What to Consider Before Investing in Landscaping
If you haven’t upgraded or maintained your landscaping, it’s time to start. Landscaping will improve the appearance and curb appeal of your home, which can help to increase its market value. Outside of home selling, landscaping improvements can also add functionality to your space and improve your quality of life.
Landscape investments of around 10% of the home’s current value seem are the spot for budgeting. So, for a $450,000 house, $45,000 toward landscaping should help maximize ROI. Additionally, the American Society for Landscape Architects notes that professionally landscaped homes can add 15 to 20% more to the total resale value.
As of 2023, the National Association of Realtors reported that standard lawn care and landscape maintenance, general landscape upgrades, outdoor kitchen installations, patio installations, and wood deck installations have the most ROI and overall impact for homeowners.
If you plan on investing in your landscape now or in the near future, keep reading this article. We’ll cover some of the most important factors to consider before investing your time and money into a landscaping project.
Your Climate
Your climate determines how much maintenance is required to keep landscaping elements functional and how functional certain landscape elements will be to you.
For instance, an in-ground pool may sound good in the summer, but if you live in areas with long, freezing winters, you’ll get less use out of it, and you have to drain, close, and cover the pool before temperatures drop below freezing.
Choose your plants carefully, too, and invest in cold-hardy plants if you live in areas with harsh winters. Beautiful, hardy plants include arborvitaes, hydrangeas, dogwood shrubs, and berry bushes.
Comparatively, areas with year-round warm temperatures may benefit less from certain landscape elements like fire pits.
Landscape design companies have started to offer solutions based on current climate concerns. One strategy is to plant in clusters so species can interact and thrive in a new ecosystem. Another option is to use enclosure walls to block wind and absorb sun radiation.
Your Maintenance Limit
Although you could have the budget for specific landscape upgrades, the maintenance may deter you from investing, as you’ll need to set aside an annual budget just for maintenance.
Water features, outdoor kitchens, and pools are all examples of high-maintenance landscaping elements, although the level of maintenance for outdoor kitchens varies based on the type of equipment in the kitchen.
If you don’t have the time or money to invest in high-maintenance tasks, consider opting for lower-maintenance landscaping features like gardens, retaining walls, decks, patios, and/or fire pits.
Your Maximum Spend
The American Society of Landscape Architects recommends homeowners spend between 5 and 10% of their property’s current market value. Some projects, like a new outdoor kitchen or wood deck, will cut into your landscaping budget but will ultimately have a high ROI. In fact, the National Association of Realtors’ 2023 Remodeling Impact Report estimates a 100% ROI for new outdoor kitchens. So, if you spend $10,000 on outdoor cooking features, you’ll see that price reflected in your current home value. Patio cost recovery is 95%, while a new wood deck installation has an ROI of 89%.
Although certain landscaping elements may come with higher overhead costs, you always have to consider how much money you’ll be able to recover.
Usability
Usability should also be a factor when deciding on a landscaping investment.
What will you get out of the new installation? If you aren’t a fan of hosting parties or family gatherings, an outdoor kitchen may get limited use. Additionally, singles or couples without children may only end up hanging out by the pool once or twice a season. Choose projects you and your household will enjoy the most before it comes time to sell.
Get Help From a Professional Landscape Designer
Professional landscape designers help homeowners get the most out of their landscaping projects. Homeowners who plan a DIY project will often encounter obstacles and unplanned delays. It’s also easier to make costly mistakes when you don’t have a professional supervising the project.
Turning to a professional landscaping provider like Design One ensures project success from start to finish. Landscaping features may increase functionality and increase a home’s market value, but only when they’re designed and installed correctly.
Start Your Project With Help From Design One
Design One has specialized in commercial and residential landscape design for over 30 years. We’ve helped countless individuals and businesses in Michigan install and maintain water features, retaining walls, and more. Visit our portfolio to see some of our past projects, or contact us today to schedule a free project consultation. We’re here to help you get the most out of your landscape investments!
