Landscaping Value in Devon: How Much Does It Add to a Home?
Every homeowner knows the feeling of pulling into the driveway and feeling proud at the sight of a well-kept home. But beyond that burst of pride, your outdoor space holds significant financial potential. In the property market, first impressions are everything, and for many prospective buyers in Devon, the garden is just as important as the kitchen or the living room.
Investing in your landscape isn’t just about creating a beautiful space for summer barbecues; it’s a strategic move to boost your property’s market value. Whether you are planning to sell soon or simply want to invest in your asset for the future, understanding the return on investment (ROI) of landscaping is crucial.
As a leading garden design company in Devon, Halcyon Landscapes understands the value of landscaping in Devon well and the benefits this can provide to our clients.
In this guide, we explore the overall landscaping value in Devon, including how professional landscaping impacts property value in Devon, which features offer the best returns, and how to approach your garden transformation for maximum impact.
Landscaping Value In Devon: Why Landscaping Matters for Property Value
When we think of home renovations, our minds often jump to loft conversions or new bathrooms. However, the exterior of your home sets the tone before a buyer even steps through the front door. This kerb appeal is a powerful psychological driver in property sales and a great way to make your home stand out.
To understand the true landscaping value in Devon, we need to explore how kerb appeal benefits your property:
- The Power of First Impressions: A neglected front garden or a crumbling driveway can signal to buyers that a property requires work, potentially leading them to lower their offer. Conversely, a pristine driveway, tidy borders, and a welcoming path suggest a well-maintained home.
- Extending the Living Space: In Devon, where we are blessed with beautiful scenery and generally milder weather, the garden is viewed as an extension of their living space. Buyers are increasingly looking for outdoor rooms; functional areas where they can relax, dine, and entertain. Features like bespoke pergolas can help define these outdoor living areas and enhance the usability of the garden. If your property offers a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors, it effectively increases the usable square footage of the home in the buyer’s mind.
- Perception of Quality: A professionally landscaped garden implies that the current owners care about quality. It reassures buyers that the property has been looked after, reducing the perceived risk of hidden maintenance issues. To provide this perception of quality to your home, you may want to consider working with a professional garden designer. To learn more about what they do and how they can help, see our post What Does a Garden Designer Do? A Devon Homeowner’s Guide.
How Much Does Landscaping Value Devon Homeowners?
While every property is unique, industry insights consistently show that landscaping offers a healthy return on investment. Creating a new garden through a complete makeover, including expert garden design, construction, and both hard and soft landscaping, can significantly increase property value by transforming outdoor spaces into modern, functional, and attractive areas.
General estimates suggest that a well-landscaped garden can add anywhere between 5% to 20% to a property’s value. In a desirable area like Devon, where outdoor lifestyle is a key selling point, hitting the upper end of that estimate is entirely possible with the right design.
It is not just about the final sale price, either; it is about saleability. The landscaping value in Devon lies in the fact that homes with attractive, functional gardens tend to spend less time on the market. Buyers can visualise themselves living there immediately, rather than worrying about the cost and effort of clearing an overgrown jungle.
To ensure that your home stands out for the right reasons and experiences the high end of landscaping value in Devon, consider investing in:
- Patios and Terraces: Creating a solid, usable surface for furniture is often the number one priority for buyers.
- Established Planting: Mature shrubs and trees add privacy and character, which takes years to achieve from scratch.
- Secure Fencing: Good boundaries provide security and privacy, essential for families and pet owners.
Landscaping Features that Boost Property Appeal in Devon: Increase Landscaping Value In Devon
To maximise the value of your Devon home, it is smart to focus on features that appeal to the local market. Here are the improvements that tend to turn heads and open wallets:
Thoughtful Garden Design & Planting
A chaotic mix of plants can look messy, whereas a structured planting scheme looks sophisticated and expensive. Low-maintenance is often the keyword here. Many buyers want the beauty of a garden without spending every weekend weeding.
Some key garden design features that provide landscaping value in Devon include:
- Structure: Using hedging or architectural plants to define zones.
- Seasonality: Ensuring there is colour or interest year-round, not just in July.
- Sustainability: Native plants that thrive in Devon’s soil require less water and care, a big plus for eco-conscious buyers.
To experience these benefits and ensure that your landscaping adds value to your Devon property, consider working with a local garden designer, like Halcyon Landscapes. To learn more about what we do and why local is the best choice, see our post Why Choose A Local Garden Designer?
Patios and Entertaining Spaces
As mentioned, the outdoor room concept is huge for modern garden design and homebuyers. A professionally installed patio using quality natural stone or porcelain creates a permanent asset.
It provides a designated stage for alfresco dining, which is a lifestyle dream for many moving to or within the South West. Investing in durable hard landscaping, like paving and patios, is a great way to make your garden usable all year round and complement the lifestyles of potential buyers.
By creating a functional, attractive garden, you can see first-hand the landscaping value in Devon and make your home more appealing to potential buyers.
Lawn Areas and Turf
Never underestimate the power of a healthy green lawn. Selecting the right type of grass for your garden’s specific conditions and needs is essential, as it enhances both the aesthetic appeal and practicality of your landscaping. Lawns are the foundation of many outdoor spaces, and to ensure that you’re adding landscaping value to your property, you want to have a vibrant outdoor space.
