If you’re looking to increase the value of your home, adding a well-maintained garden is a great way to do it. Not only will your home look more inviting and beautiful, but a well-groomed garden can add up to 20% to the selling price of your house.
Does landscaping add value to your home? let’s see some tips. Upgrading the front and back yard does not necessarily have to be costly, but it’s worth it in the end. Maintenance is also essential, so keep up with the weeding, trimming, and watering.
With a little effort, you can create a fantastic garden that will beautify your home and increase its value.
1. The benefits of gardening
Low cost, high returns – these are two phrases you don’t often hear together. But when it comes to gardening, they go hand-in-hand. Adding a garden to your home is a wise choice if you’re looking for a low-cost investment with great returns.
According to experts, adding a well-maintained garden can increase your home’s selling price by up to 20%. And in today’s competitive real estate market, any advantage you can give yourself is worth its weight in gold.
A garden can still be a great addition, even if you’re not planning on selling your home anytime soon. It provides a place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And according to recent studies, gardening can also help reduce stress and improve your mental health.
Curb appeal is essential to enhance your home’s landscape to attract potential buyers. Nevertheless, you don’t need to spend a fortune upgrading your garden. So if you’re looking for a low-cost way to increase the value of your home, adding a garden is the way to go.
2. The cost of gardening
Landscaping costs depend on the size of the house garden. The average prices are about $300 to $800 for small maintenance tasks and from $2,000 to $4,000 for large projects such as sod or sprinkler installation. Homeowners may spend $3,000 to $15,950 for new landscaping installations for their homes.
Does landscaping add value to your home? If your budget is tied and materially, you don’t have room for extra spending; there are thousands of ideas that don’t require a lot of money.
- Make your front walk more welcoming. Work with what you already have. If you have a concrete walkway and step doors, the first thing you need to do is clean their surface using simple tools such as a broom, scrub brush, bucket, soap, and water, but if you want to go the extra mile, rent a water pressure machine, and your walkway will look fantastic quickly. If the concrete’s natural color looks good, let it be like that. If not, paint it with a neutral color.
- Add a little color to your front door. Clean the door and frame to discover any cracks. If the door is in good shape, hang a seasonal wreath or one with vivid colors that pop.
- Perennials Plants and Grass. Plants that grow in all seasons are the perfect alternatives to beautify the garden and save money. There are three categories of plants mainly; full sun, shade, and the ones in between. These plants are easy to grow and don’t need special equipment. In your existing grass, you need to spray seeds and add water. Take time to water and do plant and grass maintenance.
Regardless of the season, specific plants will thrive in those unique conditions. A lovely garden that adds value to your house needs more creativity than money, but the result will significantly increase the property’s price.
3. Designing your garden for maximum effect
The best gardens are those that make people happy. An ideal garden is the most relaxing, easy to move through, and not too hard to maintain. When designing a landscape, homeowners must consider the size, budget, and location.
Designing a garden in New York or California is not the same thing. Plants, seeds and watering should be according to your house’s area.
Your garden’s design has to consider the sunlight, so you may choose to plant a tree. Install planters around your home; Plant perennial plants such as rosemary marking the limits of your property and two or three orange or lemon bushes.
The cost of a landscape design can vary depending on the size and complexity of the project, as well as its location. Generally speaking, professional landscapers charge an average of $50 to $200 per hour. Therefore, the design price will be higher if your project involves multiple elements, such as a patio, pergola, or pool.
Some projects don’t need a permit from your city, but bigger ones, including constructions and swimming pools, require approval from your city’s planning department.
Whether your project is small or large, it always translates into an increase in your house value. However, you can save on landscape design costs by keeping the project simple; adding a few plants to your front yard or landscaping a small area in your backyard is much less expensive than hiring a designer for a large, complex project.
Get quotes from several different designers before making a decision. Ask about discounts; many designers offer discounts for seniors or the military.
Do it yourself is another option. If you have some DIY skills, you can save money by doing some gardening work. Online you can find templates and ideas.
4. A Gazebo, Lights, And A Fountain
Does landscaping add value to your home?
Gazebos look incredibly attractive when the lights are on at dusk, and it’s time for them to be the night stars in the garden. A well-lit gazebo also works as a structural focal point at night. The open, freestanding structure is ideal for outdoor lighting ideas, mainly if it features a vaulted ceiling supported by pillars or columns; this creates opportunities for a mix of gazebo lighting ideas.
If you plan to build a gazebo, costs can range from $5,000 to $12,000, but you can also have a comfortable gazebo at stores like Costco, Home Depot, and other patio specialty stores for less, like $350 to $2,000.
If lights will be installed on an exposed wall or along a landscaped path, where it will be exposed to rain and the elements, make sure they are rated for wet locations. These lamps are sealed and insulated to prevent water from entering their interior, protecting their internal and electrical components.
