Landscaping and Home Values in Great Falls and McLean

Posted by Jennifer on May 11, 2016 in Great Falls, Home Style and Design | Leave a comment

Landscaping, or the lack of it, can make or break a home’s curb appeal.  An established, beautiful garden is visually appealing and a sign to buyers that a home has been cared for and maintained.  A coherent landscaping plan with a variety of shrubs and perennials also adds real value to a home.  Good landscaping’s return on investment is shown to be well over 100% — a better ROI than adding a new kitchen!  Landscaping is one of the few improvements that adds value immediately and increases in value over time, as the plants become established.

Good landscaping adds beauty and value

According to a study by Virginia Tech, landscaping can add 5 – 12 percent to a home’s value.  “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.”

In other words, a well thought out design with a variety of types and sizes of plants, including larger shrubs and perennials could add $150,000 of value to a $1.5 million house.

Have a coherent plan

If you are not a gardener, it is worth getting professional help for design and maintenance.  According to Bob Vila, “the biggest mistake homeowners make is a piecemeal approach to landscaping. Homeowners begin projects, start to clear areas, put in a mix of plants, and proceed without a plan. The result is a hodgepodge of plantings and gardens that give the property a disorganized feel. An implemented professional landscape design provides a polished look. Following a professionally prepared plan will lead the homeowner to a beautiful property while remaining within a pre-established budget.”

 

A great resource for gardeners in our area

I moved to Great Falls from Old Town Alexandria a few years ago.  Gardening in Old Town was easy and relatively cheap.  I had a patio with a small space for shrubs and plants.  In one afternoon I could transform the space from a dead zone to near perfection.

Now in Great Falls, I have to think differently about gardening.  It is a series of long term projects that require research and patience.  And I have to outsmart deer.

The best resource I have found is a book called “Take Our Advice:  A Handbook for Gardening in Northern Virginia”    The book lists reliable perennials for our climate, and is a handy reference to quickly look up whether a given plant is native or deer resistant and the basic growing conditions it requires.  It devotes sections to deer proofing, growing blueberries, vegetables, roses and gives advice on how to plant.

What has worked for me

I have a herd of deer that go through my yard on a regular basis.  I do not have an irrigation system.  I do not have a team of gardeners – I do my own gardening.  Considering those circumstances, a few of the perennials I have had luck with are:

For sun gardens:  lavender, peonies, knock out roses, nepeta, lamb’s ear, irises, coreopsis, boxwood

For partial sun:  astilbe, viburnum, mountain laurel

For shade:  Jack Frost Brunera, ferns, pachysandra

If you need to spruce up in a hurry

If you plan to sell within a year, you can take several immediate steps to dress up your landscape and boost your selling price. Cut fresh edges around your planting beds; having a sharp, well-defined edge between grass and mulch gives the landscape a professional look. Also begin regular “weed and feed” treatments on your lawn; you want potential buyers to see a lush carpet, not a patchwork quilt. Keep in mind though that grass is a long term project.  Spend some money on larger perennials and shrubs – getting the right ones for the right place, and keep proportions in mind, so that your yard doesn’t look as if you just started working on it—even if you did.

If you are thinking of selling your Great Falls or McLean home, and wondering how to get it ready and what it may be worth in today’s market, give us a call.  Ginny can be reached at 571-236-3405 and Jennifer can be reached at 703-851-2255.