Landscaping projects can be some of the most valuable projects a homeowner or investor undertakes to improve the value of their property. They make a big first impression, increasing the curb appeal of your property, adding functionality to your outdoor space, and upgrading
Whether you’re looking for a project that will increase the value of your property before you sell, tailor an investment property toward premium tenants, or just making an investment in your property, these landscaping projects offer some of the best returns.
#1 Landscaping Design
To truly unlock the best value from your outdoor projects, you have to give them time. Trees and plants take time to mature, and mature trees can increase the value of your home by thousands of dollars.
Landscaping design is the art of laying out your front or backyard space, combining hardscape and softscape landscaping, and blending natural with architectural elements. This is where you create a beautiful exterior for your home. With time, care, and maintenance, smart landscaping design will allow your plants, trees, gardens, and shrubbery to thrive and transform your home.
#2 Create a Social Space with Decks and Interlocking Patios
Increasing the functional space you have outdoors is a valuable investment to make. Decks and patios can extend the useable floorspace of your home by creating gathering places and parts of your backyard that you can furnish however you like.
You have a wealth of options when it comes to decks and interlocking stone patios. When it comes to decks, you have some material choices, including natural wood like cedar, pressure-treated decking, and composite. Landscaping companies often advise clients to consider composite as a low-maintenance option that will maintain its value. Many people are drawn to natural wood because of its incomparable look, but it does fade and wear faster, even if you keep up with staining it every few years. Composite is always the better option if you’re judging it as an investment.
Interlocking patios can extend your usable space further into the backyard. They can be used around a fire pit, a pool, or to create a sense of differentiated spaces and layers in your backyard. Designing an exterior with multiple outdoor spaces and functions will make your home feel that much larger, especially in the warm months when you can stroll outside with a coffee and your laptop.
In addition to building a patio, interlocking pavers can be used for pathways and driveways that look better and bring long-lasting quality to your exterior. Projects that target curb appeal like a new driveway or pathway are always winners when it comes to ROI.
#3 Outdoor Kitchens
An outdoor kitchen can deliver anywhere from 55% to 200% returns, making it one of the bigger and more profitable investments you can make in the exterior of your home.
Outdoor kitchens are the ultimate in indoor-outdoor luxury living, and their popularity has been soaring in recent years as people stay home more and decide to invest more in their homes. One of the great things about an outdoor kitchen isn’t just being able to cook and entertain on your patio, it’s the ability to add features that you wouldn’t normally be able to include in an indoor kitchen, such as a pizza oven or a smoker.
An outdoor kitchen transforms a backyard into a social hub, and it’s the kind of renovation that’s been catching on even in colder climates. You don’t have to worry about the weather with a covered outdoor kitchen.
#4 Quality Fencing
A great backyard feels private and secluded. It provides a sense of enclosure that makes it feel more like an extension of the indoors, with all of the privacy that affords. The trick to seeing a good return on your investment with a fence is choosing a high-quality, durable material when you build it.
A sagging, faded fence won’t do you any favors when you’re listing your property. You can ensure the durability of your fence by choosing high-quality lumber, metal post caps that lock everything in place, and galvanized nails to keep everything secure.
Total privacy fences will help deliver that sense of privacy you need to transform your backyard into a true outdoor living space.
#5 The Right Kind of Trees
Planting the right kind of trees now can do wonders for your home value. Mature trees can make your home feel more comfortable and established, as well as provide privacy from the street. Finding the right type of tree to plant in your yard is critical. Fruit trees may sound like a wonderful idea, until you realize just how much fruit they’re going to produce. Often, fruit trees can wind up spoiling a backyard, as the fruit can start to rot and attract pests, especially wasps.
Specimen trees, which are trees that provide a bit of extra interest like cherry blossom trees or magnolia trees, can really shine in a front yard.
When you’re planning big landscaping projects for your exterior, keep these top performing projects in mind.
