---

If you’ve spent any time watching HGTV or the DIY network, you probably think that the best place to start when making home improvements is your kitchen or bath. These are both areas of focus for potential homebuyers and also areas where design trends are most evident, so it stands to reason that an investment in one, or both, of these areas would pay off.

Think again. Numerous university studies show that an investment in landscaping can provide a return on investment of more than 100 percent, and ultimately increase your home’s value by ten percent or more. This is a better return than any interior improvement. If you really think about it, it stands to reason that the curb appeal of your home would heavily influence its market value. Many potential homebuyers may never enter your home if the exterior is not attractively maintained and landscaped. Studies also show that homes with updated landscaping sell up to six weeks faster than other homes. This is good news whether you are trying to sell your home in a difficult market, or merely looking to get the highest appraisal possible when you refinance your mortgage.

What should you do if you are struggling to get your house sold? Take a look at your landscaping plan. Do you have dead plants or beds that have been taken over by weeds? Does your yard look barren? Do you have too much of a green thumb and your yard has turned into a jungle? Think about what a typical buyer, a buyer that is not you, is looking for. They want a nicely manicured yard with enough greenery to frame complement your home, but not so much that it becomes the focus of the home. Trees have the biggest impact, so placing an attractive tree, or trees, in your yard to provide shade and frame your home or backyard may well be worth it. Furthermore, landscape experts add that the way your landscaping funds are invested has a great deal to do with the return you experience. Buying a ton of small homogenous plants is far less desirable that a few well placed mature ornamentals that complement the rest of your yard. You should focus on the front yard first as this is what grabs a potential buyer’s attention. Make sure your beds are weed fee and covered with a nice layer of mulch.

The winter season makes landscaping more challenging because lawns, plants and trees are largely dormant. Nevertheless, there are varieties of camellia, juniper, iris and viburnum that bloom in the winter months. Winterizing your lawn will insure that it greens up rapidly when the cold weather departs in early Spring. Your local nursery or a qualified landscape architect can provide you with guidance on how to maximize your landscape investment.