Landscaping ROI: What’s Worth Doing Before You List
Which landscaping projects give sellers the best return before listing?
Basic curb appeal cleanup — mowing, edging, fresh mulch, and trimmed shrubs — delivers close to 100 percent ROI and can be done for a few hundred dollars. A more complete landscaping refresh, including seasonal color and clean bed lines, can boost perceived value by 5 to 12 percent on the appraisal side and up to 7 percent on sale price in many markets. The lowest-return project is a swimming pool, which typically returns only around 56 percent of its cost, and standard lawn care service alone returns roughly 217 percent.
By The Chad Smith Team | August 3, 2026
Curb appeal is doing more work than most Mansfield sellers realize. Buyers form an opinion before they get out of the car, and landscaping is one of the few pre-listing projects where a modest investment can move the number in a meaningful way. Here’s how we prioritize it with sellers.
The numbers behind landscaping ROI
Real estate research consistently shows landscaping pays for itself better than most other pre-listing projects. A few data points worth knowing before you spend anything:
• Basic cleanup returns close to 100 percent ROI. Mowing, edging beds, trimming overgrown shrubs, and laying fresh mulch is inexpensive and makes an immediate visual difference.
• A well-planned landscape can add 5 to 12 percent to a home’s value, with some markets seeing gains as high as 15 percent, according to recent industry data. On a $400,000 home, a 10 percent uplift from mature trees, a clean lawn, and defined beds works out to roughly $40,000 in perceived value — often for a fraction of that in actual spend.
• Standard lawn care service alone returns about 217 percent of its cost at resale, making it one of the highest-ROI projects a seller can do.
• A focused $3,500 curb appeal investment can yield around $12,000 in increased value — roughly 238 percent ROI — when it includes fresh mulch, seasonal plantings, and cleaned-up bed lines.
• 97 percent of Realtors consider curb appeal important for attracting buyers, and 92 percent recommend sellers address it before listing.
Compare that to a swimming pool, which typically returns only around 56 percent of what it costs to install — a reminder that not every outdoor project pays off the same way. If you’re weighing a pool question for your own sale, that’s a big enough decision to look at on its own.
What we tell Mansfield sellers to prioritize
You don’t need a full landscape redesign before you list. In most cases, we recommend working through this list in order:
1. Lawn health first. A patchy or overgrown lawn is the first thing buyers notice from the street. A few weeks of consistent mowing, edging, and, if needed, a round of fertilizer makes a visible difference in listing photos.
2. Clean, defined bed lines. Edging flower beds and adding fresh mulch is one of the cheapest projects on this list, typically $300–$500 for a standard Mansfield lot, and it reads as “well-maintained” to buyers immediately.
3. Trim and shape overgrown shrubs and trees. Anything blocking windows, the front door, or house numbers should be cut back. This also helps with home inspection concerns around trees too close to the foundation or roofline.
4. Add seasonal color near the entry. A few flowering plants near the front door or walkway go a long way in photos without a major investment.
5. Address the driveway and walkway last, if budget allows. A cracked or stained driveway undercuts even great landscaping, and it’s one of the first things buyers notice walking up.
What not to overspend on
Landscaping ROI drops off fast once you move from cleanup into major hardscaping or structural additions. Large retaining walls, elaborate irrigation systems, or extensive new plantings rarely return their full cost at resale, and they can actually work against you if a buyer sees ongoing maintenance as a burden rather than a feature. The exception is basic irrigation repair — a broken sprinkler head or dead zone in the lawn is worth fixing, since buyers notice a struggling lawn faster than they notice a well-functioning one.
A simple pre-listing timeline
If you’re listing within the next month, here’s roughly how we’d sequence it:
• 3–4 weeks out: Start consistent lawn care, address any dead or overgrown plantings, and get a quote on mulch and bed cleanup.
• 2 weeks out: Trim trees and shrubs, refresh mulch, and add any seasonal color near the entry.
• Week of listing photos: Final mow, edge, and a quick walk-through to clear any debris, hoses, or equipment from view.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on landscaping before selling my Mansfield home?
For most homes, a $300–$1,000 range covering mulch, cleanup, and minor plantings delivers the strongest return. Larger hardscaping projects rarely pay for themselves at resale.
Is it worth hiring a landscaper, or can I do this myself?
Basic cleanup — mowing, edging, mulch — is very doable yourself and keeps costs low. Larger tasks like tree trimming near power lines or structural bed work are worth hiring out for safety and a cleaner finish.
Does landscaping matter as much in a buyer’s market as a seller’s market?
It matters more. When buyers have more inventory to choose from, curb appeal is often what gets a home a second look instead of getting scrolled past online.
Should I remove mature trees before listing?
Usually not, unless a tree is diseased, damaged, or too close to the foundation. Mature trees are generally seen as a value add, not a liability, in most Mansfield neighborhoods.
What’s the single highest-ROI landscaping project?
Basic lawn care and cleanup consistently outperforms every other landscaping investment, returning close to 100 percent or more of its cost through improved buyer perception.
Every yard is a little different, and what’s worth doing depends on your home’s condition, your timeline, and your budget. We’re happy to walk your property with you and point out exactly where a few hundred dollars will make the biggest difference before you list. Reach out anytime.
About The Chad Smith Team
The Chad Smith Team at Realty of America is one of the top-producing real estate teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, with more than 22 years of experience, 2,915 homes sold, and recognition by RealTrends among the top 1% of real estate professionals nationwide. The team helps first-time buyers, sellers, relocation clients, and new construction buyers throughout Arlington, Mansfield, Fort Worth, Midlothian, Waxahachie, and surrounding DFW communities. Through this blog, the Chad Smith Team shares expert market insights and practical advice to help North Texas buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions.
