Commercial landscaping
Realty & Real Estate
Listing-ready curb appeal, model homes and new builds: plantings that help a property show well, photograph beautifully and sell.
Why it pays
Curb appeal is the first showing.
Buyers form an opinion before they reach the front door, and most of them see the house first in listing photos. Nearly every Realtor says curb appeal matters in attracting a buyer, and most have told sellers to improve it before listing. Fresh beds, clean mulch and full containers at the door are among the simplest ways to make a property look cared for.
The research
What the studies found
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97%
of Realtors say curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer.
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92%
of Realtors have suggested sellers improve curb appeal before listing.
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100%
of the cost of a landscape upgrade that Realtors estimate is recovered when a home sells.
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1.7 days
sooner sale, on average, for houses with street trees in front, which also sold for $8,870 more (Portland, Oregon; trees, not plantings).
Where the value comes from
How better planting pays back
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01
Listing photos that stop the scroll
A planted, mulched entrance and seasonal containers make the front of the house the photo buyers click on.
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02
Showings that start well
The walk to the door sets the tone for the whole showing; cared-for plantings say the house has been cared for too.
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03
Model homes and new builds
Bare lots look unfinished. Foundation plantings and a planted entrance help a new home look ready to live in.
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04
Low care buyers won't worry about
Sturdy, plant-forward beds that look good without much work reassure buyers who don't want a project.
ROI calculator
What could planting return for you?
Put in your own figures. The estimate uses conservative ranges drawn from the research above, and grows as the plantings fill in.
Estimated net return after 20 years
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What this number is
Why these figures: A one-time gain of 1% to 3% of the sale price, the same range the home garden calculator uses. Buyers say a well-landscaped home is worth 5–11% more (Behe et al., 2005), and Realtors estimate a landscape upgrade recovers about what it costs (NAR & NALP, 2023); buyers' estimates run ahead of sale prices, so the calculator stays well below them. It starts from a pre-listing refresh with no yearly care, since the gain comes when the property sells.
- Return on investment
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- Pays for itself
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- Total invested
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Net value, mid estimate Low to high
What this assumes
Plantings take time to fill in, so the benefit grows: 35% in year 1, 70% in year 2, and 100% in year 3+.
Lawn turned to planting saves $0.03–$0.1 a square foot each year in mowing, watering and fertilizer, once the planting has settled in: 25% in year 1, 50% in year 2, and 100% in year 3+.
An estimate, not a promise. The ranges come from published research on trees, landscaping and green space, scaled down for one property's plantings; your results depend on your site, your customers and how the planting is cared for. Every study is linked on this page.
What we'd plant
Ideas for realty & real estate
- A pre-listing refresh: beds weeded, edged and mulched
- Seasonal containers at the front door for photos and open houses
- Foundation and entrance plantings for new builds and model homes
- Low-care plantings buyers won't see as a chore
- Care visits while a property is on the market
Sarah and her team have helped us both with a landscape design and installation project at a commercial rental property and with residential projects at our house. They are great with response times, organization and they just love all things plants. Really rewarding to work with.
Questions
Common questions from realty & real estate
Can you refresh a property before it's listed?
Yes. Tell us the listing date, and we'll plan a refresh of beds, mulch and containers around it so the property is ready for photos.
Do you work with agents and builders on more than one property?
Yes. We can set up a refresh or planting plan you can repeat across listings, model homes or a development.
Do you build patios, walls or walkways?
No. Everything we do is plants: design, soil, planting, mulch and care. If your project needs hardscape, we can plan the planting around it and work alongside your contractor.
Other industries
Planting that pays, wherever you do business
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Retail & Restaurants
Plantings that make people slow down, come in and come back: entrances, patios and storefront containers for shops, cafés and restaurants.
See the numbers -
Offices & Corporate Campuses
Grounds that help you lease space, welcome clients and give staff somewhere better to look, at lower upkeep than lawn.
See the numbers -
Apartments, HOAs & Rental Property
Curb appeal that helps units lease and residents stay: entrances, common areas and frontage for apartments, HOAs and rentals.
See the numbers -
Hotels, Inns & Event Venues
Grounds guests remember and photograph: entrances, patios, lakeside planters and gardens for hotels, inns, B&Bs and venues.
See the numbers -
Healthcare, Senior Living & Wellness
Calm, green places for patients, residents, families and staff: views, courtyards and healing gardens for clinics, senior living and wellness practices.
See the numbers -
Schools, Churches & Nonprofits
Gardens that serve a mission: outdoor classrooms, pollinator plantings, welcoming entrances and lower grounds costs for schools, churches and nonprofits.
See the numbers -
Municipal & Public Spaces
Downtown planters, park beds, medians and rain gardens for townships, villages, downtown authorities and parks.
See the numbers
Plan your project
Tell me about your property
A few quick questions, and I'll come back within 1–2 business days with ideas, next steps and a rough budget.