Landscaping ROI & Curb Appeal Statistics for Michigan Homes 2026
Landscaping ROI data for 2026: professional landscaping adds 5–15% to home value, routine lawn care returns up to 217% at resale, and 97% of Realtors call curb appeal critical to a sale.
Professional landscaping adds 5–15% to a home's value — as much as 15–20% by the American Society of Landscape Architects' estimate — and routine lawn care returns up to 217% at resale. Curb appeal is near-universal among agents: 97% of Realtors say it matters to buyers and 92% advise improving it before listing. On a $400,000 metro Detroit home, a 10% lift equals about $40,000 in added value.
How much landscaping adds to value
The research clusters tightly around a mid-single-to-mid-double-digit lift:
Typical home-value increase from quality landscaping
ASLA estimate for landscaping's value boost
10% lift on a $400,000 home
ROI by project type
Not all landscaping spends return equally. Routine maintenance is the sleeper winner:
ROI on routine mowing, weed control & fertilizing at resale
Average ROI on landscape maintenance
ROI category: a healthy, well-kept lawn
What Realtors say
Agents are nearly unanimous on curb appeal's role in a sale:
Realtors who say curb appeal matters to buyers
Realtors who advise improving curb appeal before listing
Real estate pros who say landscaping adds at least 5% value
The Michigan / metro Detroit context
Two local factors make landscaping ROI especially real in Oakland County:
- A competitive suburban market. Rochester Hills, Troy, Birmingham, and Bloomfield Hills buyers expect a maintained exterior. A tired lawn stands out — the wrong way — in neighborhoods where the baseline is high.
- A short, intense growing season. Michigan's ~179 frost-free days mean the lawn is on display in a narrow window. A home that lists in summer with a thin, weedy lawn loses curb appeal exactly when buyers are looking.
For the full local market picture, see our Michigan Lawn Care & Outdoor Services Report.
Highest-ROI moves
Where the data says to spend first, in order:
| Move | Why it ranks here | |
|---|---|---|
| Routine lawn maintenance | Highest ROI (up to 217%) — mow, fertilize, weed control | |
| Clean, defined beds + fresh mulch | High visual impact for low cost; signals upkeep | |
| Mature, healthy trees | Large value contributor, but slow to grow | |
| Expensive hardscape | Lower ROI — enjoyable, but recovers less at resale |
The pattern is consistent across every source: maintenance beats installation for return on investment. A homeowner deciding between a season of professional lawn care and a one-time hardscape project gets more resale value from the lawn care. For what that costs locally, see landscaping cost in Rochester Hills and our lawn care cost statistics.
Methodology
Compiled in May 2026 from real-estate and landscaping-industry research:
- HomeGuide, Opendoor, Redfin, Angi, and Lawn Love for home-value and ROI percentages.
- American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) figures as cited by Brezsny Associates.
- Realtor survey data (97%/92%/74% figures) as reported by Angi; the 350-professional survey via Brezsny Associates.
- Lawn Lab field data (2024–2026) for Oakland County service context.
ROI percentages are national research; the metro Detroit context notes how a competitive suburban market and short growing season amplify those effects locally. Figures vary by home, market, and the quality of existing landscaping.
Sources
- HomeGuide — Does Landscaping Increase Home Value?
- Opendoor — Does Landscaping Increase Home Value? ROI Data
- Redfin — Does Landscaping Increase Home Value?
- Angi — Does Landscaping Increase Home Value?
- Lawn Love — Landscaping Projects That Add Home Value (2026)
- Brezsny Associates — The ROI of Curb Appeal (citing ASLA)
- American Society of Landscape Architects