The housing market isn’t what it used to be, and if you’re looking to sell or refinance your home, you’re facing an uphill battle. Any investment you can make to increase the value of your home in a down market could have a huge impact- not just on your net worth, but on your financial future. Most people in the outdoor lighting business claim that installing landscape and architectural accent lighting outside your home will increase your property value- but most stop there. In this article, I will describe how you can turn a bit of practical lighting knowledge into real property value.
Property Value
Before you can use outdoor lighting to improve your property value, you have to understand the role that light plays in valuing a property. In the real estate market, no two pieces of property are identical– this fact contributes to all the confusion in the real estate market, no doubt, but also represents an opportunity. Since no two properties are the same, and no buyer can get to know a property well enough to understand the nuances that contribute to its real value, most buyers are forced to make an offer on a property based on their perceived value of the property. You can visit outdoor lighting houston tx website for more information about the best commercial lighting in Houston.
This “perceived value,” in essence, is a combination of local factors–the school district, neighborhood quality, etc.– and “curb appeal.” An active outdoor lighting regimen works to increase your property’s value by making it stand out from similar or identical properties in the area. Outdoor lighting, therefore, shouldn’t just strive to “keep up with the Joneses.” Your landscape and architectural lights should make a subtle, classy statement that sets your property a cut above the competition.
Use Outdoor Lights to Accent, Not Overwhelm
When non-professionals install lights on the outside of their homes, many make the faulty assumption that more lighting is inherently better. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. We’ve all walked or driven by houses that have too much exterior lighting; even on the warmest summer nights, they’re lit up like Christmas trees. The impression that you take away from an over-lit property isn’t one of class or value, but one of showiness, gaudiness, and, well, cheesiness.
Excessive Lights
Drowning your house in light is just a way of showing the world how expensive your utility bills must be. Instead, choose low-wattage lights, and position them in places where they make a robust and accenting statement on your home’s facade. Corners, entryways, and bay windows are all excellent places to situate outdoor lights. When strategically placed, architectural lights can accent your home’s most notable features- or add visual interest, if your house doesn’t offer much to work with.
The key, however, is to make sure that you keep your baseline level of lighting low enough that outdoor accent lights can be noticed at low power levels. You’ll make a stronger impression on passersby, and you’ll save money on your electricity bills. All in all, a worthwhile investment, and one with additional benefits that reach far beyond your property’s bottom line.