Well-designed and maintained landscaping can increase home value by up to 12%. Poor landscaping choices can devalue your house by over 5% or turn potential buyers off completely. You are also out the cost of your poor landscaping choice. Avoid wasting money, time, and effort on these projects.
Artificial Lawn
The attractions of an artificial lawn are undeniable. No mowing, no watering, no fertilizing. The average cost of artificial lawns supplied and installed is about $20.00 per square foot, which means that 1000 square feet of artificial lawn costs $20,000.00. Many backyards are much larger. Front yards are smaller but artificial lawns often look fake in front yards. Artificial grass can turn off potential buyers if they expect real grass and they factor replacement costs into any offer they make.
Above Ground Pools
Above-ground pools have poor resale value. Potential buyers often view above-ground pools as something cheap to be removed and they adjust purchase offers to include the cost of getting rid of them.
Above-ground pools are inexpensive compared to inground pools. An average of about $4000.00 for above-ground pools and $50,000.00 or more for inground pools. They are quick to install but require regular maintenance and special care during cold winters. The amount they are used often declines significantly after the first excitement wears off or the kids grow out of the pool habit and/or leave home.
Too Much Personalization
Not everyone loves garden gnomes. Placing 20 or 50 in your garden because you love them does not improve resale value. Too much of anything can make for a cluttered garden or yard that loses personality over time. These yards look like there was no design planning involved.
Cluttered gardens filled with too many of your personal preferences make visitors and potential buyers uncomfortable. Even exotic plants can intimidate potential buyers. Many people adjust offers to include the cost of cleanup.
Overpowering Garden Features
Giant fountains, huge running-water ponds, large hardscaping areas like patios, ornate pathways that don’t fit with the garden’s design, etc. usually cost a lot of money, time, and effort to install and maintain. Most of them do not provide a great return on investment. They often lower the selling price or turn off buyers completely when they begin to calculate the removal and re-landscaping costs and effort needed to get rid of them.
High Maintenance Gardens
Beautiful well kept gardens are a delight to visit and admire. However, they can be very intimidating to potential buyers who may lack the talent or time to maintain them. Some people may calculate the cost of hiring a gardener or the cost of having the garden removed and replaced with grass. All of the rare plants, flower beds, and special plantings turn off many people and are not usually worth the investment.
Outdoor Kitchens
The average cost of outdoor kitchens is over $15,000.00. Some may cost up to $50,000.00 They are often underused, and poorly maintained, and potential buyers may not be interested in elaborate outdoor kitchens or outdoor cooking.
Plastic Garden Decor
Plastic garden ornaments may create initial interest in yards and gardens. They do not age well and can look faded, tired, and cheap quickly. Your garden often looks cheap and poorly designed when infested with plastic decor.
