Landscaping Affecting Appraisal

[KMP]

Google has told me WILDLY conflicting things about landscaping affecting appraisals (one website said it can raise the value by up to 15%, others said it does absolutely nothing). Do you have any thoughts on this? By landscaping I basically mean plants, planted or potted, and whether we have mulch versus small landscaping stones surrounding plants.

Also, if landscaping matters, is any plant more valuable than new plants? We have big bushes on one side of the house and none on the other, and in my opinion the asymmetry looks bad. I have thought of digging them out and adding some potted or planted flowers instead.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[hastalavista]

Landscaping can add appeal to the property.
More appealing properties typically (a) sell for more than less appealing properties and/or (b) sell in a shorter period.

Extensive landscape typically means a higher level of maintenance. Not everyone enjoys working in the yard. I haven't mowed my own grass in 20-years (indeed, I've gotten rid of my grass).

Trying to calculate the return on value based on the cost of upgrading would be difficult and is significantly dependent on your market and neighborhood. In some neighborhoods, extensive landscaping/flatwork can add $100k+ to the value. In others, grass, a few trees, and shrubbery are the expectation and going for more may not return anything. If you are thinking of selling, consult your local real estate agent (presuming they are knowledgeable); they'll tell you based on their first-hand experience what brings the most bang for your buck given your house and neighborhood. And my guess is they will not be able to give you a hard figure, rather they'll tell you the same thing I did in my second sentence.

If you are not thinking of selling, other than for your own personal enjoyment, I'd recommend you have landscaping that is consistent with your immediate neighborhood.

Good luck!

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Landscaping is a perishable item. If not maintained it can die and every cent invested is lost. It is hard to say that landscaping adds value based on that information alone. However, it can add market appeal which could mean value in some cases, but once again if not maintained it loses both.

 

[chad hampton]

Appraisals are really a range of value. Say when I've completed my analysis, my range of value is $300-$315k. If you have nicer landscaping, well kept yard, etc, I'm more inclined to come in at the higher end. If the yard is brown and there are just some builder grade plants on the corners, I'll come in lower.

I'm sure some appraisers just ignore landscaping. I feel that isn't right as a typical buyer in my market would prefer a house with some decent landscaping.

 

[Mr Rex]

Potted plants are personal property. Not Real Estate.

 

[Restrain]

Typical landscaping is an "Equal". It can vary somewhat, but it depends on the market. Joe Redneck thinking that painted tires and old toilets make good planters, not so much, and the typical buyer would rip it out and clean it up.. Mrs. Rich who has dumped big bucks into custom landscaping, highly manicured bushes, etc and has to hire a landscaping firm to keep it up, this can prove to be a negative due to costs (have actually been able to document this).

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

(one website said it can raise the value by up to 15%

I'm not buying that.

 

[erockinaz]

Landscaping is a perishable item. If not maintained it can die and every cent invested is lost. It is hard to say that landscaping adds value based on that information alone.

Tim is right, there was a house in my neighborhood that had beautiful landscaping. They had a (small) vineyard, several fruit trees, and lush plantings. The wife would spend hours maintaining it. The house changed hands several times during the Great Recession and eventually went into foreclosure. I remember the day that they tore out the dead bushes and trees. Even the hardscaping looked bad, someone chiseled the stone off the back walls and tore up the masonry planters. I remember having BBQs in that back yard. The only thing that remains is an extended paver patio.

 

[CindyR]

There is another scenario not yet mentioned which is the difference between 'landscaping' and 'never been landscaped'. Our MLS offers the description 'dirt back'. New homes typically include front landscaping to meet HOA requirements. It's then up to the buyer to add rear landscaping. Just did a refinance for a home that was purchased new from the builder over 5 years ago. And they still have added no landscaping to the rear yard. It is still the same bare dirt as when they bought it 5 years ago. The comparable resales in the neighborhood have all done some work back there. Some have added extensive and expensive landscaping. Some have added bare minimum rocks and two bushes. While it may be impossible to extract market support for the difference between 'wow that is gorgeous landscaping' and 'well I guess you could say it has landscaping' there is a distinction between some landscaping and still no landscaping.

 

[Meandering]

In other words, landscaping is expected. Over landscaping is an additional expense.