Landscaping Ideas to Increase Property Value
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When you own a home, every little thing you do to it should serve as a way to increase its value. There are a lot of things you can do inside to help boost your property value, but never stop at the walls. Your landscape design in both the front and the backyard can have a huge impact on your home’s value. The front yard is the basis of your curb appeal while backyards are a huge factor when it comes to attracting families.
These days, people are looking for creativity along with functionality when it comes to landscape design, so sign in to your Pinterest account to get ideas before you break out your gardening gloves. Planning and working with your home’s natural features will result in a landscaped design that adds to your overall property value.
Plant More Trees
Trees do so much more than absorb carbon monoxide and release oxygen. Planting plenty of trees around your home provides shade that can help reduce your power bill and your impact on the environment. Estimates show that well-placed landscaping can reducing cooling costs by up to 50 percent and reducing the need for heating anywhere from 20 to 50 percent. Add it all up and you’ll find that the right foliage increases your overall property value.
Notice we mention that the trees need to be “well-placed.” Simply planting trees haphazardly around the property isn’t going to reduce your utility bills and even puts your home’s foundation at risk. Consult a professional landscape designer about your home’s needs to get the best advice on how to proceed. According to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, a mature tree can add from $1,000 to $10,000 to the value of your home -- certainly worth the price of a consultation, in our opinion.
Invest in Eco-Friendly Options
According to Realtor.com, American home buyers are looking for eco-conscious options when it comes to shopping for a new abode. Not only is it the responsible thing to do, a house with green features saves homeowners money in the future when it comes to utility costs. Beyond investing in Energy Star appliances and solar panels, take measures to ensure your yard is more earth friendly as well.
Get rid of your lawn. Lawns are outdated and they take a massive amount of water, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer to maintain. Eliminate your turf in favor of ornamental grasses, plants and shrubs that can fill in the bulk of your landscape.
Plant a rain garden below your gutter spout to filter chemicals and waste runoff and prevent them from from seeping into your neighborhood’s water system. Rain gardens also absorb excess precipitation that can lead to flood damage along your foundation, so it’s a win-win.
Landscape with native plants to help support local wildlife. There’s nothing cuter than a garden buzzing with birds and bees -- it’s certainly an attractive sight if you put your home on the market. Plus, native plants thrive in your natural ecosystem, so they require less maintenance and no harmful herbicides or fertilizer.
Use drip irrigation to water flower beds and vegetable patches. Drip irrigation helps save water by slowly distributing it close to the plant’s roots so it is absorbed fully without risking evaporation.
Build an Outdoor Living Space
Incorporating an outdoor living area into your landscape plans is a great way to make the most of the space you have. Your backyard can be a new family room for everyone to enjoy and the area minimizes the amount of watering and uptake your yard needs overall. Plus, it’s an extra feature you can highlight if you ever put your home on the market. Get creative with your design ideas by including features including a canopy, chaise lounges, fountains, a sound system and party lighting.
Your home improvement projects should always contribute to the overall value of the house. While things such as bathroom and kitchen updates matter, don’t limit your scope to the indoors. Your landscaping has the power to add tens of thousands of dollars to your home’s value if you do it right.
Article provided by Ray Flynn from DIYGuys.net.
