In today’s competitive property market, finding easy and cost-effective ways to add value to your home can help you get the return on investment you need.
While we’ve all heard of the usual ways to increase your home’s value such as repainting, renovating or extending, did you know that landscaping can give an instant boost to your property value?
Landscaping is one of the best things a homeowner can do to improve their chances at selling. Curb appeal is more than just real estate swish talk! Think about it - what’s the first thing you see when you pull up to a home?
An attractive garden enhances the look of a property while adding value. So if you’re wanting to sell your home and hope to attract a larger pool of buyers, get your green thumb out and start gardening!
What increases a home’s value?
Most potential homebuyers don’t want to put more money and effort into a property after buying it. So, by increasing your home’s value in the way of updating and upgrading, you’re making your home even more attractive to buyers.
There are a few proven ways to increase a home’s value. Traditionally, a new coat of paint, increased storage space, updated cabinetry, and modern conveniences such as smart home technology and appliances are the go-to’s for a value boost. But stop for a minute and take a gander outside. How’s the shape of your outdoor space? Does it need a bit of TLC? Then you’re better off sprucing it up if you want an instant return on investment.
Us Aussies love to entertain. Barbies, backyard cricket and chinwags over the fence are part of the Australian dream. Buyers are likely to be impressed by a good outdoor space. From lush lawns to patios and decking - anything that increases comfort and liveability outside will increase the value of your home overall.
Outdoor improvements to increase your home’s value
Here are just some of the value-adding outdoor improvements that will impress potential buyers:
1. A new lawn
Want to know the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to add value to your home? A new lawn! Yep - you read that right!
Results from a national Raine & Horne survey of real estate agents revealed a lush, green lawn could improve property values by up to $100K!
According to Hort Innovation, Australia’s peak body for horticulture, having a natural turf lawn can boost property value by over $100,000. In addition, a study into the economic benefits of turf found that the extra rent a property can earn as a result of new turf can reach up to $4.45 per square metre a year!
So if you’re getting ready to put your house on the market, go ahead and install a new lawn, stat!
2. Functional outdoor space
If you’ve got a little extra wiggle room in your savings, you can add or update an outdoor living area. Functional outdoor living spaces are desirable for homebuyers, especially those in warmer climates. Think about adding an outdoor dining setting, some comfortable day lounges and outdoor kitchen to win the hearts of buyers.
3. Outdoor fire pit
Perfect for entertaining, cooking and keeping warm on chilly Victorian nights, an outdoor fire pit is sure to wow potential home buyers! You can purchase one or build your own depending on your budget and yard space. Either way, a fire pit can be a great way to add value to your home, especially if you’re on a budget.
4. Patio/decking
While this may require more work and money on your part, installing a deck or outdoor patio is another great outdoor improvement to add value to your home. One estimate suggests that a landscaped patio can add 12.4% to the value of your home.
How much does landscaping increase home value?
40% of agents believe a nicely presented lawn can boost your home’s value by 20%, while 23.3% of agents surveyed believed it could bolster your homes value by 30%.
Coolabah Turf's Suzie Shearer says an instant lawn landscape is the quickest, easiest and cheapest investment anyone will ever make if they want to prepare their home for sale, put the finishing touches on a new home build or enhance an existing landscape on an established home.
"A well landscaped home has a significant price advantage over a home with no landscaping", Suzie says.
Does a nice garden increase property value?
CLK First National Echuca Director Troy O’Brien says lawn landscaping can add an instant wow to any property.
In his experience, he says that a neat, tidy and lush green lawn attracts more buyers to a house and improves property value.
"A great lawn provides the perfect first impression," says Troy.
"It says ‘these people love their home’, and with hundreds of properties online to choose from you need to stand out….you need to catch the buyer’s eye."
As agents, Troy says they often recommend clients improve their lawn before selling.
He says it’s a cost-effective way for clients to make improvements that will deliver a fast and strong return.
"Buyers love to think all the hard work is done for them, and that’s one of the main attractions of a beautiful lawn.
"A green lawn also makes the home look and feel cooler, which is important in our hot environment, and it generally provides a great contrast against the colour of the home, which adds to the overall street appeal."
These days, more than ever buyers are making very quick decisions on whether a property suits their needs, Troy says.
"When buyers are comparing properties they are looking at the overall package. That includes all elements of the property - price, position, whether it’s been renovated and whether it has an established lawn and grounds. Presentation is key – both inside and out.”
Other backyard ideas to increase home value
Small backyard improvements can bring a lot of bang for your buck. Next time your outside, think about undertaking these backyard projects for added home value:
Outdoor lighting: Outdoor lighting creates instant ambience! Place outdoor string lights along your patio or tree to amp up your curb appeal or use solar spike lights to border a path or garden bed.
Freshen up your facade: Done right, upgrading your home’s exterior can dramatically increase its value. From repainting old weatherboards to rendering an outdated brick wall, making your home welcoming and visually appealing will instantly attract potential homebuyers.
Add new plants: If your garden is looking bare, try planting new trees and flowers. Adding a simple garden bed or herb garden not only beautifies your landscape but can also appeal to homebuyers who are looking for sustainability and the chance to reduce their carbon footprint.
Want to add value to your home? Just add grass!
When selling, it’s important to look for improvements that are cost-effective and that will deliver a good return on home investment. Installing a new lawn is therefore a no-brainer!
Here at Coolabah Turf, we have a range of turf types - including our popular drought-tolerant Sir Walter DNA Certified turf variety - that will add instant appeal and value to your home.
Need help on deciding which turf type will add the most value to your property? Take our turf quiz or get a free quote!
