Today is Arbor Day, the perfect time to send clients information on landscaping that can boost their home’s value and reduce energy bills.
Read more: 4 Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid
The U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station says that planting a tree in front of a house increases the home’s sale price by an average of $7,130. So, in essence, money can grow on trees.
Planting a tree on the west side of a home can reduce a home’s energy bills 3 percent within five years and 12 percent within 15 years. Specifically, west-side trees can bring summertime electric bills down by an average of $25 a year and reduce air conditioning use by 30 percent, according to the Forest Service.
Trees and other landscaping can also lower the impact of damaging winds on a home, potentially reducing 35 mph winds to 10 mph, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. This also lessens the load on the furnace working to heat the home on those cold, windy days, which can bring energy bills down by 30 percent.
Additionally, a Clemson University study found that landscaping has the potential to increase the value of homes by about 6 percent. Some of the most desired landscape trends among consumers include: rainwater harvesting, native plants and drought-resistant plants, permeable paving, and fire pits, according to the 2016 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Source: The Davey Tree Expert Company
—Erica Christoffer, REALTOR® Magazine
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