Boosting Property Values with Trees in Rochester, New York
Did you know that trees can significantly influence your home and property’s value? When planning to sell your home, you might consider various ways to increase the final sale price. While many focus on updating kitchens or bathrooms, an effective way to enhance your home’s value lies outside: trees and landscaping. Trees can make or break your property’s value.
In this article, you will discover:
- How to use trees to increase the value of your home (and the homes around you)
- When trees can harm your chances of a bigger sale
- What to do if you plan to put your house on the market
- What you can do if you don’t plan on selling any time soon
Homes in neighborhoods with more trees tend to have higher property values.
How Trees Boost Your Property Value
Both realtors and buyers believe that healthy, mature trees add value to your home, and research supports this view.
For instance, this Arbor Day Foundation article explains how trees in your garden and along the sidewalk enhance not only your home’s appearance but its value. This research estimates a 3% to 15% increase in a home’s value with large trees surrounding it.
Since bigger trees are better for property value, consider planting those trees now instead of later.
Here are some things you can do to ensure that the trees on your property contribute to its overall value and your enjoyment of your home and garden:
Prune Trees and Shrubs Regularly
Pro Tip: It’s better for a woody plant’s health to have regular, light pruning rather than infrequent, major pruning. Light pruning doesn’t stress your trees and shrubs by removing too much foliage and allows them to maintain a more natural shape.
Schedule pruning every year or two and ensure it’s done professionally by a certified arborist.
Always Remove a Dead Tree
When selling your home, remove any dead trees before listing your house. Dead trees can be dangerous, as they can drop branches or fall at any time.
Potential buyers should see the value and beauty of your landscape instead of calculating tree removal costs.
Tidy Up Your Yard
Curb appeal is real, and first impressions can make or break a potential home sale!
Here are a few easy cleanup tasks to perform regularly before listing your house and while it’s on the market:
- Remove dead, dying, or diseased plants
- Cut back any plant that’s outgrown its space
- Consider planting a few flowering annuals to brighten things up (placing these in colorful pots can add an extra pop of color to catch a buyer’s eye)
- Spread a 2 to 3-inch layer of wood mulch (or fluff up existing mulch) in planting beds and around trees and shrubs for a well-kept look
Homes in neighborhoods with more trees tend to have higher property values.
Landscape Mistakes that Can Decrease Your Property Value
A Diseased or Dying Tree
While mature trees add value to your home, a dying or diseased tree does not.
If you have a tree that’s losing its leaves, bark, or branches, has oozing wounds, or is growing mushrooms on its trunk, you should remove it before putting your house on the market.
In these cases, removing a tree adds value to your home. It’s better to have a tidy, mulched area from a ground-out tree stump than a dying tree; a potential buyer will see possibilities instead of removal costs.
An Overgrown Landscape
If your landscape is overgrown or blocking the view of your house, it won’t make a good first impression on buyers.
Have your trees and shrubs professionally pruned as soon as you know you’ll be selling your house. You’ll want new leaf growth to soften recently pruned areas and cover pruning cuts, which will take a little time.
If you’re selling your house during the dormant season, focus pruning efforts on the structure of your trees. Winter is when you can safely have your trees pruned extensively without fear of insects and diseases. Make sure the bare branches have a pleasing look and stable structure that enhances the curb appeal of your home.
The Wrong Tree for Your Property
Healthy trees add to property value, but the wrong tree in the wrong place won’t.
Your tree may be a negative asset if you have:
- A mature tree that’s too large for its location
- A tree that’s misshapen from excessive pruning to keep it small
- Branches growing over your neighbor’s fence, or
- Branches blocking views, sidewalks, driveways, or entryways
Mature trees add significant value to your home, but a poorly placed tree can do the opposite. If you have a tree that’s in the wrong spot, consider removing it before you put your house up for sale.
Non-native Trees
The worth of a native tree to your home’s value may be greater than a non-native one.
While there are many non-native trees that thrive in our part of Rochester, NY, some of these require more maintenance in our specific climate and soil. Potential buyers may not want to take on extra maintenance chores to keep those trees looking their best.
If you’re planning a new garden or intend to sell your house in the future, consider choosing a native tree species.
