First impressions are everything! And your home’s impression and value doesn’t start at the front door, it starts right at the sidewalk. Your landscape is a vital component to make your home stand out.
Whether you’re thinking of selling or just want to upgrade your home’s appearance, your landscape should be carefully planned to enhance curb appeal. This can add ten to fifteen percent to your home’s property value – a huge return on your investment!
Learn how to increase your home value. Here are five ways landscape design increases home value.
1. Match Your Landscape to Your Architecture
The best way to increase your home’s overall value is to have a landscape design and house that complement one another.
A mismatched or disjointed home inside or out will instantly decrease the value of your home. In other words, a Mediterranean garden with gravel paths doesn’t enrich the look of a Provencal style home. Similarly, scale matters. A two-story home should have taller plants or trees incorporated in the overall design.
Cohesiveness and scale lead to a more polished and professional looking home, so it also helps to be strategic in your overall landscaping design rather than a piecemeal approach. Hiring a professional landscape designer will help you creating a vision or plan for your yard that will enhance the flow and help keep your home’s aesthetic pleasing to the eye. This plan can be implemented in stages.
2. Consider Year-Round Landscaping
Another key to strategic landscaping is to contemplate your yard’s appearance year-round. That’s right, even in the middle of our harsh Minnesota winters, you can have a stunning yard. Things to consider include:
- What plants provide pops of color in the stark months? Native Minnesota plants provide bird food year round. Learn more about Planting Year Round for Birds.
- What lighting will highlight your plants in the summer and illuminate your pathways in the shorter daylight days of winter?
- What lawn care maintenance should be done in the fall to ensure a vibrant green yard in the spring and summer?
For example, evergreens, like boxwood, can be used for ground cover or hedges and are attractive year-round. Azaleas are gorgeous when in bloom, but equally attractive when dormant. Also, landscape lighting is a huge asset for year-round landscaping and really sets your home apart.
3. Plant a Tree
In a recent realty study, it was found that trees help homes sell 10%–15% more than asking price!
Why plant a tree?
- Trees add vertical dimension to your landscaping which helps with balance and scale.
- They provide shade and privacy to your yard.
- They create a calm and relaxing atmosphere making your home a peaceful haven.
- They’re environmentally friendly by helping reduce pollution and carbon dioxide.
If planted correctly, trees can help reduce your energy bills by providing shade. Another planting tip – keep in mind your chosen tree’s mature height and root structure. In other words, don’t plant a tree too close to your home that may damage your foundation.
4. Sprinkler Irrigation Simplifies Maintenance
A lush green yard that is free of weeds instantly boost your home’s value. A lawn sprinkler system takes the guess work out of when, where and how much to water your yard and keep your grass and plants healthy. A properly watered, thick lawn also prevents weeds from taking over in any potential open spots.
Overall, installing an irrigation system keeps your yard looking great and protects your landscaping investment. On the plus side, irrigations systems decrease water waste which reflects on your water bill!
5. Expand Your Living Space with a Well-Designed Deck or Patio
Landscape design should enhance the homeowner’s experience. This means the usability and hardscape is just as important as the aesthetic look. For example, lighting up your pathways and creating a flow is visually pleasing and bring safety to the overall design.
Outdoor living spaces or outdoor kitchens are one of the hottest trends in home improvement. Transforming the concrete pad in your yard to a tastefully designed space with tile or stone creates a functional place for the family or a hub for entertaining. It also increases the usable square footage of your house. Read our tips on creating amazing Outdoor Living Spaces.
Landscaping has the highest return on investment for your home. If you want to do it properly, hire a professional. We can give you a strategic plan that will enhance your landscape, extend your living space, and increase your home’s value. Contact us today!
