Curb appeal and resale value make a huge difference when selling your Detroit home, and nothing makes a better first impression than beautiful landscaping. When it comes to the exterior, a lush green yard makes all the difference.
Here are 5 landscape trends that can help to increase the overall value of your property in Detroit:
1. Improve Your Outdoor Living Space
Homebuyers want to see living spaces extended to outdoor areas. Homes with less square footage should particularly focus on making an outdoor living space that will make the property feel larger.
Make these spaces comfortable and somewhat private to entice buyers. The outdoor living space should reflect the size of the home, so stay away from encouraging homeowners to add a patio that greatly dwarfs the home itself.
Even small spaces can be updated to create outdoor space that will bring in a great return.
See Related:
The Best Small Patio Ideas for Your Outdoor Living Space
Ways to Create a Cozy Outdoor Living Space With Lights
How to Landscape for Privacy
2. Plant Mature Trees
Studies show that mature trees in a well-kept yard can help to raise a property’s value. Potential homebuyers love the look of established trees but also understand the cost savings that a shady tree can provide a home. We encourage you to plant trees that will grow well in different areas of your yard and decrease your overall energy costs.
Consider taking a walk around the neighborhood to see what tree varieties are doing well in the area and attract the most attention, or simply choose a Michigan native tree.
Suggested native plants for landscaping upgrades in Detroit includes oak varieties, juneberry, and black gum.
- Oak varieties including white, bur, and red grow to be anywhere between 50-70 feet tall, are slow growing, and very tolerant to Detroit’s cold temperatures.
- Juneberry is easy to grow, and is very popular for front yard landscaping as it has small clustered blooms that provide interest.
- Black gum is another slow growing variety that has lustrous foliage, is easy to maintain, and attracts friendly wildlife like birds and squirrels.
3. Maintain Your Yard
Prune trees and shrubs so that the landscape looks well cared for and not overgrown. Replace dead plants with bright perennials of different heights to add interest to a landscape.
Add gravel to walkways and spread some mulch around the base of trees to provide an instant updated look. This will also help to deter common Michigan weeds from growing which can be a huge eyesore to potential buyers.
See Related:
21 Flowering Perennials to Add Color to Your Garden
Mulch Guide: Types, Pro Tips, and Where to Mulch
4. Take Care of Your Lawn
A well-cared for lawn can is the surest ticket to a great first impression with would-be homeowners, and it gives you a sense of pride having a picture-perfect yard, too.
Lawn mowing, perhaps the most arduous task, can be outsourced at a reasonable cost. With the average price per mow in the Detroit area being roughly $53 per service, lawn care can be a time and money saver (no need for mowers and string trimmers).
Unlike other sprucing-up tasks ahead of a sale, you can’t simply pay for a brand-new lawn before you sell your home — you need to maintain it on a monthly basis. So, don’t neglect the lawn with regular watering, aeration, and fertilizing.
This easy project will help to increase the overall value of a home by providing a welcoming and instantly accessible atmosphere for potential homeowners. Making the lawn inviting and easy to walk around barefoot is a huge plus.
See Related:
Lawn and Landscape Projects That Increase Home Value
A Guide to Fall Lawn Care in Detroit
How to Winterize Your Detroit Garden
5. Add Some Design Accents
Homebuyers don’t want a ton of mismatched color, but a few well-placed accents of color or texture will help complete the overall look of any home on the market. With gates and brick patios being at the top of Detroit design trends, consider adding stronger elements to your patio space.
Or for a more affordable upgrade, consider adding painted pots to the front porch or even paint the front door to make the home stand out to potential buyers. Making sure that the landscape isn’t just green and brown will draw the interest of potential homebuyers.
When to Hire a Landscaping Pro
We all know that curb appeal is one of the first things that a potential homebuyer will consider when first viewing a home. The status of the outdoor areas of the home can instantly create strong feelings in potential buyers and make them want to either enter the home or drive on by.
Recognize areas of your landscape that could be freshened up to enjoy your home now and to get the most resale value.
To make your landscaping dreams a reality, visit our Detroit landscaping page and hire a local landscaping pro. In addition to Detroit, we also offer landscaping services in the Grand Rapids and Lansing metro areas.
Main Photo Credit: Leonid Andronov / Adobe Stock Free / License
