If you’re selling your house, it’s what’s outside that count. Prospective buyers can’t immediately see what’s inside, but one thing they will notice right away is your landscape. That same landscape can ultimately spark a buyer’s interest or send them running in the opposite direction. The good news is that many landscape renovations are affordable and far from impossible. Not only will they enhance your selling opportunities, but they can also provide a significant investment return. 

 As your property value increases, so does the return on your renovation investments.   For landscape renovations, payback values can range between 25% and 75% of the original cost. Let’s say that you spend $2,000 on a renovation that carries a 60% payback value. Initially, this means that you’ve added $1,200 to your property value, but if the overall home value increases by 80%, that $1,200 is multiplied by 1.8 (the existing value of your home plus the 80% increase), and the renovation is then worth a profitable $2,160. That said, don’t rush out to start renovating without first being informed.

 Landscape renovations offer “curb appeal,” but in the current market, your neighborhood and the quality of the renovations are some of the most important factors at play. Make sure that with any renovation, you are thinking as a seller, because your taste might not reflect someone else’s, and one bad choice could harm your investment. If you’re stuck, an appraiser can assess your home’s current value and share some ideas for improvement. Even though the market changes constantly and so do all of the numbers, a good landscape renovation will still help you sell.

 Let’s talk about some specifics, including the following recipes for success:

 Deck Your $5,000 minimum investment = 50% to 75% payback

 Adding a new deck is one of the most lucrative expansions that you can make to increase your property value. A deck means added possibilities like outdoor kitchens, barbecues  fireplaces, and dining areas. If you are keen to build it yourself, you can benefit from a lower cost, provided that you can do a good job.

 If you’re going to go through with it, the biggest issue for your deck isn’t the price. It will be the maintenance, which depends on your choice of material. Wood looks nice, but it wears out relatively quickly, so the more durable hardwood and plastic wood composites are becoming increasingly popular. These alternatives bring the maintenance level down, but the costs go up.

 With a deck, concerns about safety often make sellers a bit anxious about building one themselves. A contractor will charge significantly more, and any extras like rails, chairs or arbors will add to the bottom line. Even so, if your deck has the right mix of quality and cost, it’s worth having.

 New sod $200 to $600 minimum = 25% to 50% payback

  A nice lawn says a lot about the inside of your house. If your lawn isn’t well maintained, people will make the same assumption about the house. So, why not buy a new lawn? If you’re ready to maintain it, sod is your best choice.

If you want to do your own installation, check that the ground is level and buy the sod wholesale to save money. Be careful, because a bad sod installation can cause you a lot of grief in repair and costly replacement fees. Those fees can be avoided with a pricier professional installation, and since sod lawn maintenance is inexpensive, a hassle-free installation is often the way to go. 

If you want to go further than sod, add a garden. If you’re purchasing garden tools anyways, then you just need to decide on the flora that will best complement your surroundings. Rock gardens can be an inexpensive choice, while a garden arbor can add character to your garden.

Garage $3,000 to $4,000 minimum = 50% to 75% payback

 As long as there is a suitable driveway, a new garage can make for an excellent addition. Especially beneficial in urban areas, you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck from a garage in cities where traffic, parking and bad weather are common concerns.

From a seller’s perspective, it’s vital that your garage be built for expansion and that it can accommodate at least two cars. A garage is multifunctional, as it can also be used as a storage shed, which is an attractive proposition for many buyers. Because of the various construction possibilities, you may prefer to hand off a project this big to a contractor, although the cost will certainly increase as a result. 

 Planning is everything, and there will be questions of electricity, windows and ventilation to answer. You’ll also need to purchase a permit before construction begins, as they’re required for new garages in most areas. When all is said and done, the high investment will most likely provide a sizable return.

 Fence  $2,500 to $3,000 minimum = 25% to 50% payback

 If you’re not fenced in, you probably should be. Unless you’re going all-out for a picket or chain-link fence, the financial rewards will far outweigh the risks. 

If you have plants and shrubbery, you may have to move them, but the fence will bring your greenery together, providing a common link for all of the elements in your landscape. The amount of vegetation will also determine the amount of ventilation that your fence will need. Whether you’re selling soon or not, a fence will benefit everyone in the house. It’s a safe enclosure for pets and children, and it will also draw more attention to your house.

