According to a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture, adding landscaping to your property definitely can increase its value. Although this study focused on properties around the country, your landscape design and installation near Lake Anna will do the same. The amount and percentage of current value that your property will increase varies with the types of landscaping improvements you install.
The figures cited throughout this article for the estimated increase in property value when improving the landscape are from the above study from the Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture at Virginia State University.
Sophisticated Designs
What you Need to Know
If you have the funds available to you, it is possible to greatly increase the value of your property over its current value. Installing a comprehensive, sophisticated landscape design makes your home more desirable to buyers and will increase their offers.
A sophisticated design consists of mature foundation plantings, specimen trees or shrubs, flower beds with annual and perennial blooming plants and integrated hardscape features such as stone walkways or driveways or patios. Artwork or statuary integrated among perennials is the ultimate in sophistication.
Expected Increase in Value
Installing a sophisticated landscape design and installation near Lake Anna can increase the value of your property a whopping 42 percent. This means you can increase the value of your home by almost half of its current value by installing a comprehensive, sophisticated landscaping design.
Upgrade the Size of Plants
What you Need to Know
If your landscape design and installation near Lake Anna consists of a collection of small, relatively immature specimen trees, shrubs and perennial border plants, there is a relatively simple solution available to greatly increase the value of your home. Simply by removing the existing plants and replacing them with identical older, larger and more mature plants, you will reap the benefits and expense of this when you sell your house.
Expected Increase in Value
Replacing small landscaping plants with identical, more mature plants can increase the value of your home by up to 36 percent.
Variety of Plants
What you Need to Know
A new landscape design and installation near Lake Anna that consists of a collection of a variety of plants is another way to increase the value of your home. Choose a variety of different plants, small trees and shrubs that complement each other. The plantings should give the impression that they belong together, with all of them working to create a design that is more than the sum of its parts.
One warning: do not choose dozens of different plant varieties. One or two varieties of trees and shrubs, with several of each different variety will make a statement. The same advice follows for herbaceous and flowering perennials. Use annuals for pops of color and in containers by the entrance to the home.
Expected Increase in Value
Installing a small variety of different plants, trees and shrubs in your landscape, properly done using restraint can increase your property value by up to 22 percent.
Upgrade from No Landscape to Well- Landscaped
What you Need to Know
If your landscape design and installation near Lake Anna is non-existent, perform an upgrade to almost any type of landscaping to increase your home’s value. If your yard is a stark expanse of well-manicured grass, install a few foundation plantings, such as evergreen shrubs. A specimen tree, like a flowering pear, plum or apple that is larger than a sapling, will return you much more than the cost associated with buying and planting that tree.
Expected Increase in Value
Simply by planting relatively mature landscape specimens in your yard, especially if you have a well-maintained lawn, can increase the value of your home by over 12 percent.
What to Avoid
A sparse, minimal landscape in your yard with a simple design and featuring small, insignificant plants can actually decrease the value of your home. The effect of this type of landscape can indicate that the house is not worth the expense and effort of beautifying the outside.
Also avoid installing a landscape style with features that are not consistent with the architecture of your home. For example, if you have a Victorian style home, it will look best with geometric, formal gardens featuring a large variety of flowers. If you have a modern home, choose a wide variety of greenery in the form of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. The planting beds should feature graceful, curved lines and a natural look.
Contact Us
Sacra Custom Homes is here to help you transform your landscape design and installation near Lake Anna. We are happy to provide you with a free estimate. Contact us at (540) 582-2397, send us an email at sacrascape@aol.com, or drop us a quick line on our Contact Page.