The Landscaping Mistake That's Aging Your House (And Lowering Its Value)

Buying a home is a significant investment. When you finally put it on the market, you'd expect to not only recover the invested capital but also earn a little (or a lot!) extra to justify the work you have put in over the years. So, it can be disheartening when the few offers you receive are significantly lower than your asking price. Instead of accepting a low-ball offer, fix one major red flag that's driving buyers away from your home: neglected landscaping. An unruly yard sporting weedy plants will age your house and taint a buyer's first impression. Speaking about the issue in his exclusive interview with House Digest, Dutch Mendenhall, real estate investor, best-selling author, and founder of Omnico Golf, said, "One of the big mistakes many homeowners make is that they're not thinking about curb appeal." 

Revealing the loss you might suffer due to a poorly maintained yard, he continued, "Certain parts of the country are more affected than others, but neglecting landscaping can significantly impact a house's appearance [...] Just bad landscaping can drive the price of a house down by 10, 15, or 20%." The reason for this is simple. A buyer doesn't want to pile more work on their already overflowing plate (or bear extra costs) unless they're a flipper like the Craines from "The Haunting of Hill House." The good news is you can make a few improvements to salvage the situation and impress all interested parties.

Dutch Mendenhall shared how your landscaping impacts your house's overall appearance and makes it look older. "Homeowners, when someone pulls up to a home and wants to buy it and live in the home, they're thinking there's a special kind of panache, a certain feeling to that pull up," he told House Digest exclusively. "And so, blocking the view of a home is a common mistake. People want a certain feeling when they pull up to a home. That's critical. They want ease of access to getting in and out of the house." Simply put, overgrown bushes, haggard plants, wilting shrubs, and weeds peeking out of the driveway or sidewalk will leave a poor first impression on all visitors. Buyers simply don't want to overlook such issues and knowingly shoulder more renovation work for their future selves.

The first thing you should do is determine the problem areas. Is your yard weedy? Do your shrubs and bushes look like they could use a haircut? Are your trees underwatered? Or, is it a veritable jungle with no rhyme and rhythm? Once you identify the issues, you can work on solutions. For instance, try out the least harmful ways to kill weeds in your lawn to get rid of the unwanted plants and keep your home's structure intact. Similarly, if you're dealing with unwanted growth, employ the best way to tame your overgrown shrubs in your yard.

The degree of impact your neglected yard will have on your property's value will depend on your location. In his exclusive interview with House Digest, Dutch Mendenhall revealed the areas where well-maintained landscaping is more important and the ones where it won't cause as many problems. "Florida, it's going to be way more important than many parts of California, where it's a lot drier [...] Your wet climate is going to [have an effect] more than your dry climate," he said. If you live in an area that is prone to times of accelerated growth, power up your lawn mower (or pay a professional) to tackle overgrown grass. 

Replacing old mulch and installing water features will also have a positive influence and give your home a younger appearance. Moreover, if you want to win over all potential buyers with your gorgeous landscaping, you can add a few native trees. Although you'll have to plan a few years ahead, a mature tree can enhance your property's value by about 30%. 

Neglecting yard work doesn't just impact the look of your home. "And then other parts of the country, like the Midwest, you know, if you don't do landscaping [...] if your sprinklers and other things are cleared out, they can freeze and then cause them to explode," Mendenhall said. The lack of insulation can wreak havoc on your pipes and cause water damage, making a maintained yard essential. That being said, remember that the maintenance won't be cheap. You can expect to spend anywhere between $1,300 and $6,000 on landscaping. But don't worry about investing more money into your existing home's yard, as you should more than recoup your costs with a higher sales offer.