Did you know that poor landscaping can decrease the value of a home by up to 30 percent? That's according to a 2021 study highlighted by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), which included responses from 1,250 real estate professionals. The good news is that while poor landscaping can have a negative impact on home value, great landscaping, and a well-manicured exterior can absolutely have a positive impact on home value. In fact, in another NAR survey 92 percent of real estate professionals suggested sellers should prioritize improving curb appeal before listing a home.

Of course, beautiful landscaping also has many benefits while you live in the home, in addition to boosting value if you ever decide to sell in the future. Our real estate agents have more on how landscaping fits into the complex picture of home value.

• Making a Positive First Impression
  One reason it's wise to prioritize curb appeal is that most buyers start setting their opinions on a home almost from the minute they arrive. The presentation of the exterior of the home is essentially your best chance to make a positive first impression on buyers, and those first impressions often form the foundation of how a buyer perceives the home. Put them in a positive mindset from the moment they arrive with great landscaping, and they'll be more open to falling in love with the rest of the property.

• Gaining an Edge on the Competition
  Have you checked Naples luxury homes for sale lately? The competition in many Southwest Florida real estate markets is fierce, with a diverse range of luxury listings available to buyers at any given time. One of the great things about landscaping is how it can make your home stand out from the competition for all of the right reasons. Of course, the opposite is also true. A home with poor-quality landscaping and brown spots on the lawn is less likely to attract the attention of buyers than a home with a well-manicured, lush exterior.

• Helping Buyers Imagine Their Lives in the Home
  Many buyers who are shopping for a home in Southwest Florida have a particular tropical aesthetic in mind. They imagine palm trees swaying in a gentle Gulf breeze, trees with tropical fruit growing in the yard, and vibrant, colorful flowers lining the home's driveway. For many buyers, purchasing a home in this part of the country is a dream come true. Making sure your landscaping looks great can help them imagine what it will be like to turn that dream into reality.

• A Flexible Way to Boost Your Home's Appeal
  While high-quality landscaping does require time and financial investment, it's a very flexible way to add appeal without the more significant investment required for renovations or other big projects. With landscaping, you have a lot of flexibility with the types of changes you can make, based on your needs, the time you have available before listing, and how much you're willing to invest.

• Quantifying the Value of Landscaping
  You'll notice we didn't attach dollar amounts to how landscaping impacts home value, and that's deliberate. Every property is different, and it's impossible to say that planting a nice palm tree on a specific part of a lot will raise your home value by a certain dollar amount. However, the value of attractive landscaping shows up in many ways throughout the process, from making positive first impressions on buyers to helping your home stand out in competitive markets and ultimately attracting more offers. Considering the cost of landscaping compared to the value it provides throughout the process, it's often a wise investment.

Planning to sell a home in Southwest Florida? Our local team is here to help you navigate the process and take the right steps to maximize your return on investment. Contact us to buy and sell homes in your favorite Southwest Florida communities.