Author: Alex X. Niemiera, Extension Horticulturist, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech
Publication Number 426-087, Posted September 2007
The value of an attractive landscape to a home's perceived value has often been stated at 15 percent. Is this figure reliable, and what landscape features do contribute to the value of a home? How does a landscape contractor convince his/her client to spend a significant portion of a home's construction budget on landscaping, and is this a wise investment? How can a homeowner feel justified by spending thousands of dollars to landscape a newly constructed house? Or, will thousands of dollars worth of landscaping, significantly increase the "curb appeal" of a home for sale? To answer these questions, researchers conducted a seven-state survey of attendees at consumer home and garden shows to determine consumer perspective on how plant size, type, and design sophistication in a landscape affect the perceived value of a home (Behe et al., 2005).
In 1999, survey respondents viewed a photo of a newly built suburban house with only a lawn and concrete pathway. They were then shown 16 photographs of this house with different plant sizes and types, and levels of design sophistication. Plant sizes were small, medium, or large based on available sizes of plant types (perennial, shrub, or tree). Design sophistication levels (see Figures 1, 2, 3) were: 1) foundation planting only, 2) foundation planting with one large, oblong island planting and one or two single specimen trees in the lawn, or 3) a foundation planting with adjoining beds and two or three large island plantings, all incorporating curved bed lines. Plant types were:
Survey respondents ranked design sophistication as most important, plant size as next important, and diversity of plant type as least important (Table 1).
Table 1. Survey results with the ranking of landscape aspects and the percent value that
these aspects added to the home value.
The preferred landscape included a sophisticated design
with large deciduous, evergreen, and annual
color plants and colored hardscape. These results differ
slightly compared to a 1999 Michigan study with
an identical methodology (Hardy et al., 2000). In that
study, plant size was the factor that most added to a
home's value (40.2 percent) and design sophistication
was a close second (36.5 percent). As in the previous study, plant type was placed third (23.3 percent). The
authors of the seven-state 1999 study hypothesized that
the difference between the two studies may relate to
survey respondents. The survey in Michigan occurred
at a flower show venue whereas the seven-state survey
occurred at a home and garden show. Another
potential difference was that Michigan respondents
may value plant size more than the respondents in the
seven-state survey because plants grow more slowly
in Michigan compared to the areas of the multi-state
survey (Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas).
Figure 1. Design Sophistication Level 1: foundation planting only.
Figure 2. Design Sophistication Level 2: foundation planting with one large, oblong island planting and
one or two single specimen or shade trees in the lawn.
The change in value (from no landscape to well-landscaped) ranged from 5.5 percent (Louisiana) to 11.4 percent (South Carolina). The increase in home value from the least valued landscape to the most valued landscape in the Michigan study was 12.7 percent.
Thus, a home valued at $150,000 with no landscape (lawn only) could be worth $8,250 to $19,050 more with a sophisticated landscape with color and large plants. Interestingly, the multi-state study found that very minimal landscapes (simple design with small plants) detracted from the value of a landscape.
Data from research conducted from 1996-97 in Greenville, S.C., showed that home price premiums increased 6 percent to 7 percent for home landscapes that were upgraded from good to excellent and 4 percent to 5 percent for an upgrade from average to good (Henry, 2000). By combining these data, the value added by a landscape upgrade from average to excellent increases a home value by 10 percent to 12 percent. Thus, this finding is consistent with the survey results of Behe et al. (2005) and Hardy et al. (2000).
Survey results showed that relatively large landscape expenditures significantly increase perceived home value and will result in a higher selling price than homes with a minimal landscape. Design sophistication and plant size were the landscape factors that most affected value. The resulting increase in "curb appeal" of the property may also help differentiate a home in a subdivision where house styles are similar and thereby attract potential buyers into a home. This advantage is especially important in a competitive housing market.
Landscape contractors can use the above information
to help the homeowner understand the relationship between
house landscape and house value. This can add
to the marketability of their services and maximize their business potential. In a 1999 focus group approach
study conducted in Nebraska, Rodie and Paparozzi
(1999) found that improved communication from the
contractor as well as from the homeowner is needed to
make the most of the landscape design and customer
satisfaction. They also noted the need for client education
in terms of understanding and appreciating the
design process and the ultimate value of the design and
requisite expertise to create and execute it.
The overall survey conclusion was that design sophistication was the highest ranked factor that added to the perceived value of a home. Thus, investing in the services of a landscape design professional will optimize the value of a home. In contrast to many home improvements, the value of an investment in a landscape improvement increases over time since the growth and maturity of trees and shrubs enhance aesthetic appeal.
Figure 3. Design Sophistication Level 3: a foundation planting with adjoining beds and two
or three large island plantings, all incorporating curved bedlines.
Behe, B., J. Hardy, S. Barton, J. Brooker, T. Fernandez, C. Hall, J. Hicks, R. Hinson, P. Knight, R. McNiel, T. Page, B. Rowe, C. Safley, and R. Schutzki. 2005. Landscape plant material, size, and design sophistication increase perceived home value. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 23:127-133.
Hardy, J., B.K. Behe, S.B. Barton, T.J. Page, R.E. Schutzki, K. Muzii, R.T. Fernandez, M.T. Haque, J. Brooker, C.R. Hall, R. Hinson, P. Knight, R. McNiel, D. B. Rowe, and C. Safley. 2000. Consumer preferences for plant size, type of plant material and design sophistication in residential landscaping. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 18:224-230.
Henry, M.S. 1999. Landscape quality and the price of a single family houses: further evidence from home sales in Greenville, South Carolina. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 17:25-30.
Rodie, E.T. Paparozzi. 1999. Public perceptions of landscape
design as a nursery industry service and quality of
life enhancement factor. Journal of Environmental
Horticulture 17:18-24.
The authors thank the following individuals for critical review of this publication: Bonnie L. Appleton, Extension nursery, landscape, and urban tree management specialist, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center; Lynette J. Swanson, Extension agent, environmental horticulture, Norfolk City; Adria C. Bordas, Extension agent, horticulture, Fairfax County; and Joyce Latimer, professor and Extension specialist, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech.
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