Landscaping & Curb Appeal

A landscaping overhaul — mature plantings, fresh mulch, pathway lighting, a defined garden bed, and a clean lawn edge — costs $5,000-$15,000 and returns 100-150% in most markets. The psychology is simple: a manicured exterior signals a maintained interior. The highest-ROI plantings are native perennials (no annual replacement cost), strategic evergreen screening, and one or two specimen trees that frame the entry. Adding landscape lighting ($2,000-$4,000) makes the house sell-able at night — when 40% of drive-by browsing happens.