Landscaping can add tremendous value to your home. It not only adds entertainment value, allowing you to enjoy your property more, but it also adds tangible value to your resale value. Knowing this, you don't want to skimp on your landscaping budget. But you also might have no clue what you can expect to spend.
Typically, you'll pay around 10% of your property value for new landscaping or more if you add expensive fixtures like a pool. For example, if you purchase a $400,000 home, you might pay around $40,000 for hardscaping and softscaping across your front and back yards.
Doing your own landscaping is often more cost-effective than hiring someone else, especially if you use a walk-behind mower. But on the flip side, it does take a lot of time and effort. That's why it's always a good idea to review the pros and cons to make your decision.
The average landscaping project in the U.S. costs $3,494, but ranges between $1,268 and $6,003. Of course, you can spend a lot less than the average if you're just sprucing up your front garden beds.
Landscape improvements are an ROI win-win: generally cheaper than architectural upgrades, but still capable of meaningful boosts to home value. Of course it swings both ways—while some improvements produce great ROI, others don't, and some can even diminish your home's appeal to prospective buyers.
Landscaping can add tremendous value to your home. It not only adds entertainment value, allowing you to enjoy your property more, but it also adds tangible value to your resale value. Knowing this, you don't want to skimp on your landscaping budget. But you also might have no clue what you can expect to spend.
The most expensive part of landscaping projects is often the integration of hardscaping features, such as patios and walkways made from natural stone or permeable paving. Due to their complexity and material costs, these non-living elements can add thousands of dollars to your landscaping budget.
Whether or not you disclose your budget is up to you, but it can help your project in the long run. If your contractor doesn't know your budget, they can't give you the best advice on allocating your time and money.
Drastic landscaping changes are not always environmentally friendly. Cutting down trees or using chemicals to kill weeds is potentially harmful to the wildlife in the area. Consider landscaping around the natural elements and using a plant-based weed killer.
Know what you want to spend and talk budget up front with your landscape professional. Understand what things cost by getting at least three estimates and If you're unsure what to budget, the American Society of Landscape Architects suggests to start with 5 percent to 10 percent of your home's worth.
Determining Your Deposit Amount
We recommend at least 20-50% of the total project cost, as this will be sufficient to cover materials and labor, while also demonstrating the client's commitment to the project.
After 34 years in the landscape design/build field, I can tell you, unequivocally, that you'll have more success and be more satisfied with your final project if you pay for your design than if you don't.
Determine the hourly rate for your employees or subcontractors. Multiply that rate by the estimated time for each task to arrive at a labor cost estimate. Find out the cost of materials needed for each task. Add those costs to the labor cost estimate to arrive at a total cost estimate for the job.
When you make meaningful changes to your outdoor space, you significantly enhance its enjoyability and functionality…and that's valuable. In terms of putting a number to that value, it's commonly said that homeowners should plan to spend around 10 percent of the home's total value on the landscaping.
The cost of professional landscaping reflects a combination of skilled labor, quality materials, and the amount of time required to create a beautiful and functional outdoor space. These are not simple tasks—they require a level of expertise, planning, and physical effort that goes far beyond basic lawn care.
A well-maintained landscape can significantly increase your property's market value. According to real estate experts, high-quality landscaping can add up to 15% to a home's value. This increase can make a substantial difference, especially in competitive real estate markets.