Thumbtack recently polled over 1,000 homeowners nationwide how they’re maximizing their curb appeal and how they’re investing in their landscapes.
Nearly one-third of respondents (29%) reported they intend to spend up to $5,000 improving their outdoor spaces this summer. The number one project on their list was landscaping, with 62% of homeowners planning to tackle a landscaping project.
Boosting Curb Appeal
When deciding which home to purchase, 69% of respondents said curb appeal was an important factor.
The features that impacted curb appeal the most include well-maintained lawns (69%), flowers and shrubs (65%), well-maintained and clean exteriors (55%), and trees (47%).
This aligns with the 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals. This report found the greatest ROI was standard lawn care service and landscape maintenance for a property.
Rather than focusing on flashy features, a tidy exterior and cared-for lawn can make the biggest impact.
Many homeowners understand the value of curb appeal, and 27% believe their neighbors are doing a better job of maintaining their yards. This insecurity is so strong that 54% percent of homeowners say their outdoor spaces cause them stress.
Their biggest stressor is dealing with weeds (47%). Other points of concern for homeowners are keeping grass alive (30%) and choosing the right maintenance projects on a budget (28%). Most respondents cared about finding a no/low maintenance project and affordability.
Some of the biggest curb appeal eyesores include unmaintained/overgrown yards (63%), trash and debris around a property (59%), clutter in the yard (57%), and too many cars/boats/trucks parked in the yard.
Another 17% said yard signs are the biggest curb appeal eyesore, so consider your branding and messaging if you leave behind signage after servicing a property.
Homeowner Priorities
Most homeowners value their properties because it brings them joy. Eighty-two percent say their outdoor space brings them happiness. However, 24% admitted they are embarrassed about the state of their yard and 21% say they don’t host because their yard isn’t in good shape.
The number one consideration of homeowners (43%) when designing their landscape is for their dogs. Over a third (39%) said they wanted their yard to be fenced in for their pets.
Kids (42%), beautifying their space (41%) and having space for hosting (39%) were the other top priorities homeowners had in mind.
Some of their dream features they’d want to have in their backyard included: pools (45%), hot tubs (40%), and vegetable gardens (40%). Some of the preferred edible plants include tomatoes, zucchini and strawberries.
Other top desired elements were fenced-in yards, large trees that provided shade, outdoor kitchens and well-manicured lawns.
Sustainability is also becoming more important to homeowners this summer, with 28% saying a sustainable design is a priority for them. Thirty-two percent have installed energy-efficient outdoor lighting, 30% have added drought-resistant plants, 28% installed xeriscape, and 24% have installed solar panels.
Best Backyards
Thumbtack also looked at popular outdoor projects that homeowners were tackling, from landscaping to exterior painting to outdoor lighting installation, to see which cities across the country were investing the most in their outdoor spaces this year.
Below are the top 10 cities:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Dallas, Texas
- Washington, D.C.
- Seattle, Washington
- Orlando, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Houston, Texas
- Denver, Colorado
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
