Homeownership is a big investment, which means buyers and sellers are always looking for ways to add long-term value to their property, and knowing how is a great way for a real estate agent to provide added value. In this case, money can grow on trees.
It’s no secret — landscaping increases property values. According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, mature trees can increase the value of a home by 20 percent.
There are easy ways to highlight the value trees add to a property to potential buyers by stressing not only the curb appeal benefits but also the long list of science-backed benefits they provide.
4 ways trees add value to a property
1. Lifetime beauty
A mature tree, one that is older than 15 years, can have an appraised value between $1,000 and $10,000, according to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers.
Although it takes years for trees to reach mature size, weighing the short- and long-term benefits a tree provides for the property can help homeowners see the big picture.
2. Extra green
According to Quicken Loans, “Spending as little as 5 percent of your home’s value on landscaping may get an ROI of as much as 150 percent.”
This curb appeal factor can be the difference between someone stopping to look at a property or passing it by.
3. Cooling shade
Trees planted in certain areas of a property can dramatically reduce heating and cooling costs.
The American Power Association estimates that effective landscaping can reduce a home cooling bill by as much as 50 percent a year.
In fact, areas without shade trees can become “heat islands” with temperatures reaching 12 degrees higher than surrounding areas.
Trees planted on the north and northwest sides of a property create a wall against cold winter winds and cut heating costs by up to 30 percent a year.
4. Visual interest
Many trees are valued for their hardiness, durability, adaptability and attractiveness. According to Better Homes and Gardens, Japanese maples and dwarf conifers are among the most highly valued trees.
These studies show trees improve health, lower anxiety, produce more sociable neighborhoods and create a more desirable street on which to live. Trees also reduce energy bills, add visual interest to the landscape and take overall home design to the next level.
These are just four of the benefits of having trees on a property. Share these benefits with your homesellers or new homeowners to provide added value as an agent.
Jess Running is the district manager for The Davey Tree Expert Company’s Menlo Park office. Follow Davey Tree on Twitter and like them on Facebook.