Trees Add Value – It’s Time to Plant!

September is the perfect time of year to plant trees, at least here in North Carolina. Cooler temps and more rain makes it easier to give the young trees a good start and nurseries are discounting trees and shrubs to get rid of their stock before winter.

For your real estate, it’s all about the landscaping and there’s no question that landscaping adds value.

Smaller trees that shade windows cut cooling costs and tall trees that shade the roof are big energy savers. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that three 25-foot trees can reduce summer cooling costs by as much as 25 percent. And, it’s always a good idea to shade your air conditioning unit.

Interesting tree facts:

“In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a ‘strong or moderate impact’ on the saleability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%.” —Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests

“Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent.” —Management Information Services/ICMA

“The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.” —U.S. Department of Agriculture

“Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent by shading the windows and walls of a home.” —American Public Power Association

“Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20–50 percent in energy used for heating.” —USDA Forest Service

“Trees can be a stimulus to economic development, attracting new business and tourism. Commercial retail areas are more attractive to shoppers, apartments rent more quickly, tenants stay longer, and space in a wooded setting is more valuable to sell or rent.” —The Arbor Day Foundation

“A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000.” —Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers

“One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.” —U.S. Department of Agriculture

“There are about 60 to 200-million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO² every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs.” —National Wildlife Federation

“Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value.” —USDA Forest Service

Remember:

• Think before you plant because where you plant makes a big difference. When you buy, ask how large the shrub or tree will grow and how far you should plant from the house and from each other.
• Bushes and shrubs around your home will act as insulation. It’s been shown that evergreens or low shrubs planted as a windbreak can cut heating costs as much as 30 percent!
• Shrubs and trees can also help eliminate water run off and erosion.

There’s plenty of data to back up the fact that trees and landscaping add value and cut energy costs.

What do you think? Do you add landscaping to your renovations? How about the properties you hold? I certainly hope you will!