The Most Overlooked Home Renovation with the Highest Return on Investment

When people hear the word renovation, what often springs to mind is “frustration”. They imagine the mental anguish of months of torn-up carpets, moved furniture, and construction debris. However, there is one renovation that is relatively simple and yet provides a big return on investment: landscaping.

A study by Clemson University found that a well-done landscape renovation can often provide up to a 100% return on investment. The report stated that “Homeowners wanting to increase the value of their property will do well to consider the cost-effective return potential of quality landscaping”.

In a Money magazine article on home renovations (May 2003), research showed that landscaping has a recovery value of 100% to 200%, “if it is well done and harmonizes with foliage nearby”.

According to the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association, landscaping can boost resale value of a home up to 14% and increase the speed a property sells by up to six weeks.

However, most sellers still overlook the power of a good landscape renovation. They cling to old beliefs that the bigger the renovation, the more they will receive from the sale of the home. Even though this is a common belief, the actual numbers do not support it.

On the practical side, a landscape renovation is speedy in comparison to an interior renovation. In a few days, you can have an entirely new yard. A bathroom or kitchen often takes weeks.

And with landscaping projects you don’t have to change the way you live! No nails are hammered all day. No wood dust is strewn into the air from table saws. No workers stomp dirt through your home.

A well-landscaped yard is often what catches the eye of a potential buyer who just happens to be driving through the neighborhood. Many a sale has been triggered by an inquiry about a home purely based on curb appeal.

Landscaping can definitely make or break the sale of a home. There is nothing that turns off a potential buyer more than a messy yard. Even if your house is pristine on the inside, nobody will get that far because of the bad first impression of an exterior in distress. People assume that if you don’t take meticulous care of your yard, you probably don’t take care of the inside of your house either.

One type of landscape renovation that costs little but adds good value is a patio. Homes that lack an outdoor eating spot can easily get a boost from decking, or even some affordable stonework. Creating a beautiful patio area provides the illusion that you’ve added an extra room — without actually having done so!