Well-groomed yards create greater curb appeal but new research now shows that a home with upgraded landscaping, from average to excellent, can increase the home's overall value by as much as 12 percent, according to a study by Virginia Tech.
At the top of the list for excellent landscaping are: design sophistication, size of plants, and the diversity of plant material type.
What makes the home's yard more appealing? Color and large plants that are well maintained. The research found that a home with no landscaping could see an increase in value by $8,300 to $19,000 on a $150,000 home that has upgraded its landscaping.
"The most preferred landscape included a sophisticated design with large deciduous, evergreen, and annual color plants and colored hardscape," said researcher, Alex X. Niemiera of the Department of Horticulture with Virginia Tech.
Creating diversity by using various sizes of plants in the front yard and including fruit trees, and colorful flowers, boosts the curb appeal and the home's value.
Of course, how well the home is maintained is most vital. Buyers aren't typically interested in purchasing a well-maintained yard with a shabby home that's desperately in need of repairs. Yes, the landscape matters but the house had better be in great shape, too.
Here are a few things you should consider when it comes to keeping your landscape and home well-groomed.
Check the landscape for dead plants, shrubs, trees. Dead foliage is unappealing. Clear it out and in its place add some colorful plants in varying sizes to attract attention. Make sure your lawn is well-manicured. If you have brown spots in your yard, there are even non-toxic sprays (lawn paint) that commercial building owners have been using for decades and now can be used on residential lawns. Don't leave clippings and piles of dirt around the yard. Clean it up and haul it away.
Get rid of rusty, broken furniture. Outdoor patio furniture that's rusted and worn out is an eyesore. Give it away or throw it out. Even if you don't buy other furniture to go in its place, having empty space by removing the old, rusty, broken pieces is better. If you can simply paint it and revitalize the furniture, go for it.
Power-wash and/or paint the exterior. Homes that have been power-washed before being listed on the market have a glow. It's not the same as a new shiny coat of paint but it can sure spiffy up the exterior of your home. It's terrible when there is caked dirt on the garage door from the last storm or the windows are so filthy that you can hardly see out of them. That's unattractive to buyers and a sign that the home isn't well-maintained.
Fix loose steps, wobbly fences, or lifting deck boards. If you have fences that need reinforcement, fix them so that they are secure and stand strong. Secure loose steps or deck boards that are lifting; don't wait until a buyer trips and gets injured. Not only are these repairs necessary to make the property more safe but they are also ways to increase the landscape's appeal.
Just doing some routine checks around your yard will show you which areas need a little maintenance. Handling the repairs as they come up is much easier than letting the yard fall apart and then trying to rush and put it back together in time to list it for sale. So, start now and get things done, little by little.
Reposted: http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/sellersadvice1/item/31196-20141018-well-groomed-landscape-may-increase-homes-value
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