conducted by the University of Washington in 2007 and the National Gardening Association in 2008. Charlie Nardozzi (senior horticulturist, National Gardening Association) said that the increase in house value is significant. Buyers don’t stop there. He said that people are now looking at large trees, rock walls and patios to get the “whole feeling”.
Nardozzi recommends that homeowners reconsider neglecting their yards and instead focus on renovating kitchens or bathrooms. He said that a beautiful landscape can make the difference between making a loss on your home or making a profit on it.
Before you plant , plan
According to a Clemson University study, homeowners receive a return of 100 percent on their landscaping investment. Nardozzi recommends that homeowners who have bare lots start landscaping immediately. It takes plants 5 to 7 year to mature. Before planting, a professional landscaper will inspect the entire site.
Nardozzi advises homeowners who are tempted to do it themselves to get help from a local garden shop before they plant “willy-nilly”. This can often lead them wrongly to plant the wrong plants in the wrong places. Overgrown plants can cover windows or cause damage to driveways.
Nardozzi advises, “Do your homework.” A poorly maintained yard can negate your efforts to increase the value of your home.