Landscaping: Value add or Unnecessary expense?

In a competitive market where budgets are small and buyers are few, it’s important to add value to the areas of your property that will make it stand out and differentiate your home from others on the market. However, it is often difficult to know what is a wise or unnecessary expense, when it comes to getting your property sale-ready?

The appearance of your property has huge impact on the impression potential buyers have of your home. If your property appears unkept or in bad condition it could have a serious effect of the price buyers are willing to offer and the length of time your property will be on the market. While it’s important to maintain outside of a property, the state of the garden plays a significant role in rounding off that initial first impression.

In fact, a well-maintained garden can vastly improve a property’s resale value as buyers may take the state of the garden as a sign that there may be more areas of the property in questionable condition. Buyers want to be able to move into a property that needs little to no work done. A well-landscaped garden creates a finished homely atmosphere, that’s hard to ignore.

Creating a well-designed garden doesn’t have to cost a fortune, there are many ways to add immense value to your home through smart planning and innovative garden designs. Having a landscaped garden creates a feeling of tranquillity and draws buyers in long before they have entered the property. Whether you decide to call in a professional landscape artist or decide to tackle the project on your own be sure to have a solid plan in mind.

Below are some tips to keep in mind when planning your new garden.

1. Keep the design simple – Plants and greenery are beautiful on their own, there is no need for over complicated garden beds and confusing paving designs.

2. Create boundaries between the flower beds and usable areas.

3. Don’t overplant – Overplanting will make a garden appear smaller and overcrowded.

4. Emphasise the natural garden features - Such as elevated areas and sunny corners.

5. Give your garden dimension - Make use of different size, heights and types of plans.

6. Consider indigenous greenery– Plant greenery with longevity in mind by choosing plants that will thrive in your garden’s environment.

Landscaping isn’t the first thing we think of when it comes to upgrading our homes, but it is one of the first things people notice when they visit. However, investing in a proper landscaping project can greatly improve the value of your home.