If your lawn is patchy or moss-ridden, re-turfing is a relatively low-cost improvement that instantly lifts the look of the entire garden. This can be done by landscape gardeners and garden designers, whether as part of a larger renovation or a one-time service,
Driveways
Practicality adds value. A driveway that accommodates multiple cars is a premium feature and a great way to demonstrate the landscaping value in Devon. A usable outdoor space is extremely popular, and a driveway is an excellent investment to make for your home. There are several materials to consider, based on your budget and property style.
Gravel is a cost-effective and practical option for garden surfaces, especially in areas where drainage is a concern, making it a popular choice compared to other materials.
Lighting and Finishing Touches
Garden lighting extends the usability of the space into the evening and adds a sense of luxury. It also serves a security function, which is reassuring for buyers and a great way to add landscaping value in Devon.
Cost vs Value: What Makes Sense for Devon Homes
It is important to be realistic about budgeting to ensure you are experiencing the landscaping value in Devon. Ensuring that your landscaping job is handled by skilled professionals is crucial, as poor workmanship or rushed jobs can lead to costly mistakes that may not add value to your property.
You want to ensure that what you spend on landscaping will be recuperated in the property value, or at least the enjoyment you get from it. This can be done through the following:
Prioritise Quality
Poorly executed DIY landscaping can actually devalue a home. Uneven paving, bad drainage, or inappropriate planting can look like a liability to a surveyor. Investing in professional craftsmanship ensures longevity.
A patio installed by Halcyon Landscapes, for example, is built to last for decades, not just a couple of seasons. Working with a professional team brings the added benefit of collective expertise, reliability, and a commitment to delivering high-quality landscaping results.
The ROI Equation
Focus on high-ROI projects first, such as:
- Clean up: Tidying, weeding, and pruning cost little but add immediate appeal. Applying mulch can help suppress weeds and reduce maintenance.
- Hardscaping: Patios and driveways cost more but add significant structural value.
- Planting: Adds aesthetic value and softens the look of the home.
Landscaping In Devon: Key Considerations To Add Value
Landscaping in Devon comes with its own set of rules. Understanding the local environment is key to creating a garden that thrives and adds value to your home and lifestyle.
Recognising the unique needs of Devon customers and providing tailored solutions is essential for successful landscaping projects, which is why working with a local company like ours is the best option.
To add landscaping value in Devon, consider the following unique conditions of the region:
- Climate and Soil: Devon generally enjoys a mild climate, but we also get our fair share of rain. This means drainage is critical. A beautiful patio is useless if it floods every winter. Professional landscapers will always factor in drainage solutions, such as soakaways or permeable paving, to protect the property.
- Coastal Properties: If you live near the coast, salt-laden winds can be tough on standard garden plants.
Choosing salt-tolerant species , like Sea Thrift or certain grasses, ensures your garden survives the elements. Materials must also be chosen carefully to resist corrosion and weathering. - Local Planning and Conservation: Devon is dotted with Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings. In these zones, you may face restrictions on the types of materials you can use for driveways, walls, or fences. A local expert, like Halcyon Landscapes, will be familiar with these regulations and can help you design a compliant yet beautiful space.
- Lifestyle Expectations: Buyers moving to Devon often seek a slower pace of life. They want peaceful, private sanctuaries. Designs that incorporate sound-dampening planting to block road noise or secluded seating areas tap into this desire for tranquillity, and make your home stand out for the right reasons.
To experience this increased landscaping value in Devon, your garden needs to be tuned into the requirements and expectations of the region.
How to Approach Landscaping for Maximum Return
If you are ready to boost your home’s value with landscaping, here is a strategic approach:
- Start with a Plan: Don’t just start digging. A cohesive design ensures all elements work together.
- Focus on the Front: Improve your kerb appeal first. Fix the driveway, tidy the path, and paint the front door.
- Create One Key Feature: Whether it’s a stunning patio or a beautiful pergola, give buyers one “wow” moment.
- Go Pro: For structural work like paving, walls, and driveways, hire professionals. The finish and durability will be superior, and you will have warranties to pass on to future owners.
At Halcyon Landscapes, we specialise in helping Devon homeowners unlock the potential of their outdoor spaces. Whether you need a low-maintenance driveway or a complete garden transformation, we bring over 25 years of local expertise to every project.
Conclusion
Landscaping is one of the few home improvements that genuinely grows in value over time. As plants mature and trees settle in, the environment improves. By investing in professional garden design and high-quality hardscaping, you are not just making your home more enjoyable for yourself today; you are banking value for tomorrow.
Thoughtful design, appropriate material choices, and quality installation are the keys to securing the best return on investment and adding landscaping value in Devon.
Contact Us Today
If you are curious about how to transform your garden into a valuable asset, we are here to help. Contact Halcyon Landscapes today to schedule a consultation and start your journey toward a more beautiful, valuable home.
FAQs
Does landscaping really add property value?
Yes, absolutely. A well-landscaped garden can increase property value by 5-20%, depending on the quality of the work and the location. It also significantly improves saleability, helping homes sell faster.
What landscaping features add the most value?
Structural features generally add the most value. This includes well-laid patios, which extend living space, secure fencing, and well-maintained driveways. Mature planting that offers privacy is also highly valued.
Is landscaping worth the investment in Devon?
Given the lifestyle-focused market in Devon, outdoor space is a premium asset. Buyers here specifically look for gardens where they can enjoy the mild climate and scenery, making landscaping a very sound investment for local properties.