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If you\\u2019re selling your home and you have a green thumb, you might want to plant a tree. Or pay someone else to plant one for you. According to a new survey by Trees.com, some real estate agents believe that just \\u201cone\\u201d healthy tree can increase property values by 30%.

Hi, I\'m Kathy Fettke and this is Real Estate News for Investors. If you like our podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review.

Trees.com started off as a blog in 1997 which has evolved over time into a shopping site for plants and trees, along with plenty of educational material. (1) The survey was done last month with the help of 1,250 licensed real estate agents, and 78% of them said that poor landscaping has a negative impact on the value of a property.

The Value of a Well-Positioned Tree

When it comes to the best way of upgrading your landscaping, 59% of the agents said \\u201cadd a tree.\\u201d 20% of the agents said that one tree will increase the property value by 30%. That\\u2019s one in five of the agents participating in the survey. If you do the math on a home that\\u2019s worth $300,000, 30% of that amount is $90,000!

Another 40% of the agents estimated the additional value would be 10 to 20% or $30- to $60,000. The remaining 40% estimated a range of between 1 and 5%. Of course, a lot would depend on the tree, and what it looks like in the yard.

Aesthetic Charm

Washington-state real estate broker, David North, says that trees can add \\u201caesthetic charm\\u201d to a home. He told Trees.com: \\u201cA tree is one of the most natural and interesting ways to add color, texture and contrast to any home\\u2019s yard.\\u201d He says: \\u201cThe natural beauty of a tree can be especially powerful when it distinguishes one property from others, whether by different shape, color, or size.\\u201d

Ecosystem Upgrade

Trees also improve the ecosystem of the property. California real estate broker, Kimo Quance, says they help with \\u201cstormwater management, pollution filtering, and soil fertilization. During warmer months, trees are a natural cooling system, providing shade. Then, in colder months, trees that lose their leaves let sunlight filter through to warm the home.\\u201d They can also help stabilize soil and prevent mudslides, if there\\u2019s an incline to the property.

Landscaping Elements

The survey also ranked various landscaping elements, and grass was the most important feature for improving value. It didn\\u2019t include the estimate value of the grass, but you might surmise that it could rival the added value of trees. Trees were next on the list, followed by flowers, hedges, mulch, and fountains.

Hardscaping Features

As for the hardscaping features of a property, the agents ranked decks as most important. After that, driveways were second on that list, followed by an outdoor kitchen, artificial grass, a gazebo, and a firepit.

Inside Greenery

The survey also touched on greenery \\u201cinside\\u201d the home. 54% of the agents say it\\u2019s a good idea to have indoor plants as part of the staging, but most of those agents were in the Southern and Western regions of the country. So indoor greenery may be more important in those areas.

There\\u2019s a link to the Trees.com survey results in the show notes at newsforinvestors.com.

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Thanks for listening. I\'m Kathy Fettke.

Links:

https://www.trees.com/poor-landscaping-can-decrease-property-value-by-as-much-as-30