Musings from You and Me

Landscaping Can Add 15% to Property Values

I was at the Doctor's Office the other day, and while waiting perused an old magazine "Smart Money", March 2003 edition. The article was titled "Add 15% to Your Home's Value". You know I was hooked! It went on to say "one of your greatest assets may be your own backyard literally. As the housing market turns softer, Americans are realizing that one of the best ways to increase a home's resale value is to revamp the landscape. Their formula was landscaping + property = added value."

Some interesting statistics:
1. Consumers value a landscaped home up to 11.3% higher than its base price, according to a Clemson university and University of Michigan study.

2. A Society of Real Estate Appraisers Survey revealed that 95% of the appraisers responding to the survey, believed that landscaping adds to the dollar value of the residential real estate, and 99% of them said that it enhanced the sales appeal of the property.

3. A variety of studies reveal that landscaping can increasethe value of residential and commercial properties from 5% to as much as 20%.

4. Homes with excellent landscaping can expect a sale price about 6 to 7 percent higher than equivalent houses with good landscaping, while improving landscaping from average to good can result in a 4 to 5 percent increase. Source: Clemson University.

It is interesting that in 2006 this article still truly hit the mark.I have several excellent landscapers whose work is displayed in both residential and commercial properties. Call me for a free recommendation.

posted by FineVirginiaLiving.com @ 6:50 PM