Real estate agents surveyed by Trees.com found that 79% of real estate agents agreed that poor landscaping and hardscaping negatively affect property values. Of those agents, 59% said trees are the landscaping element that adds the most value to a home.
Adding one healthy tree can increase property values by 30% or more, according to 1 in 5 real estate agents surveyed by Trees.com.
When it comes time to sell your home, there are a few things you can do to make sure your property is as attractive as possible:
There’s no question that landscaping elements like trees, grass, and flowers add a lot of visual appeal to a home, but just how much does their absence affect what a home is worth?
Real estate agents have differing opinions about how much a home's value decreases when it lacks an appealing landscape. Twenty-four percent say the value decreases by 10%, while 22% estimate it decreases by 20%. Eighteen percent predict that the value drops by 30% or more if there are no appealing landscaping elements present.
Hardscaping, which refers to all of the nonliving aspects of an outdoor design—structural or decorative elements—is also important. Forty percent of real estate agents say poor hardscaping negatively impacts the value of homes; 38% feel it has a somewhat negative impact. The remaining 12% feel that hardscaping has no effect on how much homes are worth.
If you're looking to add the most value to your home, consider landscaping elements that add the most value.
According the survey, grass (64%), trees (59%), and flowers (52%) are what homeowners want to see when they're buying a new house. Meanwhile, real estate agents recommend adding or improving decks (58%), driveways (54%), and an outdoor kitchen (47%) as the best ways to add value to your home.
The presence of a tree in your front yard can make all the difference for your home's value. According to a new survey, 91% of real estate agents say adding even one healthy tree to your landscape will increase property values.
Nineteen percent of real estate agents estimate a single healthy tree increases a property’s value by 20%; the same number of agents say it raises the value by 10%.
Survey commissioned by Trees.com