Your property’s landscaping is the first thing that potential tenants will see. If they’re welcomed by a well-maintained lawn, they will be willing to pay you more money. Hence, aside from indoor home improvements, you should also consider enhancing your property’s curb appeal. Elevate the value of your South Florida property by following a few of these low-cost landscaping ideas.
Does landscaping “up” the value of an investment property?
If you’re wondering if enhancing your property’s landscaping is worth it, the answer is yes. It’s one of the best things you can do to have a better standing when selling your property. Minor improvements have the power to increase your property’s resale value by 5.5 to 12.7 percent. This means that a $300,000 home could see an additional $16,500 to $38,100.
For those concerned with South Florida property management, better landscaping can help you attract better tenants. So, rather than spending your money on renovations that don’t matter, make smart improvements that can entice tenants. If you’re familiar with forced appreciation, it can also raise your rent.
However, to elevate your property’s value, you’ll need to go beyond planting pretty flowers in the ground. Below, you’ll find a few low-cost ways to spruce up your landscaping and elevate your home’s value at the same time.
What are Some Low-Cost Landscaping Ideas To Boost Your property’s value?
If you’re wondering how to raise your rent through landscaping, here are some suggestions to get you started.
#1 Match the Lawn to the Style of the Home
The landscaping should actually complement the architectural style of the home. For instance, if you have a contemporary home and a garden that’s inspired by Royal Botanical Gardens, it would have a “wow” factor, but in a bad way. Your potential tenants will turn away because of this. You can’t justify the rent increase just because you upgraded the garden. It has to look good, too.
Hence, a modern home would be better suited with modern landscaping. Rather than crowding the garden with colorful flowers, let the lawn shine on its own. Check out these landscaping upgrades that offer the highest return on investment.
#2 Plant Trees
Worried about choosing the wrong flowers? Trees are the way to go. Planting trees is the simplest way to spruce up the landscape. Not only do they create a calm atmosphere, but they also provide natural cooling to the property. Your potential tenants will want this, especially if they’re trying to practice energy efficiency.
Pro Tip: Do not plant trees too close to the house. High winds can break tree branches that will land on your roof.
#3 Edge the Lawn
This, aside from mowing the lawn, should be part of your property maintenance. Edging is done to define the line where the grass ends. It is also done to stop the grass from “spilling” over places where it shouldn’t be. Since edging deals with the tiny details, it creates the impression that the rest of the property is in pristine condition, too.
When edging your lawn, be sure to place a physical barrier between the lawn and the walkway. This prevents pedestrians from accidentally walking where you’re working. To avoid accidents, opt to hire a professional. A property management company can help you find a reliable contractor.
#4 Add Lighting
You shouldn’t be able to see the beauty of your garden only during the day. By adding landscape lighting, you can make sure that the entire community can see it when the sun goes down. Be sure to place it strategically, for instance, by placing spotlights directly behind sculpted shrubs. This way, the spotlight won’t be an eyesore during the day, and it will create a stunning silhouette during the night.
#5 Plant For All Seasons
Your home should look stunning whatever the season. If you’re from an area that has all four seasons, you should choose “stand-out” plants for each season. In other words, you should consider a year-round style. Some examples of flowers that stay “functional” through the seasons are coral bells, pansies, and lilies-of-the-valley.
These are some of the low-cost landscaping ideas that can make your lawn more appealing and maximize your rental property’s ROI.
What are the landscaping improvements that aren’t worth it?
Now that you’re aware of what you should do, let’s discuss what you shouldn’t do. While you may think your potential tenants and homebuyers will want these improvements, they can actually reduce your return on investment (ROI).
#1 Outrageous Water Features
Don’t… just don’t. There are water features that can help your home stand out, but some of them will make your tenant’s life a lot worse. Tenants don’t want to deal with the maintenance that comes with certain water features, such as koi ponds. They can also be an eyesore especially if they aren’t regularly cleaned. While certain water features can add aesthetic value, they definitely don’t add to the overall value of the home. Save your money for something else.
#2 Sloping Yards
Tenants don’t want to deal with the stress of a sloping yard. First, sloping yards come with the concerns of erosion. This can be a huge problem especially if your home is located in a flood-prone place. Second, families will be concerned about their children’s safety. They’ll likely want a home that has space where their children can run around freely.
It’s also a lot harder to build on a slope. If you’re planning on building a porch or patio, for instance, you’ll have to spend more money to level the land.
#3 Expensive Features
Don’t spend your money on a single feature, such as a built-in firepit. If you do, you’ll use up your savings on something that not all tenants will want. It would be better to invest in smaller improvements that will appeal to potential tenants. As the saying goes, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for large returns, look to landscaping. When the time comes to sell or rent out your home, you won’t have a hard time upping the price or raising the rent. Besides, even if you don’t decide to sell it or rent it out, you’ll have a yard that you can appreciate for years to come.
Planning on improving your property’s landscaping? The property managers at Luxury Property Care can coordinate with contractors and handle the heavy lifting. Just give us a call at (561) 944 – 2992 or complete our contact form and we’ll get back to you in a jiffy.
