Landscaping Boosts Home Values Up to 12 Percent

Research from Alex Niemiera of Virginia Tech’s Department of Horticulture indicates that upgrading from average to excellent landscaping can increase a home’s overall value by 10 to 12 percent. The study found that adding a colorful landscape and large plants added $8,300 to $19,000 to the value of a $150,000 home with no landscaping. There were state-to-state variations in how much value landscaping added, ranging from 5.5 percent in Louisiana to 11.4 percent in South Carolina and 12.7 percent in Michigan. “The most preferred landscape included a sophisticated design with large deciduous, evergreen, and annual color plants and colored hardscape,” says Niemiera. “Design sophistication and plant size were the landscape factors that most affected value. The resulting increase in ‘curb appeal’ of the property may also help differentiate a home in a subdivision where house styles are similar and thereby attract potential buyers into a home.” | Read More