Landscaping Pays Off

Money spent sprucing up the yard with trees, shrubs, lighting, and patios is well spent -- especially when it comes time to sell the home, a new study says.

The report, by Arbor National Mortgage, found that 84 percent of real estate professionals believe a house on a treed lot would fetch at least 20 percent more than one on a lot without trees.

Another of the company’s surveys suggested that while shelling out for top-of-the line landscaping may only bring in an additional 4 percent to 5 percent, spending minimal amounts has a penalty. Home with average landscaping sell for 20 percent more than homes with just fair landscaping.

Source: Orlando Sentinel, Lew Sichelman