I hear you on the resale thing—my last place had a native plant bed and all I got was “does that need mowing?” from buyers. It’s wild how much people just want low-maintenance, even if it means more chemicals or water. I’m curious, though—has anyone actually seen a bump in value from eco-friendly stuff, or is it just one of those things that sounds good on paper? I keep running the numbers and can’t see how rain gardens or permeable pavers ever pay off unless you’re doing it for yourself. Maybe there’s a sweet spot between curb appeal and sustainability, but I haven’t found it yet...
I keep running the numbers and can’t see how rain gardens or permeable pavers ever pay off unless you’re doing it for yourself.
That’s been my experience too. Most buyers just want “easy” and don’t care about the long-term benefits unless it’s super obvious—like lower water bills or less yard work. I’ve seen solar panels add value, but native landscaping? Not so much, unless you’re in a market where that’s a selling point. If you want to split the difference, I’d say stick with clean lines, mulch beds, and maybe a few low-water shrubs. Keeps things tidy without scaring folks off.
Most buyers just want “easy” and don’t care about the long-term benefits unless it’s super obvious—like lower water bills or less yard work.
- 100% agree. I tried selling a place with native plants and rain barrels—nobody cared, just wanted grass.
- Spent extra on permeable pavers once. Didn’t get a dime back at sale.
- If you’re on a budget, stick to basics: mulch, some shrubs, mow-and-go lawn. Fancy eco stuff is for your own satisfaction, not ROI.
Fancy eco stuff is for your own satisfaction, not ROI.
Honestly, that’s been my experience too. People say they want “green” features, but when it’s time to buy, they just want a tidy lawn and low maintenance. I’ve seen some buyers get weirdly suspicious of anything that isn’t standard grass. If you’re flipping or developing, keep it simple—curb appeal sells, not rain gardens.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—people talk a big game about sustainability, but when it comes down to it, they want something that looks “normal” and doesn’t need a ton of upkeep. I tried pitching a native plant garden to my partner and got a hard no because “it looks messy.” Even when I ran the numbers, the savings on water and mowing just didn’t outweigh the weird looks from neighbors.
If you’re on a budget, honestly, sticking with basic landscaping is just easier. Maybe throw in a couple of low-maintenance shrubs or something, but nothing too wild. I’ve seen some folks try to go all-in on solar or fancy irrigation, but unless you’re planning to live there long-term, it’s tough to get that money back. People just want to see green grass and maybe a tree or two. It’s kind of boring, but it works.
