Outdoor living spaces can be your escape from the everyday, right in your own backyard.

We have seen the bottom fall out in the housing market. Oil prices are fluctuating wildly. Homeowners are traveling less. Many consumers are planning to make upgrades on their homes rather than making a move to a bigger house with a larger mortgage commitment. By increasing your home value today, you can probably expect a quicker sale when the housing market does improve, and you will set your home apart from others of similar size in the current market as well.

An August 2007 Wall Street Journal article on home landscape improvement states:

Real estate agents say a nicely landscaped property can have a pronounced effect on the asking price of a home…Nearly 20% of buyers say they consider landscaping to be a ‘very important’ factor in their decision to buy a new house, according to a new study by the National Association of Realtors.

While some may still view landscaping as an unnecessary expense, real estate experts currently agree that it should really be considered a property investment. It should also be noted that landscaping helps our environment by creating greener, more ecologically-friendly spaces.

Another aspect to consider is the value of your free time at home. As outside stress continues to increase, downtime is a luxury that is desired by many. Creating your own personalized outdoor living space with such amenities as barbeques, fire pits, and entertainment areas is great way to enjoy your time at home. Forgoing the hassle and expense that comes with traveling in comfort has really made the “staycation” a popular trend, an one that looks to continue through the coming year. This is seen by many as a wise move in the current economic conditions, as the expense of travel is short lived while an investment in your home pays off for years to come in both personal use and financial return.

by Michael D. McShane, Plantique president & CEO

To read more about landscaping as a home investment on our blog, click here.

If you would like to speak with someone from our award-winning design team, please email us or call us at (610) 395.6940. For more home improvement ideas for your yard, be sure to check out our landscaping and gardening tips, sustainable landscaping practices information, photos of jobs we’ve completed in and around the Lehigh Valley, and company news and events. And as always, you can visit our Web site for more great news and information about landscaping.