The little known trick to increasing the value of your home by an average $20,000

  • Usually people turn to giving the house a new lick of paint before selling
  • Research at the University of Queensland concluded greenery is the answer
  • Adding one or two trees to your property can significantly increase the price

By MATILDA RUDD FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

There are certain well-known ways to boost the value of your property before auction time.

Giving the walls a new lick of paint and repairing any damaged corners can go a long way in the eyes of potential buyers.

But now you can add 'plant a few trees' to the pre-sale agenda, with a researcher from the University of Queensland making a solid economic case for retaining or increasing the amount of greenery in your area.

BEFORE: Giving the walls a new lick of paint and repairing any damaged corners can go a long way in the eyes of potential buyers

BEFORE: Giving the walls a new lick of paint and repairing any damaged corners can go a long way in the eyes of potential buyers

AFTER: But now you can add 'plant a few trees' to the agenda, with a researcher from the University of Queensland making a solid economic case for retaining or increasing the amount of greenery in your area

AFTER: But now you can add 'plant a few trees' to the agenda, with a researcher from the University of Queensland making a solid economic case for retaining or increasing the amount of greenery in your area

'My research was to help justify investment in leafy streets and more broadly to justify ongoing investment in green infrastructure,' she told Domain.

'When we put that into the equation it revealed home buyers were prepared to pay a significant premium to live in a leafy street and that premium was up to three per cent.'

While Brisbane's median house price currently sits at $551,840, translating to an extra $16,000 if you plant some trees, Sydney's median house price of $1,178,417 would equate to $35,000.

But it's important not to go overboard in your quest for extra wealth.

'The flipping point was about 20 per cent, which is about one tree or about two trees covering a fifth of the land,' Ms Plant said.

But it's important not to go overboard in your quest for extra wealth - keep trees to a minimum

But it's important not to go overboard in your quest for extra wealth - keep trees to a minimum

Aside from a financial gain, having trees on your property provides privacy, improved air quality and a sense of tranquility.

Senior arborist at Arbor Operations Peter Mumford added that your house is likely to sell faster with a bit of handiwork in the garden.

'A beautiful garden with well-tended trees and shrubs can not only add value to a home, but according to research will often sell more quickly than a similar house with minimal to no landscaping.' 

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