Do you want to make a good first impression? Whether viewing in person or online, the first thing potential buyers and renters see is the front of your home. How your home looks on the outside builds consumers anticipation for what awaits them inside. In one Home Light survey, 94% of top agents said that great curb appeal equals money in your bank account at closing — and you don’t have to break the bank to wow customers.
If you aren’t looking to complete a full overhaul of your landscape, here are some simple and cost-effective items you can complete to improve your landscape:
· Mow and edge the lawn, weed flower beds, seed the lawn, apply a new layer of mulch and sweep any sidewalks and driveways.
· Replace light bulbs, clean windows, and any glass panels, pressure wash siding, and remove dust and cobwebs from outdoor fixtures.
· Repaint any worn or chipping paint on the trim to the house, front door, or posts and repair or replace any damaged posts or rotten wood on the home as the appraiser will require a clear report for wood decay.
Think of landscape as the wrapping paper on your home. When you give a gift, you spend time picking the perfect card, paper, and ribbon. It’s a known fact that people naturally gravitate toward beautifully wrapped gifts, the same is true for lawns.
Not only is a well-manicured lawn easy on the eye, but it also plays a vital role when listing a home for rent or sale. Did you know that an attractive street view can help you sell or rent your home quicker, as well as add value to your property and neighborhood? Landscape can be attributed to 7-14% of your home’s total value.
Cost vs Value
· The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) estimate that applying mulch annually, mowing about 2,800 square feet of lawn, pruning shrubs, and planting about 60 annuals or perennials costs about $3,000 — but has a 100% return on investment (ROI) upon selling.
· The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recommends investing 10% of your home’s value in landscaping; Other studies suggest that you can increase your home’s value by 5% to 15% by spending the equivalent percentage on landscape maintenance and upgrades.
· 74% of real estate agents told NAR they suggest sellers complete a maintenance program before putting their homes on the market. What’s more, 17% of those surveyed said recent landscape maintenance had led to a sale.
· HomeLight’s top agents, working with data on national average costs from HomeAdvisor.com, estimate that lawn care service of about $268 adds about $1,200 in value—a 352% ROI. Adding fresh mulch at roughly $340 recoups about 126% upon closing.
· The average cost of installing new landscaping for a 1,200-square-foot yard is about $13,200. However, if you’ve already budgeted for landscape and lawn maintenance throughout the year, you might not even spend that much and still recover considerable value.
Bottom line, if you are going to be selling, or renting a property it is worth the investment and time to spruce up the yard. If you want to attract quality tenants or qualified buyers as well as a higher price and reduce the time it takes to get the home rented, put some effort into your landscaping. The more appealing properties will sell or rent faster and for a higher amount.
Take a look at our Local highlight article for some advice on types of plants to use for low water or to detract bugs.
https://secureinvestmentsrealty.com/local-highlight-july-2020/
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