A few years ago, my wife and I were trying to buy our first home in Oakland.
We looked everywhere. For months. We toured more than 50 homes and put in over 20 offers. It was exhausting and, honestly, a little demoralizing.
But after the first few months, a clear pattern emerged.
If a house looked great from the outside, especially if it had thoughtful, Oakland-style native planting, mature trees, or garden beds with the compost bin in the corner, we didn’t stand a chance. Those homes went fast and almost always well over asking. Every time.
The interiors mattered, of course. But the landscape was the signal. It told buyers this place was cared for. It felt established. It hinted at a lifestyle before you even opened the front door.
That lesson has stuck with me ever since. And I see the same dynamic play out again and again in development projects.
Landscape Is Value, Not Decoration
Developers already know that location, unit mix, and pricing drive outcomes. What’s often underestimated is how much landscape architecture contributes to perceived and real value.
Strong landscape design:
- Increases property value Curb appeal isn’t superficial. It directly influences demand, pricing, and speed to lease or sale.
- Attracts tenants and buyers People want access to green space. They want shade, places to gather, and environments that feel human, not leftover.
- Improves marketability Landscapes photograph well. They anchor marketing materials. They give people something to emotionally connect to.
- Creates a sense of place Well-designed outdoor spaces help people imagine themselves living or working there.
This isn’t theoretical. It shows up in comps, leasing velocity, and buyer behavior.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
You’ve probably experienced this.
A new building opens. The architecture is done. The units are ready. And the landscape either isn’t finished or is technically installed but feels anemic. Tiny trees. Sparse planting. A sea of bark or gravel.
It looks unfinished. Worse, it feels unlived in.
There’s no sense of community yet. No signal of what this place will become. People can’t project themselves into the future of the site.
That gap matters. Early impressions set the tone for how a project is perceived long after opening day.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
You’ve probably experienced this.
A new building opens. The architecture is done. The units are ready. And the landscape either isn’t finished or is technically installed but feels anemic. Tiny trees. Sparse planting. A sea of bark or gravel.
It looks unfinished. Worse, it feels unlived in.
There’s no sense of community yet. No signal of what this place will become. People can’t project themselves into the future of the site.
That gap matters. Early impressions set the tone for how a project is perceived long after opening day.
Landscape Delivers Real ROI
A common rule of thumb in development is a 10:2:5 ROI for landscape. In simple terms:
On a $100M project, a $5–10M landscape investment can deliver a meaningful, often immediate return in value, absorption, and market perception.
And if you’re holding the asset, the return compounds.
As trees mature, as parks fill out, as streets become shaded and comfortable, the project improves with time. Unlike many building components, landscape doesn’t depreciate in the same way. It grows into its value.
Let the Landscape Do the Marketing
The landscape is the first thing people see when they arrive and the last thing they experience when they leave.
It sets expectations. It leaves an impression.
If it’s treated as a box to check, it shows. If it’s designed with intention, it becomes one of your strongest marketing tools. Not loud. Not flashy. Just quietly convincing.
People don’t remember how many shrubs were installed. They remember how a place made them feel.
If you want people to choose your project over another, to pay more, or to stay longer, the landscape has to do more than meet minimum requirements. It has to tell a story about the life that’s possible there.
That’s where the real return comes from.
- Blake, CEO & Founder