The most important question every homeowner should consider is whether a landscape renovation will pay off and boost the value of their home. Although, you may not be planning to sell your home anytime soon, redesigning your landscape can add value to your home, improve your family’s quality of life and attract future buyers. The payoff may vary as landscape return on investment is determined from neighborhood to neighborhood and regionally as well.

There is no need to go into overblown projects to recapture your investment. A good rule of thumb is no more than 10 percent of your home’s value. You want to be cautious about having your home’s landscaped property the most expensive house in the neighborhood.

However, a well-designed landscape that fits the style, size, and character of the rest of the home will enhance its overall curb appeal and value. Any good realtor will tell you that sprucing up your property is also one of the most important aspects for attracting potential buyers, now or in the future.

Increased Value

A home with an attractive and well-maintained landscape will increase your home’s value and add up to twenty percent to the overall value of your home, according to renowned home project expert Bob Vila. When you consider that your home is probably the biggest investment you own, the return on investment is something you seriously want to encourage to maximize its full potential.
 
So, with a little patience, energy, research and the right design, you can create a great first impression that will carry through to the rest of the property and pay off big-time. Surveys show that landscaping determines whether your home feels inviting and the money is well spent. Seventy-one percent of potential buyers say that curb appeal has a tremendous influence on their decision making process when choosing a house.
 
Follow these basic rules in order to get the best return on your investment:

The Basics

Landscape architecture is more than just plantings or soft-scaping. Basic landscaping can include structural features like lighting, fences, garden paths, fire pits, swimming pools, and ponds. The popular outside room and kitchen including terraces and decks are also high-yield structural or hardscaping investments.

Planning Your Landscape

Property assessment is the first step in achieving the desired goal. Hiring a qualified arborist can help distinguish between dying trees and removal or those just in need a bit of care. A certified landscape architect can also help you to determine where to place an on-grade patio, above-grade deck, a front walk, complementary plantings in the front yard and exterior lighting that are extremely desirable these days as a means to showcase the natural world at night using up-lights, down-lights, and tree-lights. They will also help you to determine what looks overgrown, what’s obscuring windows, what needs to be pruned or taken out.

Landscape Trends in Ontario

Landscape trends have changed over the years. Today’s hottest trends in landscape architecture are the outdoor room or terrace extension. The adjacent outside terrace brings views into the house using fountains, a grove of trees, or arbors and used as a continuation of the surrounding environment. The interest in landscaping and property enhancement is a natural extension of the boom in home renovation. Improvements are being made in the rear of the property.

Keep It Green

Designing your landscape is not sufficient to maintaining the value of your home. It’s important to protect your landscaping investment and keep your property looking its very best. A landscape company can help you achieve a consistently beautiful appearance by scheduling for upkeep and maintenance. If time is of the essence to you, it’s worth protecting your investment by hiring the regular services of a landscaping maintenance company, like the pros at Evergreen Landscapes.

Your Home’s Value

Landscaping your property to enhance its appearance and curb appeal will result in a substantial return on investment that will add to the overall value of your property. It’s an investment well worth making.