A case for cutting the grass

A survey of real estate agents revealed that almost one-quarter of them consider a nicely presented lawn as able to add more than 30 per cent value to a home.

A further 40 per cent said it would boost the value of a home by more than 20 per cent.

Based on the Australian median dwelling price, 20 per cent could see a boost of $110,000 to your home’s value, Turf Australia has reported.

For Raine & Horne St Marys’ Peter Diamantidis, “adding lawn is a no-brainer”.

Commenting that it’s important to look for improvements you can make to your home that are cost-effective and deliver a good return, he said good grass is “a quick and easy renovation that adds value and, most importantly, attracts more buyers”.

“Too many times I’ve had buyers walk away from a property simply because of a poorly presented front yard and the prospective buyers could not see past it,” he added.

The survey revealed that 93 per cent of real estate agents would recommend clients improve their lawn before selling a home.

In a recently cooled market, Mr Diamantidis acknowledged that people are nervous about getting a good price for their home.

“In these uncertain times, anything home owners can do to get peace of mind by adding value to their home is a win, and first impressions count.”

According to an overwhelming majority of real estate agents surveyed (89 per cent), the main attraction of a lawn for buyers is the improved look and feel of the property.

Added lifestyle and relaxation appeal (45 per cent) and a safe playing area for kids (42 per cent) were also seen as benefits of grass.