Increasing Your Home’s Value Might Start Next Door

“A homeowners association (HOA) that keeps landscaping consistent creates a sense of quality before buyers even step inside,” said Alex Platt, a real estate agent with Compass in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida. “But in non-HOA neighborhoods, you might see beautifully finished new construction next to older teardowns, and that mix can directly impact value.”

In his experience, Platt said, buyers can be wowed by a home but hesitate because of the neighboring properties. “The street tells the story before the home does,” he said.

But not every buyer has the same reaction.

“I recently had a listing in Northwest Washington where the next-door neighbor had many belongings in the yard and it did not look attractive,” said Corey Burr, a real estate agent with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in Washington, D.C. “Several prospective buyers inquired about the situation, but the buyers who bought the property never mentioned it because they had fallen in love with the listing on its own merits.”

Still, a pretty block with consistently well-manicured yards and attractive front facades of the houses helps the value of all the properties, according to Burr.

A great example of this effect is in planned housing communities with several builders, each of which builds to a slightly different standard, said Philippa Main, a real estate agent with Samson Properties in Virginia and Florida.

“For example, one builder will cut costs by putting in fewer trees, cheaper trees or trees that are hard to maintain so they end up looking worse, or using concrete instead of paver driveways,” Main said. “Most people can’t point to the specific things and say, ‘this makes this street feel less expensive or impressive,’ but the overall lack of finishing touches resonates subconsciously.”

Your Neighbor’s Looks Matter

If your neighbor’s curb appeal is significantly lacking in comparison to yours, that can set the tone for how potential buyers are going to view your home - even if it shouldn’t, according to Main.

“Most people are not just buying a house, they’re buying into a neighborhood, and they want to know that they’ll get along with their neighbors,” she said. “If a buyer has a big discrepancy in their opinion on what a well-maintained yard looks like versus your neighbor’s, that subconsciously signals this may not be the right fit for them. If that happens with enough potential buyers, the demand for your home diminishes, which can ultimately be reflected in selling for a lower price.”

Surrounding properties influence the perceived value of your home, according to Platt

“Buyers think long-term, and what’s around you matters just as much as what’s behind your front door,” he said.

Landscaping and fences may help a seller overcome the drag of a neighbor with poor curb appeal, Burr said.

“Still, buyers typically have a keen sense about all aspects of a house and the neighboring properties, and they don’t want to put themselves into a situation that they think will damage the value of their property or possibly affect the quality of life they hope to have there,” he said.

Make a Long-Term Investment in Beautifying the Neighborhood

Long before planning to sell, a great way to invest time and money into your home is organizing neighborhood beautification - especially when there’s no HOA.

Focusing on just one neglected home on your street could create tension, but an overall beautification plan can improve everyone’s home values and hopefully bring neighbors together.

“Start with neighbor-to-neighbor collaboration,” Platt suggested. “A simple conversation, offering to split costs on shared hedges or suggesting a street clean-up weekend, can go a long way. Most people want a beautiful street; they just need an easy way to participate.”

When everyone does a little bit, the whole neighborhood benefits, he said.

“I’ve seen people chip in together to clean up the street edges, refresh the entry areas or improve shared green space,” Platt said. “Even small projects make the whole block look better.”

If your neighborhood isn’t part of an HOA, then it’s key to determine who is responsible for maintaining common areas, Main said.

“Sometimes, the county or city is responsible for maintaining a piece of property, but they’ve forgotten to do so over the years,” she said. “A reminder to them can prompt some upkeep. Similarly, if anything on unkempt property fails to meet local county codes or ordinances, reporting to the appropriate government body can often get the owner to make adjustments they would have otherwise been unwilling to make.”

In cases where the local government isn’t responsible, homeowners can collaborate to improve an area.

“For example, if eight homes back up to a pond that needs to be maintained for aquatic weed growth, the homeowners can make an agreement to pay to get it taken care of and then one of them manages contacting a company to complete the work,” Main said. “Even six of the eight owners participating is better than letting it go or having one household foot the bill.”

Planting flowers and trees and keeping areas between sidewalks and streets mulched and trimmed can also upgrade the appeal of a block, Burr said.

You can also contact your local jurisdiction about planting trees and installing sufficient lighting, he suggested.

Street Beautification in an HOA

While it’s worth a try to get voluntary support for street beautification, Main said that ultimately if someone cares about buying in a neighborhood with curb appeal standards, they should buy in an HOA.

“Even if the HOA fee is small and the rules are relatively relaxed, having the power to enforce standards is a much more powerful deterrent than anything voluntary,” she said.

If you live in an HOA, the association typically coordinates all common area maintenance, but thoughtful and friendly suggestions are usually welcome from someone willing to take the lead, Platt said. He recommended bringing ideas directly to the board, including photos and quotes from landscapers to make it easy to act.

Burr suggested sending a letter to the governing board or property manager and attending community meetings to voice concerns.

In the end, whether you successfully gather your neighbors to clean up and beautify your street or lobby your HOA to be more proactive, the beneficiary will likely be higher home values for the entire block.