One question I hear a lot lately is: “Should I spend money on landscaping my flip, or not?” Well, my answer is—it depends. Let me break down what we’ve learned from our experience funding and doing flips and new construction projects.
Landscaping on New Construction and Higher-End Flips
For our new construction projects or higher price point flips, buyers tend to want you to put the majority of the budget into the inside of the home. They’re focused on high-quality finishes, upgraded kitchens, and making the living spaces as attractive and functional as possible.
That said, you still need to cover the basics outside—a decent deck, a clean front entrance, a small patio, and a well-maintained walkway and driveway. But beyond that, most buyers have their own vision for landscaping and prefer to handle that themselves once they take ownership.
Landscaping on Starter Homes and Lower-End Flips
For the lower-end homes—think first-time buyers in the $500k-$550k range—landscaping matters more. These buyers want to see a home that’s move-in ready, including the yard. In these cases, we always budget for landscaping, even if it’s around $10,000 or so, to ensure:
- Walkways look inviting
- Driveways are clean and in good shape
- A small patio or deck is in place if one didn’t already exist
The goal here is to make the property attractive and minimize the buyer’s work after closing.
What’s the Bottom Line?
- If you have the budget, include landscaping. It adds curb appeal and can help your home sell faster, especially in entry-level markets.
If your budget is tight on a new build or higher-end flip, prioritize finishing the interior well and cover just the basics outside. Let the buyer customize landscaping after closing.