When it comes to creating curb appeal for your home, upgrades double as investments. Lighting, paved walkways, trees and shrubs are just a few of the features that make your home safer and prettier at the same time. Not only that; curb appeal can pay off in measurable, monetary ways. If you’re looking for a return on your landscaping investment, look no further than your front yard. Here are a few ways to quantify curb appeal, backed by stats from reputable sources.
Your Enjoyment
A report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) found that 75% of homeowners who invested in curb appeal said they were more inclined to stay home after having completed their curb appeal projects. Additionally, 59% said they found more enjoyment at home and 63% said they felt a major sense of accomplishment.
Beautifying your home on the outside is all about achieving your creative vision. A professional can you help make your home look amazing, with the result bringing pure joy and gratitude. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty numbers, you can calculate the money you could save by being perfectly happy staying home when you might otherwise go out and spend on food, drinks, live entertainment and other expenses.
Your Home’s Value
NAR’s numbers on curb appeal go much deeper than the warm and fuzzy stats above. That’s because most realtors (99%, according to NAR) will tell you that curb appeal can help your home fetch a higher price on the market. Even if you don’t plan to sell your home any time soon, increasing its value is always a good thing.
A study by the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington published in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics suggests curb appeal can add anywhere from 7% to 14% to your sale price on average. Separately, NAR says 100% of landscaping and tree service costs are recovered at sale. Meanwhile, the Washington Post notes that 87 percent of home buyers say they rely on photos when house hunting.
The First Impression
First impressions happen faster and last longer than you might think. Psychologists at Princeton found that subjects developed a lasting impression of a stranger in one tenth of a second. The same rule applies to your home. Snap your fingers—that’s how long you have to impress your guests and neighbors. A well-kept lawn is an absolute must, while accent lighting can give your home a unique ambiance. Foliage brings seasonal appeal. Flowers add bright pops of color.
Numbers don’t lie. Curb appeal is the key to happiness, home value, and morning hellos from friendly neighbors. It’ll remind you why you love your home and will also set the tone if you have people over. When designing your dream landscape, it always starts with curb appeal. See a few of our easy curb appeal tips and contact us to get started with your project.
