April 12th

By Mutt Mulligan

How living landscapes add value to your property

Outdoor spaces are increasingly becoming an extension of the home. A recent study conducted by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) indicates the majority of Americans (nine out of 10) say it’s important to have a landscape at their home. According to study results, the majority of Americans have a yard comprised of grass (86%), trees/bushes/shrubs (80%), pavers/cement/bricks/patio (51%) and landscaping rocks/gravel.

Whether you are getting ready to sell your home or just want to be reminded about the value of your spring landscape projects, here are the top four ways family yards and other living landscapes add value to a property and extend the usefulness of your home.

Living Landscapes Benefit Lifestyle & Property Values

Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is an important factor in determining overall property value. Studies show that improving overall curb appeal, which includes a beautiful lawn and landscape, can boost property values by as much as 17% (source: Texas Tech University).

Trees are Tops
The value of trees goes beyond perception and preference and right into your pocketbook. According to the International Society of Arboriculture, each front yard tree adds 1% to a homeowner’s sale price, while large specimen trees can add as much as 10% to property values.

Saving Green with Green
Living landscapes impact monthly electric bills. According to the Urban Forest Coalition, 100 million mature trees around U.S. residences save approximately $2 billion annually in energy costs. In fact, strategically placed trees can save up to 56% on annual air conditioning bills. In the wintertime, evergreens that block winter winds can save 3% on heating costs (source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service). Cumulatively, eight average-sized front lawns can provide the cooling equivalent to air-conditioning for 18 homes (source: Alliance for Water Efficiency).

Expanding Living Space
During warmer months, yards become outdoor family rooms and are increasingly important to families who want a safe, inviting place for their kids and pets to play. Merging indoor and outdoor environments to increase living space is trending, making outdoor living space important for home buyers.

Health Benefits of the Family Yard
Curb appeal is just one way that living landscapes are beyond beautiful. A systematic research review concluded that knowing and experiencing nature – which starts in our own backyards – makes people generally happier and healthier. Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces (American Journal of Public Health) and kids with more exposure to the outdoors perform better on cognitive testing (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). People moving to greener areas experienced an immediate improvement in mental health that was sustained for at least three years (Science Daily).

“Green Homes” & Living Landscapes
Living landscapes also provide environmental benefits – important for the growing number of buyers (56% according to NAR’s REALTORS® & Sustainability study) who are looking for “green” homes. Family yards, trees and landscaping features filter and capture runoff, reduce heat island effects, improve air quality, sequester carbon dioxide, control soil erosion and support biodiversity.

ROI for a Useful Outdoor Living Area

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2018 Remodeling Impact: Outdoor Features study, any cost to enhance outdoor living is well worth it.

• An overall landscape upgrade (installing flowering shrubs and trees and mulching with landscaping bark) will recover 83% of the project cost.
• Standard lawn care service will recover 267% of its cost.
• Tree care, including trimming and pruning, will result in 100% value recovered from the project.
• For adding a wood deck, sellers can expect to recoup 80% of the project cost while a new patio offers a 69% return.

For more information, visit www.SaveLivingLandscapes.com.