Are you planning on putting your house up for sale this coming year?

Of course, you will want to get top dollar for your home.

The question that is often asked is if certain things can be done with your landscaping that will help your house sell quicker or even sell for more.

Landscaping can add thousands of dollars to the value of your property.

Or, more accurately stated, a well-designed landscape can add value to your property.

In fact, it is one of the few home improvements you can make that not only adds immediate value but also increases in value as the years go by.

While interior decor and design concepts regularly go out of style and mechanical systems wear down, plants grow fuller and more robust with time.

The value of an attractive, well-designed, well-executed, low-maintenance plan to a home’s perceived value has often been stated to be an additional 15 percent to 30 percent.

Your return on investment can vary greatly depending on your neighbourhood, the current housing market and exactly what improvements have been made.   

Stay conservative: You may have heard it said before, but something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

If you put a lot of money into a landscaping project but install or create something that only suits a small portion of people, you might have a hard time finding buyers who also appreciate the yard work.

Instead, by staying conservative with your yard work, you will find your return is better.

Also, by keeping it mild, potential buyers will more likely be able to see themselves enjoying the yard with their kids, or hosting summer dinner parties.

Pretty, but not too pretty: Of course, a home with beautiful gardens and magazine-worthy grass looks amazing, and you’ll likely hear compliments from neighbours and friends every time they visit, but this kind of yard is a lot of work.

If you choose to invest a significant amount of money into landscaping with extensive gardens and trees, then your home may only appeal to a small number of people.

Having an overly high-maintenance yard can turn off potential buyers, especially if it’s their first home or they live a busy lifestyle with children and growing commitments.

Nurture your lawn: Taking care of your lawn regularly is one of the most effective ways to increase the value of your property.

Make potential buyers long to walk barefoot on your lush, green grass by keeping it healthy.

When regular mowing and watering isn’t enough, try natural fertilizers, aeration, or even laying down a new lawn altogether.

Get rid of those ugly brown patches that distract the eyes of potential buyers and install edging for a trim and tidy look.

A well-maintained lawn will tell the future buyer that the home has been well cared for.

Add colour: Don’t be afraid to stand out. A pop of colour brings style to an otherwise plain palette.

Reviving your front door with a fresh coat of paint adds charm and noticeability to your home without breaking the bank.

There are multiple options: a red door can balance out the blandness of neutral siding; royal blue breathes life into sun-faded brick; and sage green has a calming effect that blends in with the natural environment.

This quick and easy improvement evolves your entryway into a focal point that will catch any buyer’s eye.

Even adding a couple of pots by the doorway with bright-coloured flowers can make a big difference.

Consider the buyer’s perspective: Koi ponds aren’t for everybody. Keep in mind that something could be of great value to one buyer while being a deal-breaker for another.

Even if you think a swimming pool would look great in your backyard, not every buyer will want to take on the maintenance and added cost that goes with it.

Rather than gambling on a big investment that may or may not appeal to a future homeowner, make sure you’ve researched what buyers are looking for in the current real estate climate.

“Curb appeal” refers to what potential buyers see when they drive up to the house.

A beautiful garden, a spacious deck and shining new paint can all make prospective owners take notice.

Homes with curb appeal also tend to sell more quickly, which can be an attractive quality when you come to sell your home.

So, if you are thinking that you may be selling your home in the coming months, remember not to go overboard, but keep things simple and well-maintained.

Clear away any clutter. Something as simple as edging the gardens can go a long way in people’s first impression of your home.

Joanne Young is a Niagara-on-the-Lake garden expert and coach. See her website at joanneyoung.ca.