Home Truths: Growing in value

Hedge of corokia and ficus. Photo / Supplied

To the potential buyer, the value of the landscaping and the extent of the landscaping must be in relation to the property value and size.

Alan Davies, of Davies Batley Valuers, says that landscaping is an important component of a property, especially in the higher-end market and you need that 'wow' factor to attract people to your property and get them out of the car. He says that landowners are not always able to visualise and implement a professionally landscaped garden. His advice is to get a landscape plan.

When budget is a factor, understandably landscaping can be at the bottom of the list, but to forget it altogether is not a wise decision. It's not easy to pin down landscaping to a percentage value, but some research in the industry suggests spending 5 per cent of the value of the home on landscaping could increase the value by 15 to 20 per cent.

No matter what your situation is, at some point you will want to move on and this will mean placing your property on the market in competition with many others. It may be at that point, years down the track, that you will regret not considering landscaping as an investment.

Is there a difference between landscaping for yourself and landscaping to sell? Yes, there is.

To landscape a property for marketing, you will need to appeal to a wider range of people - low-maintenance gardens with fuller grouped plantings, outdoor lighting, established lawns and trees. Don't allow too much personality to show. Green is the most harmonious colour in the garden. Texture will create interest. Consider your target market. Driveways and paths should be practical and in proportion. Practise restraint.

Cathy Miller, of Harcourts in Kumeu, says that a property is a package and not all about the house. She recommends that vendors employ people who are able to visualise what a property needs to bring out all its qualities. Cathy says a property is a canvas and it takes vision to see how it is going to look long term. She says long-term goals are essential in the creation of gardens .

How many homes are bought on emotion? Most. Landscaping will set the scene and add atmosphere as soon as you enter the property. Landscaping connects the house to the land to create the balance, scale and proportion important for our comfort level in these spaces. It will enhance the relationship between the elements - the house, the land and you.

As houses get larger and sections get smaller, you can reduce the verticality of the house with trees and hedges to integrate it with the garden. Feature elements, bright colours and architectural plants can divert focus from neighbours, unsightly fences or a busy road. Water features will camouflage the sound of traffic.

The smaller the site the more scrutiny it will endure, so simplicity and greenery with restrained plant choices will help maximise the space.

In the large rural landscape, the development of frameworks and outdoor rooms is essential for reducing the scale and making spaces comfortable. The integration of elements and the relationship with the greater landscape beyond will ground the house.

There may be the need to address practical issues, such as shelter from prevailing winds, shade trees, lawn health, sheltered vegetable plots and beautification of the countryside. A visual axis could enhance specific features of the landscape and architecture. Trees add a vertical dimension and hedges create form and structure on the ground plane, reducing the scale of a larger home and sitting it comfortably within the greater landscape

The development of grey-water filtration systems, filtration ponds, natural swimming pools with plants as filters, erosion control, revegetation and protection of bush remnants are all becoming part of the landscape language. These elements are often an important aspect of a rural property and can involve specific skills; so ask your landscaper how versed he or she is with these elements.

It is often in the larger rural properties that the emphasis is on the big beautiful home with all the bells and whistles, but where landscaping is minimal. When marketing this type of property, real estate agents find it difficult to find features that make it stand out.

Get advice from an experienced landscape architect, landscape designer, real estate agent or valuer. They can help you get the best value for your property.

gail@nouveauterra.co.nz