Speaking of safety, you may want to discuss the construction of your fence with your neighbors. Since it will border on their property, you can start by working out height and ventilation details for the fence. If that goes well, you can ask your neighbors to cover some costs, which will improve your profit margin even further.

 Trees and shrubbery $1,000 minimum = 25% to 50% payback

If you don’t have any trees or shrubbery in your landscape, you’re doing a disservice to both your property value and your environment. 

Trees will increase your property value as soon as you plant them and they will continue to add value as long as you take care of them properly. An improvement in air quality is a great benefit, too. When combined with shrubbery, trees will reduce noise, provide a view from inside and across the street, and will add an unbeatable aesthetic quality to your property.

The appeal of trees and shrubbery only works when you know how to keep them healthy. If you’re starting from scratch, take the weather and wind patterns into account when arranging them. Check regularly for diseases and pests as the trees develop, and prune away any infected branches (or dangerous ones, for that matter). If they aren’t up to par, consider all of your options, including removal. Be prepared to pay for it though.

 Water features $500 minimum = 25% to 50% payback

 Given their popularity, swimming pools might seem like the ideal water renovation, but in fact, they can scare many buyers away. The biggest reason is due to safety concerns for families with young children. Safety doesn’t bode well on investment returns, so with an average payback of only 10% to 40%, you’re better off with the more lucrative options of ponds and water fountains.

For starters, these two water features attract wildlife, which is usually a pleasant sight for new buyers. The sound of flowing water also adds tranquility to the landscape, so it’s no wonder that more and more people are buying them up. Pricing is based primarily on size, with ponds being significantly cheaper than fountains. If you want both, they can be combined for the right price (some combos go for $6,000). 

Pond prices are right for a lot of people, and unlike fountains, they are usually installed without any assistance. If you are setting up your own pond, be prepared for some physical work, as it will require some manipulation of grass and rocks. That aside, a small pond comes with fewer safety risks than those associated with pools and it is a cost-effective approach for sellers who want to give some water back to their landscape.

 Think “curb appeal” and start outside ….

Landscape renovations are just one way to improve the chances of selling at the right price, but they’re more important than we might think. Sellers never get a second chance to make a first impression. Because of that, it’s quite conceivable that all the interior upgrades in the world are for naught if the trees are sick, the lawn is discolored, and your house is the only one on the block without a fence. Just like any other home improvement, landscape renovations will require an investment of time and money, but because of their potential for financial return and added “curb appeal,” don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.

(Great article found at www.Askmen.com/Investing) by: Ken Hunter

http://activerain.com/blogsview/3263726/landscaping-to-improve-your-home-s-value-

 

According to Money magazine (May 2003), spending on landscape design and installation offers the best return on investment of any home improvement you can make. Many savvy homeowners are hiring landscape architects to help them realize their dreams. Here are some tips to help you make an educated choice:

  • Think about what you want and how you will use your landscape. Formal entertaining, herb gardens, and children’s playgrounds are all possibilities. Don’t limit yourself to plants and trees; maybe you would like a fence, a fountain, a deck, a patio, or other outdoor element.
 
  • Make a realistic budget. One rule of thumb is to invest 5 to 10 percent of your house’s worth. If this seems steep, consider that appropriate landscape improvements are estimated to return 100 to 200 percent of their cost when a house is sold. 

 

  • Look at books and magazines for ideas and start a file of plants, trees, gardens, yards, pools, patios, decks, fences, etc., that you like–or dislike–to show your landscape architect. This will help you communicate what you want to achieve—or avoid.
 
  •  Credentials are important. Landscape architects are licensed to practice in 47 states and must pass a rigorous exam.

 

  • Interview a few landscape architects and ask for references. A good designer will walk around the home and ask a lot of questions about your lifestyle, what you want to accomplish, and your budget. They will not hesitate to provide references for you to call or to answer questions you may have about their services and fees.
 
 

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  • Ask about maintenance. Some homeowners enjoy working in their yards and gardens, some hire a service to do it, and others don’t want to bother with it at all. Be sure to let your landscape architect know how you feel about the upkeep of your investment.

http://www.asla.org/nonmembers/publicrelations/homeowners_guide.htm