"Cashing In"
A researcher at Clemson University published research that evaluated the
contribution of landscaping on the price of single-family homes. The sale
prices of a sample of 288 homes were related to house characteristics, location
and landscape quality. A house that ranked an "excellent"
landscape quality rating could expect a sales price 4 to 5 percentage points
higher (depending on the size of the lot) than equivalent homes with
"good" landscaping and 8 to 10 percentage points higher than homes
with a fair to poor rating.
Henry, Mark S. 1994. The
contribution of landscaping to the price of single family houses: A study of
home sales in Greenville, SC. J.Environ.Hort. 12 (2):65-70. June
1994
"The Great Outdoors"
When Americans want to enhance their homes, they focus on the outdoors. In
a recent Gallup research project, homebuyers revealed they think landscaping
adds 14.87 percent to a home's selling price. In another survey, Money
magazine reported that landscaping as a home-improvement project has a recovery
value of 100 to 200 percent if it is well done and harmonizes with nearby
foliage. Real estate agents agree. Ninety-five percent of the
members of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers concur that landscaping adds to
the dollar value of real estate, while 99 percent said that landscaping enhances
property's "sales appeal," increasing the actual speed of the sale.
Lawn & Landscape, August 2002
"The Land of Opportunity"
An article in the March 2003 issue of Smart Money contains the following
statistics:
- 5% of a home's value spent on landscaping can return 150% in home value
- Consumers value a landscaped home as much as 11.3% higher than its base price
- A landscaped patio can raise property values more than 12%
Landscape Design/Build, April 2003