Looking to sell your home quickly and for top dollar?
Homeowners spend thousands upgrading kitchens and bathrooms. Painting walls. Replacing carpets. Staging rooms from top to bottom.
But there’s one problem…
None of that stuff even matters if buyers drive right past your home.
You only get one chance to create a first impression. And the outside of your home makes a powerful statement before buyers ever step foot inside. Neglected yards with patchy grass and weeds shooting up through the dirt tell your buyers one thing…
I want nothing to do with this house.
Contents
In this article:
- Why Does Curb Appeal Impact Home Sales?
- Professional Landscaping ROI That’ll Blow Your Mind
- Helpful Landscaping Tips to Prioritize Before Selling
- Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home
Why Does Curb Appeal Impact Home Sales?
Buyers don’t spend a lot of time forming their first impression. It happens quickly.
Buyers decide whether or not they’re interested in a property within 90 seconds of seeing it. Before they even step foot on the front porch.
Statistics show 95% of realtors believe curb appeal matters when selling a home.
Almost every real estate agent and marketing expert you talk to will say the same thing; curb appeal is KING.
If your house looks abandoned on the outside, buyers are going to assume the inside needs work too. They won’t want to waste their time walking through it.
Great curb appeal does the opposite. It plants that seed in a buyers mind. A home that looks like someone actually lives there and takes pride in their property must be a good place to live.
Professional landscape design can elevate any home from ho-hum to WOW. Using plants, trees, and outdoor designs to create that emotional response buyers need to schedule a showing.
Not only that, great landscaping carries through to the interior. If the outside of your home is beautiful and well taken care of, buyers are naturally going to assume the inside is the same way too.
Trust me. You never want to give buyers a reason to turn away.
That first impression is everything.
Professional Landscaping ROI That’ll Blow Your Mind
Did you know that you can actually MAKE MONEY by landscaping your home?
Before you spend a single dime on landscaping upgrades, let’s talk about the return on your investment (ROI).
Landscaping is one of the only home improvement projects that pays for itself. In fact, studies show that homes with great curb appeal sell for 7% more than similar homes without it.
Assuming the average home in your town sells for $400,000, that extra 7% equals $28,000 MORE IN YOUR POCKET.
The cool thing about landscaping is that it can also increase your home’s resale value by up to 20%.
Everything from basic landscaping and lawn care to professional landscape services can net you an astounding ROI of up to 539%.
To compare, the average kitchen remodel returns about 50% of your investment. Bathroom renovations fall somewhere in the same range.
No matter what the project is, landscaping ALWAYS wins.
Here’s why. When buyers walk up to a home that lacks curb appeal, they know they can easily change things. Paint colors, flooring, even light fixtures are simple for the average homeowner to replace.
But spending weeks designing and installing that perfect outdoor oasis? Now that’s a lot more difficult.
Buyers know how much work goes into landscaping. That’s why they’re willing to pay more for a home that already has it.
Helpful Landscaping Tips to Prioritize Before Selling
Landscaping is not a one size fits all kind of deal. Just because you hire a professional landscaper doesn’t mean you should blindly accept their suggestions.
You know your home and property better than anyone. So before you pick up the phone, take a look around and pay attention to these things.
Your lawn is the foundation of your home.
If you’re going to tackle only ONE landscaping project before selling your home, make it grass.
A lush, green lawn will truly set your home apart from the neighbors. Spend extra time edging your lawn and make sure those weeds are killed once and for all.
Buyers will see dead patches of grass and write your home off before they even walk up the driveway.
Mulch, mulch, mulch.
When in doubt, add mulch around your flower beds.
FYI- Fresh mulch is like magic when it comes to landscaping. It instantly makes your home look amazing. Plus, it’s not expensive.
Add some foundation plants.
These are the bushes and plants that sit close to your home. They help tie your home to the outdoor living space.
Another pro tip? Layer your landscaping.
Tall plants in the back. Medium height in the middle. Short plants or ground cover in front.
It creates depth which draws the eye.
Here are a few other upgrades to consider:
- Add a pathway leading to your front door.
- Install outdoor lighting.
- Place potted plants near your entrance.
- Paint your front door.
When in doubt, take a step back and think WOW. Would I want to see what’s inside if I was buying a home?
Tip: Don’t forget to look at your home from the street.
Exit your driveway and walk out to the curb. What do you see when you look at your house?
That’s exactly what buyers will see when they’re driving down the street. Make sure it pops.
Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home
Wait too long.
You can’t whip your backyard into shape overnight. Don’t wait until the last minute to address your landscaping needs.
Plant care and landscaping design takes time.
You don’t want your outdoor space to look like you rushed through the process.
Buyers can spot a rushed job a mile away.
Go crazy on flowers.
I get it. You want your house to pop.
But trust me when I say too many flowers can actually hurt your home.
Buyers will think your landscaping is cluttered and overwhelming.
Keep it simple. Fresh cuts, clean lines, and healthy grass go a long way.
Ignore problem areas.
Dead trees, broken fences, cracked walkways.
These are big red flags for buyers.
Make sure to address these areas before listing your home.
Focus too much on the yard and not enough on the entrance.
Yes, your yard is important but so is your entrance.
Pay attention to the details. Make sure your front porch looks welcoming.
Scuff marks on the front door? Replace it. Weeds in the flower bed in front of your window? Yank them.
Make the Investment Count
Selling your home isn’t easy, but you shouldn’t leave money on the table either.
There’s a reason professional landscaping services continue to dominate the market. They sell homes faster and for more money.
Remember, most buyers decide whether or not they like a home in UNDER A MINUTE.
The landscaping you choose sets the tone for every interaction they have within your home.
Bottom line: You don’t want buyers walking through your front door with a bad taste in their mouth.
Partner with landscaping professionals who know how to highlight your home’s best features. Decide which upgrades will provide you with the best return based on your unique property and housing market.
Bringing It All Together
Make your home impossible to ignore with the perfect landscape design.
Before buyers even walk in your front door, you have the opportunity to captivate them with stunning curb appeal.
Here’s your takeaway on landscaping:
- Curb appeal directly correlates to how long your home stays on the market.
- Landscaping provides you with a better return on investment than most home improvements.
- Simple, clean landscaping is best. No one wants to walk into a cluttered home.
- Professional landscaping allows buyers to envision themselves living there.
All of the homes that sell the fastest and for the most money have one thing in common. They make buyers fall in love with their home before they walk through the front door.
And great landscaping can help you do just that.
