Money Does Grow on Trees (And Lawns, Gardens and Hedges)

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The American standard in increasing a home's value has traditionally been about kitchens and bathrooms, until now.  New research released by Husqvarna quantifies the impact a well maintained lawn has on housing prices.

According to the "Husqvarna Global Gardening Report 2011," well designed landscaping raised the perceived residential property value by as much as 18 percent in the U.S. The study terms this increase in market value, The Garden Effect. The report also shows that for every dollar invested in curb appeal, homeowners will get an estimated 1.8 dollars return on their investment – equaling a national average of $39,000.  

"Americans have always understood the value of curb appeal, however it has often been categorized as a 'nice to do' not a 'need to do,'" said John Marchionda, VP of Marketing at Husqvarna. "The Garden Effect changes the traditional view of what delivers the best return on investment for your home. The time spent managing the overall landscape; gardening, lawn maintenance and lawn care, proves to have a dramatic effect on a home's market value."

The Landscape of Landscaping

Home ownership has long been at the heart of the "American Dream." Because of this deep investment in ideals Americans are practical about traditional lawn care and maintenance.  The 2011 Global Gardening report specifically revealed:

• Investing in the investment – While 60% of Americans consider their yard an investment, 65% reportedly spend less than $400 annually on their yard
• Women Vs. Men - Half of all American women are interested in landscaping compared to just one-third of American men
• The Grass is Always Greener - 72% of Americans admit they think someone in their neighborhood has a more attractive lawn
• Most Wanted Wish List - An in-ground irrigation system is the most coveted garden tool in the U.S., followed by zero-turn mower, tiller, robotic-mower and chainsaw

The Global Gardening Report

The 2011 Husqvarna Global Gardening Report surveyed 5,000 homeowners and real estate agents from nine different countries.  The 2011 report focuses on the Garden Effect and Payback-if-sold.  The Garden Effect is the estimated increase in a property's market value as a result of having beautiful landscaping. The Payback-if-sold score takes into consideration the Garden Effect and the costs for upgrading an average lawn to a beautiful lawn.  The complete report is available for download at www.husqvarna.com/press

About Husqvarna

The Husqvarna Group is the world's largest producer of outdoor power products including chainsaws, trimmers, lawn mowers and garden tractors. It is the European leader in consumer irrigation equipment under the Gardena brand. The Group is also one of the world leaders in cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. Net sales in 2009 were SEK 34 billion and the average number of employees was 15,000. For more information, visit www.husqvarna.com.

SOURCE Husqvarna