Some say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but for many Americans it is the backyard. The backyard is where your son or daughter first learns to play catch. It is where you share a romantic kiss with your partner under the stars in front of your outdoor fire pit. It is the place that rings out with shared laughter and joy during those summer barbecues. Most Americans seem to agree with as much as 90% of those with back yards believing that keeping it well maintained is important and over 83% believe that a yard is an important aspect of home living. Looking after your backyard, improving your curb appeal, and making it truly a pleasure to be in, should be a priority for every American.
Keeping your backyard looking beautiful can pay dividends beyond just giving you a lovely space to hang out in. In fact, real estate agents (97%) say that landscaping is one of the top five improvements home owners can make to increase the selling price of their homes. Landscaping can yield a 215% return on investment and can increase resale value by as much as 14%. Another study found that investing as little as 5% of your home’s value in your lawn and related landscaping can yield a return of over 150%. On average, Americans invest as much as four hours a week on lawn care, equating to over eight days a year. There are unseen benefits to lawn ownership too, since a 2,500 square foot lawn provides enough oxygen for a four-person family, while simultaneously absorbing carbon dioxide and other harmful gases like ozone and peroxycetyl nitrate.
You should also consider how you handle the aesthetic of more practical elements that may find a home in your backyard, such as an outdoor wood burning furnace. Such outdoor wood burning furnaces can be used to completely eliminate heating bills — if you have access to your own wood stockpile or can source for free. This heating energy cost efficiency is making them an attractive option for americans wanting to cut costs. Modern installation are compact and unobtrusive, meaning they do not ruin the outlook of your backyard, while still offering all of the benefits of outdoor wood burning furnaces. Between $10,000 and $50,000 in heating costs can be saved over a ten year period. There are already over 200,000 such furnaces installed in homes across America. Users say they use as much as 25% to 75% less wood than other word furnace options, while enjoying improved heating efficiency.
Enjoying the outdoors is an important part of American living — more than 75% of those surveyed in a study by Harris Poll for the National Association of Landscape Professionals indicated that it is important to spend time outside in their yards. With such importance placed on outdoor living, it makes sense to invest in maintaining the space.
