A Green Landscape Brings Green to Your Pocket
Curb appeal is a familiar phrase coined by real estate agents to describe the importance of having your home look attractive on the outside to entice buyers. While the concept of drawing people in through a well-kept yard that hints at the beauty found inside the house makes sense, Landscape East & West discovered a report that provides real numbers to prove the value in maintaining your landscape.
The National Association of Realtors issued the report “Remodeling Impact Report on Outdoor Features,” which clearly revealed that a lush landscape pays off not just in terms of resale but also in homeowner happiness, referred to in the report as a “joy score.” Following a remodel, 68 percent of homeowners reported a greater desire to be in their home, while 60 percent found increased enjoyment in their home. And 52 percent just feel happy upon seeing the completed project.
Happiness is a valuable indicator of a landscape remodel, but the ROI or “money in your pocket” figures are even more outstanding. A full landscape remodel recovers 100 percent of the cost, as does the addition of an outdoor kitchen. But the value doesn’t come just from big projects. Landscape maintenance exceeds cost recovery, coming in at 104 percent, and gives homeowners a 9.6 joy score, with 61 percent stating maintenance inspires them to stay home more. Not only that, 74 percent of realtors recommend landscape maintenance to sellers so that joy can spread to potential buyers.
Respondents cited beauty and aesthetics as top drivers for landscape projects, with functionality adding to the benefits as well. Of the respondents, 35 percent remodeled to add features and improve livability, 24 percent wanted to upgrade worn features and materials, and 18 percent were just looking for a change.
As for the top spots for providing joy, installation of an inground pool, landscape lighting, a new patio or deck, and adding a fire feature round out the top projects.
Interesting to note is that the projects cited were not extravagant. It didn’t take marble fountains, boxwood mazes, or sprawling streams to get homeowners excited. A 14 X 18-foot cedar wood deck with lattice underneath improved livability, giving 74 percent of respondents a greater desire to spend time at home. The basic installation of a standard 600W transformer and twenty LED lights sparked a greater happiness in being home in 61 percent of homeowners. The take-home point here is that it doesn’t take much to greatly improve the livability and enjoyment of your yard.
This report is based on a survey of homeowners and real estate professionals across the country using representative outdoor remodeling projects. At Landscape East & West, we’d like to assume the results might be even more impressive in the Portland region where outdoor living is more of a priority than it may be in other corners of the U.S. A yard that looks great and accommodates many activities and ages is a top goal for many homeowners and we’re always happy to design a landscape that meets or exceeds those goals.
We welcome you to take a look at some of our projects for inspiration if you’re ready to boost your “joy factor.” You can also explore our maintenance program if you’re just looking for someone to keep the lawn lush, flowers in bloom, and water flowing.
We’d be even happier if you’d give us a call and see how we can work together to create the yard of your dreams and add some substantial gains to your home’s value. We’re proud of the work we do every day, and look forward to bringing smiles to even more faces across the greater Portland area.
