Curb appeal is an important element for raising your home’s resale value and, more so, its attractiveness.
Raising it goes beyond changing the exterior colors or swapping your front door with a heavy-duty one.
Landscaping is just as important as any enhancement you apply to the home itself.
You’re less likely to motivate buyers if your landscaping doesn’t match the same amount of care and effort you put into roofing repairs.
Buyers are more likely to place an offer on your home if they love what they see on the outside.
Appearances matter, and to get the most out of selling your home, you will need to freshen up the exterior.
Your landscaping complements this, so it’s important to know which improvements you should be doing. The list below should point you in the right direction:
Level Up the Vegetation
It’s impossible to think about landscaping improvements without focusing on the kind of greenery that’s planted around.
For sure, an overgrown lawn that’s infested with weeds is a major deal-breaker, unless you intend on selling your home far below the fair market value. Otherwise, it makes sense to decorate the surroundings with the right types of plants.
You could go for standard boxwood to line pathways or use Russian sage to form a contrast to strong green shades.
You can never go wrong with setting up a flowerbed, which goes well if you own a traditional or rustic home.
Popular choices include azaleas and begonias, but be sure to pick the ones that suit the local climate.
You should also base your choices on a defined theme or color scheme.
If the exterior walls are painted in varying neutral shades, warm colors between red and orange should provide a beautiful contrast.
However, don’t dwell on these factors alone. Consider greenery that’s easy to maintain all year round.
Make Your Home Shine in the Darkness
Keep in mind that your home’s curb appeal isn’t “activated” during the daytime. Some buyers will also want to know how it looks at night. They might want to match your asking price if it’s well-lighted, especially if it follows a classic architectural style.
Complement your landscaping enhancements with strategically placed lights that line pathways and illuminate open spaces.
You might also want to add uplights below trees and shrubs or even centerpieces like a statue or water features like a fountain.
Another popular approach is to place downlights on top of trees to create the effect of moonglow tracing the leaves.
It’s more complex, but if you’re planning to sell your luxury home, then it’s a worthy investment that promises good returns and a shorter transaction.
Finally, make sure to place lights in concealed areas, focusing them on blind spots.
Buyers would appreciate this for both its aesthetic and functional value since it helps improve nighttime security.
Build a Stylish Patio
Patios are desirable among buyers who want extra spaces for wellness and intimate outdoor gatherings. If your home doesn’t have one already, you might as well build one out of materials such as hardwood or composite material.
These are easy to maintain and give off a rustic feel, especially if your landscaping is rich in greenery.
However, hardwood can be costly and prone to environmental effects, and composite material could get hot during the summer.
Whichever the case, choose a design and layout that works well with local climate extremes and suits your budget range.
If you’re aiming for a more sophisticated look, then you might as well go for premium options such as granite or natural stone pavers, which are known to last nearly a lifetime.
These are also known to provide a cooling effect to the surroundings in addition to preventing slipping during rain.
For the roofing, fiberglass and tempered glass are some of the most accessible options, although they are likely to break in extreme weather.
A polycarbonate roof should provide you with everything you need, including elevated UV protection as well as an appearance that could match any landscaping style you desire.
Go for Extra Amenities
Decks and patios could do a good job attracting most buyers, but when you’re targeting those looking for high-end homes, you might want to add extra amenities to go with your landscaping.
For instance, a backyard fire pit by a swimming pool would be a good way to extend your living room.
This could also replicate an outdoor experience, especially if it allows enough space for setting up a tent.
If you still have a budget, consider building a gazebo or a roofed dining area meters away from the main structure.
Place it near a living wall or facing a centerpiece, such as a koi pond.
For increased functionality, consider investing in designs for possible outdoor kitchens you can try out.
Having one gives you a touch of luxury as the interior blends with the exterior. When done right, a kitchen could serve as a main focal point for intimate gatherings or celebrations.
Take this a step further by adding a bar and concealed speakers. These can instantly turn the outdoor space into a luxury resort, especially if you include ambient lights in the layout.
Freshen Up Walkways and Driveways
Well-maintained paths are a big plus for buyers who are meticulous when it comes to such small details as these.
However, anyone with a good eye will notice potholes, skidmarks, and other impurities that may suggest an unkempt appearance.
No matter how sophisticated the amenities you added to the landscaping, none will ever compensate for a walkway and driveway that’s anything but perfect.
It matters to go beyond simple aesthetic and structural repairs. You might want to swap the material entirely.
If your home is situated in an area that’s exposed to high heat, then you might want to think twice before resealing the asphalt. When it comes to durability, choose concrete pavers over a straight concrete pour.
The interlocking units are less prone to cracking and are easier to maintain and replace.
For a more sophisticated look, choose natural stone pavers, which may include granite or slate.
Be sure to pick the ones that coincide with the exterior’s color scheme, such as warm grey, in case the exterior walls are painted in soft neutral tones.
Endnote
Whichever landscaping improvement you choose, your home is likely to attract an offer if you do it right. Keep these ideas in mind as you focus on elevating your home’s curb appeal.
