The Dos and Don’ts of Landscaping: What Adds to Home Value and What Hurts It

Homeowners often turn to landscaping and lawn care to make their house more attractive on the sidewalk – either they are trying to sell their house or they just want a more inviting facade. However, some landscape options detract from the value of a dwelling rather than increasing it. It is therefore important to take every aspect into account when planning the appearance of your garden.

Here are some tips for making better landscape decisions so you don’t make costly mistakes.

Matching the landscape to the house

Consider the landscape as an extension of the house. The furnishings and exterior of your house should have a similar theme, otherwise the effect with the naked eye can be unpleasant and unnatural. For example, a Japanese ranch-style front yard. They’re both great on their own, but they don’t work together.

Before:

• Planning takes time.
• Consider the style of the house when determining the type of landscape you choose.
• Start with small changes and add more along the way.

Leave him alone:

• Don’t plant monstrous trees and lush flowerbeds for a small house and vice versa; keep things on the right scale.
• Don’t exaggerate, especially not in the beginning. Let your landscape needs become visible over time.

Choose your plants wisely

Whether you want to sell your house or not, choosing plants adapted to your region will result in lower maintenance costs and/or higher property values.

Before:

• Choose native plants because they are much cheaper to maintain than non-native plants. This is because native plants are well adapted to their climate and may need less water and care. House buyers will also see added value in this.
• Choose plants that can support your soil and require little maintenance. Some plants and trees can dry out your soil and lead to soil movement and shrinkage problems that can affect the foundation of your house. Carefully check the soil humidity in your area.
• See what works and what doesn’t work in your neighbor’s garden. If something is in trouble in the garden across the street, it’s probably in your garden too.

Leave him alone:

• Don’t assume your soil is healthy. Test it before you start, it can save you time and money in the long run.
• Don’t invest in landscaping that requires a lot of maintenance, because your potential buyers may see this as an extra burden.
• Don’t pick the wrong plants. While ivy can stand nicely on the side of a house, vines while growing can damage paint, cladding and even brick, which can lead to structural integrity problems. If he reaches the roof, he could cause even more expensive damage.

Performing basic maintenance on the lawn

According to the 2018 Repair Effect Report of the National Association of Real Estate Agents and the National Association of Landscape Professionals, 267% of these lawn maintenance costs were reimbursed when standard maintenance work was carried out on a property prior to the sale.

Once a new landscape project is completed, many people forget that it takes a lot of work to make it look good, with some areas requiring more maintenance than others. Complex paths are beautiful, but they need to be carefully cut and engraved on the edges. Flowers need to be watered, pruned and covered to be luxuriant. Trees must be fertilized and cared for, otherwise they can give up and die.

Before:

• Make sure you know what maintenance is required for every aspect of your landscaping: fountains need cleaning, lighting may need to be replaced, etc.
• Follow the basic requirements for lawn care, including mowing, watering, aerating, fertilizing, weeding, etc. If you want to sell next year, a small investment in this area will greatly increase your return on investment. It’s the first thing people see when they enter your property. If you don’t want to sell, this is a great way to improve the lawn near you.
• Add a layer of quality mulch. A new mulch layer is a simple measure that can transform a landscape from a parched look to a lush one.

Leave him alone:

• Don’t just grab things that attract your attention in the garden shop, read the labels and understand the care that needs to be taken.
• Don’t neglect your garden and assume everything survives. Different seasons require different maintenance. If you z. B. If you do not water your lawn in the heat of summer, the grass can die off and force you to water it again, which is expensive and will be even more annoying to your eyes when you find out.

It’s simple.

There are small, simple changes that are always in fashion and that increase the value of the property. On the other hand, a front garden dotted with different types, sizes and styles of lawn ornaments can detract from its value. A little restraint can go a long way when it comes to facilities.

Before:

• Put the sidewalks in. The clean and simple corridors are very welcoming and offer an excellent return on investment.
• Planting flowering shrubs is an excellent addition to any landscape and is always popular with customers.
• Consider the size of your district before buying fountains or statues, especially if they are very large.
• Lighting is a great way to add style and safety to your garden.
• Think about the content and cost of this kind of additional services. Fountains and small koi ponds need care, otherwise they can quickly become a danger to the eyes. Additional lighting and/or fountains require an electrical or solar installation.

Leave him alone:

• Don’t forget that you need a constant source of water and energy for the fountains.
• Don’t forget you need an outlet for hard-wired lighting and other electrical components.
• Don’t fall into the trap of adding a little more to your landscape without wondering if it’s going to look better or if it’s going to look a little messy and unmanageable.
• Don’t invest in something cumbersome that has a subjective taste. You only want to spend money on public additions if they become a permanent part of your garden before you sell the house.

Planting trees: Adult trees increase the value, dead trees decrease the value.

It has been shown that the mere presence of mature trees in streets and yards increases the value of a house by 3 to 15%. Maintain existing trees and remove dead or dying trees. A dead tree on a site is a red flag for buyers and significantly reduces its value.

Before:

• Prune dead tree branches regularly. This not only keeps the trees healthy, but also reduces the risk of weakened branches breaking during a storm and becoming a danger to people and the surrounding property.
• Provide water, fertilizer and mulch around the base of the trees. Good tree care is an investment in the value of your home.
• Be smart about where you plant trees. When planted strategically, trees can grow to provide shade over your house, which can reduce the use of air conditioning and save you money during the hot summer months.
• Remove all dead trees on the property. A dead tree is considered problematic and dangerous because it can break or fall completely at any time and in any unpredictable direction.

Leave him alone:

• You can’t just plant trees and tall plants without thinking about what you’re doing. Roots have a tendency to wrap pipes, destroy sidewalks, and so on. Trees also drop leaves and other debris that can clog the gutters, destroy the water masses and complicate the use of swimming pools. Some trees are worse than others in this respect.
• Don’t plant trees without thinking about the size you want them to reach that specific spot. If it becomes a problem along a neighbour’s property line or poses a threat to the surrounding structure, consider planting it elsewhere.

The changes you make to the layout of your home may have a greater impact on its value than you think. Use caution and strategy when making landscape decisions, and take care of your garden to reap the benefits at the time of sale. For more information on landscape design and trends, please contact us: 35 best landscape blogs for your inspiration.