Some lighting systems are marine grade rated, meaning they are approved for wet locations but are also strong enough to withstand the excess moisture and salt exposure of coastal conditions.
A gazebo is not complete without a powerful fan. A good quality fan will not only add to the aesthetic value of your gazebo, but it will also make it more functional. In hot weather, a fan can help to circulate the air and keep you cool. In cold weather, it can help to distribute heat and prevent condensation.
Even in moderate weather, a fan can help to create a pleasant breeze. If you are planning on spending a significant amount of time in your gazebo, then a fan is an essential piece of equipment. Not only will it make your gazebo more comfortable, but it will also increase its resale value. So if you are thinking of adding a gazebo to your garden include a fan in your plans.
In the market, there are ceiling fans from $50s to thousands; but to add elegance and value to your home, you don’t need to spend thousands on a fan. With the option available and a little search, you will find the style that goes perfectly with your gazebo and the house design.
Save money by adding a water fountain to your garden. The sound of running water is relaxing and can be used to read, listen to music, or meditate. In your front yard, it is a welcoming symbol. Water means knowledge and peace. A small or large water fountain adds beauty to your garden and dollars to your house.
By adding a fountain, you are increasing the appeal and value of your property. Make sure to carefully select the correct type of fountain for your garden or space. Consider the climate, sun exposure, symbolism, noise level, and required upkeep when deciding. With so many options available, there will surely be a perfect fountain for everyone!
A fountain installed in your backyard or front door gives off a soothing atmosphere and saves money on your electric bill. Today’s fountains systems are designed to minimize energy consumption.
The market offers several options for solar energy-powered fountains. There are more benefits than inconveniences, and they are low maintenance.
5. keeping your garden looking great all year round
Spending time in the garden is a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors, but it can be challenging to keep your garden looking its best all year long. There are rough and thorny plants that can beat all kinds of weather. Also, it is a common misconception in landscaping that it is necessary to sacrifice aesthetics for strength. Fortunately, a few simple tips can help you keep your garden looking great no matter the season.
First, explore features of the climate prevalent in your planting zone; make sure to choose plants that are suitable for your environment; this will ensure that your plants can withstand whatever weather conditions come their way.
Second, create a planting schedule that takes into account the changing seasons. This will help you ensure that your plants get the nutrients they need at the right time of year.
Finally, don’t be afraid to get creative with your landscaping. Use evergreens and other ornamental plants to add interest to your garden during the winter. By following these simple tips, you can maintain a beautiful garden that you can enjoy all year round.
Succulents
Succulents are one of the trendiest houseplants due to their beautiful exterior and low maintenance requirements. Succulents purify the air and have healing properties. They are used to treat medical problems like cuts, burns, stomachaches, and more. Some of the most used succulents are agave, aloe vera, and stone crops.
Other plants that grow in any climate are bee balm, penstemon, geranium, sedum, yarrow, and coneflower. You don’t need to spend much of your time and money to have a beautiful, functional, affordable garden. You will find in the market succulents from $2,99 and all-season plants from $3,99. The cost of adding plants to your front and back yard depends on their size, but an average home should not spend more than $500, including labor.
Retaining Wall And Pave Ways
Does landscaping add value to your home?
Other fixtures that add beauty and value to your home are building garden retaining walls and pave ways. Retaining walls can be an eye-catching feature to create height and visual interest in flat gardens. They sit alongside a higher level of the ground holding the soil on one side to create a lower floor level on the other. Constructing retaining walls in your garden separates your plants by size, color, and seasonal blooming plants.
Dry stone, brick, flint, treated lumber, corrugated metal, and galvanized steel, among others, are easy to find anywhere and at a low cost. Pave paths make your front yard cozy, clean and well-organized.
You don’t need to be an experienced landscape designer to build a beautiful garden and front yard that add harmony, peace, and value to your house. With a few bucks and a lot of imagination in a short time, you will have a relaxing and welcoming space inside your home perimeter.
On the other hand, if you can afford gardening changes by hiring a professional landscaper, you will see your ideas reflected in the home spot family and friends want to gather.
Your home will increase its value by combining pave ways, retaining walls, plants, lights, a gazebo, and a fan. It doesn’t matter if you spend a few hundred dollars or some thousand improving your garden and curb appeal. The money used to cover the costs is an inversion that will produce dividends in the short and long run.
The house value can increase from 8 to 20%, depending on the size of the garden improvement; this means that the median will be 14% on average. Say this, an average price of $400,000 will gain about $56,000 after garden improvements.
If you, as a homeowner, spent $ 15,000 fixing and upgrading your garden, these numbers indicate that your property can be sold by $41,000 ($56,000 – $15,000) more if you want to sell it. Not too bad!
Do your best in your garden and add value to your home. You don’t need to spend thousands to increase your house value.