Landscape Design and House Value
Landscape Design
What does grass, flowers, rocks and stones have to do with the value of a house? There is much more to property value than the number of bedrooms and baths in a house. The landscape should be designed to make the house more attractive. The right landscape design can either attract more buyers or push them away.
Picture this: A gorgeously preserved lawn leading into an expansive garden, grass the perfect shade of emerald, gorgeous flowers perfectly grouped, a small rock garden with Spanish moss caressing each stone, and a gorgeous stone path winding up to the brick steps.
Now picture this: Patchy green and brown grass leading into a big plot of land, limp and lifeless flowers lined along the border, a half hearted attempt at a rock garden, and some flat stones made into a walkway from the garage to the front steps of the house.
What would you pay for either of these houses? $200,000? $300,000? What about $400,000? Let’s say the seller is asking for $359,000. The price is well within your budget. The house is exactly what you are looking for. There is only one thing stopping you from making an offer: the appearance.
The house with the beautiful landscaping is listed and has 8 offers the first week. The seller realizes they have a hot commodity and up the asking price to $369,000. They still have 7 offers after the increase. The seller increases again to $383,000 and still has 4 offers. Eventually the house is sold at $389,000. The seller walks away with a $30,000 profit.
That same week the house with the poor landscaping is listed. The first week there are 6 offers, but nothing comes of them. Next there are 2 more offers, but both are below the asking price. The seller refuses to lower the asking price. Eventually someone purchases the house at $370,000. The seller walks away with $11,000 in profit.
The houses described are the exact same property. Again, the difference is the landscaping. Any salesperson can tell you that presentation is everything. In the case of these houses, the landscaping makes the house more appealing and inviting. A small cosmetic investment can turn into a huge profit margin.
When considering landscape designs make sure to see it as an extension of the house. Just as you would pick out a shirt or shoes to match an outfit, your landscape design should enhance the look and value of the house to potential buyers. Be sure the landscape design shows the buyer they are not looking for a house, but rather they are looking for a home.
Picture this: A gorgeously preserved lawn leading into an expansive garden, grass the perfect shade of emerald, gorgeous flowers perfectly grouped, a small rock garden with Spanish moss caressing each stone, and a gorgeous stone path winding up to the brick steps.
Now picture this: Patchy green and brown grass leading into a big plot of land, limp and lifeless flowers lined along the border, a half hearted attempt at a rock garden, and some flat stones made into a walkway from the garage to the front steps of the house.
What would you pay for either of these houses? $200,000? $300,000? What about $400,000? Let’s say the seller is asking for $359,000. The price is well within your budget. The house is exactly what you are looking for. There is only one thing stopping you from making an offer: the appearance.
The house with the beautiful landscaping is listed and has 8 offers the first week. The seller realizes they have a hot commodity and up the asking price to $369,000. They still have 7 offers after the increase. The seller increases again to $383,000 and still has 4 offers. Eventually the house is sold at $389,000. The seller walks away with a $30,000 profit.
That same week the house with the poor landscaping is listed. The first week there are 6 offers, but nothing comes of them. Next there are 2 more offers, but both are below the asking price. The seller refuses to lower the asking price. Eventually someone purchases the house at $370,000. The seller walks away with $11,000 in profit.
The houses described are the exact same property. Again, the difference is the landscaping. Any salesperson can tell you that presentation is everything. In the case of these houses, the landscaping makes the house more appealing and inviting. A small cosmetic investment can turn into a huge profit margin.
When considering landscape designs make sure to see it as an extension of the house. Just as you would pick out a shirt or shoes to match an outfit, your landscape design should enhance the look and value of the house to potential buyers. Be sure the landscape design shows the buyer they are not looking for a house, but rather they are looking for a home.