Whether your goal is to sell your home or just give your lawn a facelift, landscaping upgrades offer affordable ways to increase the value of your home. Since the temperatures are increasing, there is no better time to make the investment in your landscape.
The key to increasing your home’s value is selecting the right landscaping feature. The following landscaping upgrades are sure to increase the value of your home.
Privacy Fence
A fence that is constructed from quality material adds to the allure of your home. This landscape feature makes your yard private and secure.
If you are thinking about selling your home, fences are attractive features for parents of small children and pet owners. By adding a well-constructed fence to your landscape, you can expect to get a 100 percent return on your investment when you resell it.
Trees
Living in a home with strong and healthy trees provides many benefits. Trees provide shade and keep your home cool during the sultry days of summer. Healthy trees are good for the environment because they reduce smog and produce oxygen.
On average, homes in a neighborhood that has plenty of trees sell for 15 percent more than homes in neighborhoods with fewer trees. The most attractive types of trees that add value include weeping willow, dogwood, oak and palm trees.
After your trees are planted, you must take care of them. To keep your trees in good shape, you must prune them and remove damaged limbs. Unhealthy trees can make your property look shabby.
Landscape Lighting
Installing lights on your landscape is an affordable way to add to its ambiance without much effort. There are plenty of lighting options that can highlight the features of your trees, home, driveway and pool.
Be sure to purchase lighting features that you can easily replace. A landscape that has missing lights can make your home look unattractive and eerie at night.
Porches, Patios and Decks
Outdoor entertainment spaces are a must-have feature for modern home buyers. Whether you install a small patio or an outdoor kitchen, your landscape should feature a space that is ideal for recreation and family fun. A recent report by Smart Money revealed that a patio can increase your home’s value by as much as 12 percent.
Gravel and Rocks
Lush grass may have been an attractive feature for home buyers 30 years ago, but times have changed. Large yards with acres of grass require a major time commitment.
Many homeowners have opted to replace a portion of their grass with pea gravel. Not only does this feature add visual interest to your landscape, but it keeps you from spending your entire weekend on lawn maintenance.
Curb appeal matters. Your landscape is the first thing that people notice when they approach your home.
One of the good things about investing in your home’s landscape is you do not have to take out an online loan to pay for it. There are plenty of ways to upgrade your landscape and add value to your home – without breaking the bank.
