Your curb may be close to the drain, but don’t be confused: Putting money into curb appeal is in no way throwing money down the drain. Homes with better landscaping sell for a higher price — and few people would ignore the kind of value it can add to your home. Depending on where you are and how much landscaping you do, you could be talking about tens of thousands of dollars. Here are a few landscaping trends that increase the value of your home.
Sustainability
The low-maintenance, low-water and eco-friendly yard is not a myth. While a thick, green lawn is always appealing, you can always mix things up with xeriscaping elements or native plants to bring out the best in your yard. Sustainability has become a keyword in the landscaping industry. Clients want to see yards that add to the natural biodiversity of their neighborhoods. Another benefit? A yard that’s easy to keep up is a good selling point for potential buyers.
An Oasis in a Troubled World
People are staying home more to avoid spreading the COVID-19 and comply with government orders. That means comfort, style and privacy are taking on new importance. Now may be the time to put in a row of fast-growing shrubs, or build a fence to block prying eyes and dampen noise from the road or next door.
Year-Long Appeal
Landscaping for different seasons means different things in different climates. In hotter cities, a pergola, gazebo or sunshade and misters will appeal to potential buyers. In areas where temperatures get frigid, a fire pit might up the offer on your home. Planning out your flower beds to bloom all season — or even year-long means there’s no dead season, and always something interesting.
Hardscaping
A stone walkway. A rock retaining wall. A tiled patio. These are all examples of hardscaping, and they’re opportunities to bring a low-maintenance, natural touch to your landscaping. Some smaller projects can be a DIY weekend activity, but others may require professional help. Either way, hardscaping can mean thousands of dollars in ROI.
Hardscaping and those extra features like a built-in barbecue or outdoor kitchen add even more value to your home. No one wants to be stuck inside every night for dinner, even when we aren’t ordered to shelter in place. Think of it as adding another room to your home. The accessories give you one more place to entertain guests.
Go Blue
The Pantone 2020 Color of the Year is Classic Blue, which makes it a natural for landscape design. Dreamy shades of blues can lend your landscaping a calming, peaceful atmosphere. Depending on the hardiness zone of your region, you could plant blue columbines, delphiniums, blue hydrangeas, irises, bluebonnets,… well, you get the point. Blue flowers come in lots of varieties to make your yard trendy.
It’s hard to say what impact the coronavirus pandemic will have on the real estate market. But people are still buying and selling homes, and lower interest rates will soon mean more competition. With many people giving virtual tours of their homes, curb appeal is especially important. In uncertain times, having the best-looking house and yard on the block can only help.
Brianna Atkins is a writer and home designer in love with soft fabrics, hardscapes and modern touches.
I really enjoyed the landscaping article.
Thanks for sharing!