A home with great curb appeal makes a stellar first impression, especially when you are looking to sell it for top dollar.   Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between investing in a home’s landscape and an increase in its value.  On average, one can expect an increase of 5 to 15 percent by investing in a well-planned and maintained landscape.  Simple upgrades such as fresh mulch, dedicated lawn maintenance and adding pops of color with flowers can get you started in the right direction. For bigger impact and payoff, consider a professional landscape design that incorporates larger trees and shrubs as well as hardscape installations like paved walkways and retaining walls.