Common knowledge suggests that adding to your home’s curb appeal will increase the value of your home. While this truism seems to check out, pinning down specific numbers can be difficult. Advice on how much to invest in your home’s curb appeal and what kind of a return you can expect vary between sources. With that in mind here is a basic guide to curb appeal and how it influences the sale and value of your home.

Why is curb appeal important?

Well, it’s the first impression that your home will make on a potential buyer. And what you are aiming for is love at first sight. You need to draw the eye and make passers-by feel like they could make a life in your house. Carefully designed hard and soft landscaping features can accomplish this, translating into higher selling prices and quicker selling times.

How much should I invest?

This depends on how long you plan to stay in your home. If you want to sell soon then a smaller investment, roughly one or two percent of your home’s total cost is a solid investment.

However, if you are planning to sell in a few years you may want to consider investing ten to twenty percent of your home’s value into improving your landscaping and curb appeal. The reasoning here is twofold: A larger investment will lead to a larger payoff and you have more time to enjoy the beautiful features you are installing.

What should I invest in?

You may think the key to your investment is to make your home and garden as beautiful as possible. That isn’t quite right. Remember your buyers are looking for somewhere to live. If their first thought is that your elaborate garden is stunning, their second thought is “how could I ever maintain that?”

Ideally you want your home to appear both beautiful and low maintenance. For quick sells consider mature plants that require less care. Hardscaping features like stone pathways, walkways and retaining walls are a great way to increase your home’s landscaping value. Porches, walls and other structures are critical elements to your front or backyard design.

Fusion Stone, in particular is an excellent addition. Not only is Fusion Stone inexpensive it also requires little maintenance and creates a classic look. To choose the right stone for your home you should take some time to research your home’s architectural style. Find the best structural additions that make sense for your style, budget and timing.

What can I expect back?

Sources are consistent in that excellent landscaping can dramatically improve your home’s value, but are not unanimous in numbers.  Some suggest a five to twenty percent increase is normal, with a seven percent increase an accepted average. But, with really clever and quality work some homeowners have reported a one thousand percent return on investment.

When investing in your home’s curb appeal consider how long you will be living with the changes you have made. And also think about how much maintenance you want to do. Putting yourself in a potential buyer’s shoes is helpful when deciding on home improvements, but for the time being it’s still your home – so keep your own time and budget restraints in mind.