And no matter what tree you choose, plant it properly to help ensure its future vigor.
Trees Too Close to Your Home
Beautiful trees can help sell a house. But if they were planted too close to your house, driveway, or sidewalk, their roots can cause damage and you’ll have an expensive problem.
Have a professional tree care expert evaluate the situation and explain your options. Depending on the tree, you may be able to avoid or repair the problem of damaging roots.
Struggling Trees
A tree that’s not vigorously growing may just need some care, such as fertilizing, soil aerating, or treatment for insects. Have your struggling trees evaluated by an arborist sooner rather than later so that they will be assets when you sell your house.
Exposed Roots
A tree’s roots belong underground, but sometimes they grow at the soil surface. This is because shallow irrigation designed for turfgrass will keep tree roots from growing down into the soil.
If you have a tree with exposed roots, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Don’t cover roots with soil or mulch, and don’t cut them off!
If you’re worried the tree’s roots are a tripping hazard, or that the tree is not anchored securely in the soil, call an arborist for an evaluation.
Trees That Make a Mess
The importance of a tree to your home’s value can be harder to see if you’re always cleaning up after it.
Not all trees belong in all places!
If you are thinking of planting trees to increase your property value, choose a tree species that won’t:
- Drop leaves onto decks or into pools
- Have sticky fruit or pollen that lands on sidewalks, driveways, or cars
Choose a tree whose natural habits work with its location.
Planning to Sell Your Home Soon? How to Get Maximum Value from Trees
If you’re planning to sell your house soon and want to maximize the value of your landscape, here’s what to focus on:
- Replace trees that were removed. If you had a tree removed from your garden, plant a new tree in its place. A young tree is small, but it tells homebuyers you understand how valuable trees are for shade, habitat, and good air quality around your home.
- Plant trees and shrubs in bare areas. A fully planted garden, even one with new, small plants and trees, is more valuable than a partially planted one. Fill in empty spots with young trees and new shrubs so that your garden looks complete.
- Mulch and clean up. Your garden doesn’t have to be perfect to help sell your home. A neatly maintained, well-mulched landscape adds lasting value. Don’t forget that you can make mulch from the trees you prune or remove!
- Schedule a tree inspection. The best way to maximize the value of your trees is to have them inspected. That way, any issues can be quickly corrected before they become a significant problem. We have years of experience evaluating trees; contact Tree Service Rochester NY for more details.
Plan Ahead to Maximize Your Future Property Value
What if you don’t plan to move any time soon?
You have more time to plan!
By planning ahead, you’ll have more time to choose trees, plant them, and watch them grow. Our tree planting services can help you every step of the way.
Then sit back and enjoy both your landscape improvements and their impact on your property value!
The more years you have to improve and maintain your landscaping, including the trees and shrubs, the greater the return on your investment. But doing it now means you’ll get to enjoy more time in your yard until you’re ready to sell your home!
Pro Tip: Selecting the right species of tree can make a big difference in how much value it adds to your property. Research the best types of trees for your region and consult with a professional arborist to ensure the trees you plant will thrive in your specific location.
Additional Ways to Enhance Your Property Value with Trees
- Create privacy with trees and shrubs. Planting trees and shrubs strategically around your property can create natural privacy barriers, which are highly desirable for potential buyers.
- Highlight your home’s architecture with trees. The right trees can accentuate the architectural features of your home, drawing attention to its unique characteristics.
- Plant trees for energy savings. Well-placed trees can provide shade in the summer and act as windbreaks in the winter, helping reduce energy costs and making your home more appealing to buyers who value energy efficiency.
- Incorporate trees in outdoor living spaces. Trees can serve as natural focal points in outdoor living areas, providing shade and creating a relaxing atmosphere that is attractive to potential buyers.
- Choose trees with showy features. Select trees with vibrant foliage, beautiful flowers, or interesting bark to add visual interest to your landscape and boost your property’s curb appeal.
In conclusion, investing in the health and appearance of the trees on your property can significantly increase its value. Whether you’re planning to sell soon or in the distant future, taking care of your trees and landscaping will pay off in the long run. And remember, the team at Tree Services in Rochester is here to help with all your tree care needs.
Also read about BLS management for your trees.
