With warmer weather and a faster-paced homebuying season just around the corner, sellers could see major financial benefits simply by showing their lawns a little TLC. A well-landscaped yard can boost a home’s sale price by 5.5% to 12.7%, and according to Realtor.com, investing in better landscaping doesn’t have to break the bank.
Simple improvements such as killing unwanted weeds, adding drought-tolerant plants, and laying down fresh mulch in flower beds and around trees is relatively quick and inexpensive but can increase a home’s curb appeal and, in turn, its sale price.
Many cities offer free mulch to residents, says Sarah Hutchinson at LandscapingNetwork.com. Check with your local government to see if there’s a program available in your area. You’ll need to rent your own truck if you want to load up, but doing so is another way to cut your landscaping expenses, since mulch delivery can cost between $354 and $1,093.
Concrete—for driveways and sidewalks—may be the go-to for many homeowners, but it’s also expensive, costing $98 per cubic yard. So go for the cheaper option of pea gravel, which costs drastically less, at $30 to $35 per cubic yard. Even cheaper? Hutchinson likes decomposed granite, which costs only about $3 to $5.
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