LANDSCAPING'S EFFECT ON HOME VALUES, University of Florida STUDY

GAINESVILLE -- Redoing your landscape? Better do it for your own pleasure because you can't count on how much your investment will pay off.

That's the conclusion of a University of Florida researcher who conducted the first-ever scientific study of the value of upgrading landscaping around single-family homes. Variables such as lot size, plant type, plant spacing and overall design all played roles in how much money homeowners could expect to get back come resale time.

"More than anything, homeowners should landscape their homes for their own enjoyment," said Bob Degner, director of the Florida Agricultural Market Research Center at UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. "You might come close to doubling your money when you sell, or you might recover only a fraction of your investment, but the investment payoff shouldn't be your primary motivation." Bob Degner, director of the Florida Agricultural Market Research Center  http://www.napa.ufl.edu/98news/landscap.htm

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