The housing market is a hot topic- but what does landscaping have to do with it?

Picture this:

You’re on the hunt for the home of your dreams. Your real estate agent scheduled a viewing with you for a home he was sure would be “the ONE!!” You excitedly drive to the address in your GPS- so far, the location is perfect, the neighborhood seems friendly. You round the corner, pull up to the curb, but wait- there must have been a mistake. This can’t be it. You step onto grass far past your ankles, gape at gardens overwhelmed with weeds, and climb up a worn, neglected front porch.

You navigate yourself to door, conscious of the creaky steps, and enter. Your agent greets you inside with a big smile and waltzes you through the beautiful 2-bathroom, 4-bedroom home of your dreams, but all you can think about is the mess that awaits you outside.

How would we carry couches over those steps?

How long will it take me to cut that grass?

Where do I even start on the gardens?

If the previous owner neglected so much outdoors, what did they neglect indoors?

These are the scenarios the housing market is met with daily. No matter where you sit in today’s market, landscaping can be a lucrative way to increase the value of your property, attract the right renters, or decrease its selling time.

Take a look at the photos below - which would be more appealing to a potential buyer?

Think about it. With a challenging market and increasing urban development, many people find themselves shopping for a new home or rental in town, chasing affordability. This means a couple of things:

• Their options are smaller
• They risk having less privacy

If you own a home in a tighter area, now is the time to leverage the space you have. When it comes to selling or renting, landscape enhancements that allow buyers to expand their living space is a great selling feature. For example, adding a deck to your back yard creates an entire new seating area to enjoy the outdoors (bonus points if it’s covered). Additionally, creating more privacy with a fence or hedge offers significantly more privacy and boundaries, which is important for most buyers and renters, especially families with young children. Demonstrating you care about the state of your property also offers assurance to potential renters that you will be a reliable and responsible property manager, should they choose to rent from you.

If you find yourself in a place where you are unsure of what to do with your home, it is wise to keep up any and all areas outdoors in the meantime. A little work at a time saves a lot of work all at once in the event that you do decide to get in the game.

The downside- maintenance takes time, and so do enhancements. On top of that, when landscaping isn’t completed properly, it can do more harm than good. If time is a limiting factor, it can be very helpful to have a property manager. Entrusting a company that specializes in landscape maintenance and installation with the care of your property is a simple way to ensure it is maintained without requiring you to be there on a weekly basis yourself.

Snips proudly offers their services to Niagara home owners, property owners, and even business owners seeking to maintain or enhance the curb appeal of their property.

If you find yourself in a similar position today, we would be thrilled to discuss a game plan with you to ensure the value of your home is not only maintained, but improved.

The market is tricky enough as it is. Leverage what you have to your advantage!

Morgan.