Hardscaping To Improve Resale Value Of Your Home
Homeownership has long been a vital part of the American dream, and with good reason. From choosing the kind of neighborhood you want to live in, the number of bedrooms, the size of the yard, to how far the closest school or grocery store is, buying a home is an important decision. Owning your own home is an investment, and according to the Federal Reserve, it’s one that rarely loses value. You’ll have an opportunity to build equity (the difference between what you can sell the home for and what you owe).
Due to COVID lockdowns, we have been spending as many as 3 hours more a week outside, so why not make your property look great while adding features that can increase the value of your property and also have immeasurable intrinsic value. The answer to the improvement of both values is hardscaping.
What Is hardscaping?
Landscaping is divided into two types: hardscape and softscape. Hardscape refers to the non-living, outdoor areas on your property, such as a stone wall or pavers. Softscape is the organic or living elements on the property like trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers. The Appraisal Institute reports that investing in landscaping alone can increase your home’s value by up to 13%.
Benefits Of Hardscape
Investing in hardscaping can bring many benefits, both immediately and in the long run. Adding an outdoor dining area can lead to spending more time with friends and family. This is especially beneficial for young children. Kids who had family meals 5-7 times weekly had better grades, verbal skills, and an improved mental outlook. When you throw in a return on investment of anywhere from 100 to 200 percent, the kids won’t be the only ones with an improved mental outlook.
One of the most popular trends in hardscaping for the last few years has been fire pits. Keep the family time going after your meal with a relaxing evening around a fire. Staring at the flames can lower blood pressure and induce an overall calm feeling, and the sounds of a crackling fire can have the same effect. Throw in the smiles of the young ones as they sit around the fire and melt the chocolate and marshmallows in a s’more filled night, and a 67% ROI and the fire pit is a win-win addition. If your preference is a fireplace over a fire pit, the calming results are the same, and the return is still 60%.
What good are the new features if you can’t appreciate them at night? New or upgraded exterior lighting not only enhances your property’s curb appeal but can brighten your day with a return of 50%.
Other elements with very high financial returns are a deck, gazebo, patio, pergola and privacy fence, and water features such as a pond or a recirculating stream. For better results, the higher the quality materials used in the buildout, the better the return. Hot items such as pavers are a great bet. According to the National Association of Realtors and The National Association of Landscape Professionals, an overall renovation of the landscape, including hardscape items, can net a 100% return in recovered costs and receive a 9.6 or higher out of 10 Joy Score. In addition to growing your equity, you’ll be creating memories that will last a lifetime.
When the time is right to create an enchanting environment right outside your doorstep, Kenney Landscaping is at your service. We’ve been doing this for a long time and are eager to apply our years of expertise to your landscaping project. Whether you’re interested in a new pathway, patio, outdoor fireplace, or retaining wall, we are ready to help.
We serve Oakland and Macomb Counties, and it is our mission to provide the best hardscaping services to the Metropolitan Detroit area. Take advantage of this opportune time to invest in your home, and when you think of Kenney Landscaping, think of luxury.