Landscaping: Increase the Value of Your Property in Five Easy Steps

Curb appeal may sound a little superficial, but can raise your home's value by several thousand dollars. Landscaping is a big part of curb appeal, but sometimes it's a little difficult to know what is essential and what is a must-have. Consider these five ways to add instant value to your property whether you are planning on selling now or several years in the future.

1 Plant Trees

The number one thing that you can do to make sure that your landscape adds to the appeal of your home is to plant trees. Trees keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter, they prevent erosion from your lawn, and they help filter the local water supply. Choose trees that are native to the area to ensure the best growth, and be willing to tend them carefully.

2 Add an Irrigation System

Everyone loves having a garden, but few people really love tending it. Watering your garden is tedious. If you want to make sure that your landscaping pays for itself when you sell the home, an irrigation or sprinkler system is key. Not only will this save you on time, it is also a great deal more efficient than watering by hand.

3 Put In a Walkway

There's nothing quite as irritating as bare patches in your lawn or garden caused by foot traffic. Prevent some of that by putting in a walkway. You might prefer something in plain cement, or perhaps you want stepping stones or even a mosaic path. Make sure that you consider where the walking patterns in your landscape are and design your walkway accordingly.

4 Steel Exterior Doors

They say that you can't put a price on security, but a 2014 survey states that if you install steel exterior doors on your home, you can recoup more than 100 percent of the cost. There are very few landscaping tips that can approach this value. People like to feel safe in their houses, and these doors are the way to reinforce the idea that they will be secure.

5 Install Outdoor Lights

Make sure that everyone can see your landscaping job. From flood lights and dusk until dawn lights to smaller garden lights that twinkle charmingly in your garden, outdoor lights make a great deal of difference when it comes to convincing people to pay more for your property.

A little bit of landscaping help can go a long way. Consider the needs

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about real estate and home repairs and spending time with her dog, Max. Information credited to Fellows Irrigation Services.