According to the National Association of Realtors’ Remodeling Impact Report, landscape upgrades can significantly improve a home’s curb appeal and overall marketability. While no project guarantees a specific return on investment, attractive, well-maintained landscaping often helps homes make a stronger first impression with potential buyers. Consider the following landscape improvements that increase home value for your Western Colorado home.
1. Refresh Your Front Entry
First impressions matter. A clean walkway, defined planting beds, attractive shrubs, fresh mulch, and a well-designed entry create instant curb appeal. Buyers often form an opinion before they ever walk through the front door.
Even in winter the golden ornamental grass and evergreen shrubs provide an attractive, tidy, and easy to maintain entrance area.
2. Install a Water-Efficient Irrigation System
A professionally installed irrigation system makes maintaining a landscape easier while helping conserve water. Smart controllers and drip irrigation can keep plants healthy without wasting water—a particularly valuable feature in Western Colorado’s dry climate. Additionally, the “set it and forget it” features of most controllers these days means you don’t have to spend time watering plants late at night or early in the morning. Your system knows what to do and when!
3. Create an Outdoor Living Space
Patios, pergolas, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens effectively expand your home’s usable living space. Even a modest patio with thoughtful landscaping can make a backyard feel like an extension of the home. With over 300 days of sunshine in Western Colorado, we know outdoor living spaces truly are an extension of your home.
4. Add Shade Trees
Well-placed trees offer long-term value by providing shade, improving curb appeal, and making outdoor spaces more comfortable during Colorado’s hot summers. Mature trees are often viewed as a premium feature by buyers. Check out our blog post on the best drought tolerant trees for more information.
5. Upgrade to Low-Maintenance, Drought-Tolerant Landscaping
Replacing large areas of turf with native plants, ornamental grasses, decorative rock, and efficient irrigation can reduce maintenance while creating an attractive landscape that thrives in our climate. Buyers increasingly appreciate landscapes that are beautiful without requiring excessive watering.
6. Install Landscape Lighting
Subtle lighting along walkways, around patios, and on architectural or landscape features adds safety, extends the enjoyment of outdoor spaces into the evening, and dramatically enhances curb appeal after dark. There are many solar options available so that you can make your yard truly customized.
7. Improve Drainage and Solve Problem Areas
A beautiful yard loses value if it has standing water, erosion, or drainage issues. Proper grading, drainage solutions, retaining walls, and erosion control protect both the landscape and the home’s foundation while creating a healthier, more functional yard.
If you have questions about residential or commercial landscaping, or specifically about landscaping improvements that increase home values in Western Colorado and eastern Utah, contact us! We’d love to help. (970) 234-9691