Landscaping is the single highest-ROI exterior improvement you can make before selling a home in Fresno, Kerman, or Clovis. According to the National Association of Realtors, a standard lawn care service recovers 217% of its cost at sale, and a landscape upgrade recovers 100–150% depending on scope. In the Central Valley real estate market, where first impressions happen from the curb in 95-degree heat, a green, well-maintained yard separates homes that sell in days from homes that sit for weeks.
Here is what actually moves the needle — and what is a waste of money — when you are preparing to sell.
What Buyers See First: The 7-Second Curb Appeal Test
Real estate agents in Fresno will tell you: buyers form an opinion about a house within 7 seconds of pulling up. Before they step inside, they have already decided whether the home feels "well cared for" or "needs work."
In the Central Valley, that 7-second test happens in the context of our climate. Buyers know what a maintained yard looks like here. They also know what a neglected one looks like — and they mentally subtract thousands from their offer when they see:
- Brown or dead grass
- Overgrown weeds in beds and along sidewalks
- Bare dirt patches
- Yellowing lawn (iron chlorosis — extremely common in Fresno's alkaline soil)
- Unmaintained trees with dead fronds or hanging branches
- Cracked or dry mulch beds
A buyer looking at a home with a brown yard is not just seeing ugly grass. They are thinking: "What else has been neglected?"
Landscaping Upgrades Ranked by ROI
Not all landscaping improvements return equal value. Here is what matters most when selling in the Fresno area, ranked by return on investment:
Tier 1: High ROI, Low Cost (Do These First)
Fresh sod on the front lawn — ROI: 150–200%+
Nothing transforms curb appeal faster than green grass. If your front lawn is dead, patchy, or more weeds than grass, replacing it with fresh sod is the single best investment you can make before listing.
For a typical front yard in Kerman or Fresno, sod installation runs $800–$2,500 depending on size. That investment routinely adds $2,000–$5,000 to the perceived value of the home — and more importantly, it prevents buyers from discounting their offer by even more.
Bermuda grass is the standard for Central Valley front yards: heat-tolerant, drought-resistant, and green from April through October. For winter listings, overseeded Bermuda or tall fescue provides green coverage year-round. Read our guide on the best time to plant sod in Fresno for timing specifics.
Professional mowing and edging — ROI: 200%+
If your existing lawn is alive but shaggy, a professional mow, edge, and trim before photos and open houses is the cheapest high-impact improvement you can make. Clean edges along sidewalks, driveways, and beds make the entire property look polished.
Cost: $35–$75 for a single visit. See our full pricing.
Weed removal and bed cleanup — ROI: 150–200%
Weeds in flower beds, along fences, and in cracks signal neglect. A thorough weed removal and bed refresh with fresh mulch costs $200–$600 for most front yards and dramatically improves the listing photos.
Tier 2: Moderate ROI, Moderate Cost (Strong Sellers)
Fresh mulch in all beds — ROI: 100–150%
New dark mulch in flower beds, around trees, and along borders makes landscaping look intentional and finished. Mulch also suppresses weeds during the listing period so the yard stays clean between showings.
Cost: $300–$800 for a full front and back yard refresh. See our mulch and flowerbed services.
Tree and palm trimming — ROI: 100–150%
Overgrown trees make a home look smaller and darker. Dead palm fronds look terrible in listing photos. Trimmed trees open sight lines, let more light reach the house, and signal active maintenance.
Cost: $150–$500 per tree. See our tree trimming services.
Basic flower plantings — ROI: 100–130%
Color at the front entry — a few flats of seasonal flowers near the door, along the walkway, or in a focal bed — adds warmth to photos and showings. In Fresno's climate, vincas, lantana, and pentas thrive in summer heat with minimal water.
Cost: $100–$300 for materials and planting.
Tier 3: Lower ROI for Sellers (Save for Long-Term Homeowners)
Full landscape redesign — Beautiful but expensive. A $5,000–$15,000 landscape overhaul rarely returns its full cost at sale unless the existing yard is truly uninhabitable. Better to invest in Tier 1 and 2 improvements.
Artificial turf — Polarizing with buyers. Some love the low maintenance; others see it as cheap-looking. If you are selling, real grass almost always photographs and feels better. If you are staying, artificial turf is a different conversation — see our sod vs artificial turf comparison.
Hardscaping (patios, retaining walls) — Great for enjoying the home, but slow to recoup at sale. Focus hardscaping dollars on the front walkway or entry area if anything.
Fast Turnaround: Getting Your Yard Sale-Ready
Most homeowners start thinking about landscaping 2–4 weeks before listing. Here is a realistic timeline for Central Valley projects:
| Project | Turnaround Time | Best Season |
|---|---|---|
| Professional mow and cleanup | Same week | Any time |
| Weed removal and mulch refresh | 1–3 days | Any time |
| Front yard sod installation | 3–7 days | March–October (best), November–February (possible with fescue) |
| Tree and palm trimming | 1–3 days | Any time |
| Flower bed planting | 1–2 days | Spring or fall for best results |
| Full front + back yard renovation | 2–4 weeks | Spring or early fall |
The key takeaway: If you are listing in the next 30 days, there is still time to make a meaningful difference. Even same-week improvements like mowing, edging, and mulch refresh will improve your listing photos significantly.
Selling in Summer: The Central Valley Challenge
Selling a home in Fresno between June and September creates a unique landscaping challenge. Temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees, and buyers know that maintaining a green lawn here takes effort.
A green lawn in July sends a powerful signal: this home is well maintained. Conversely, a brown lawn in July tells buyers the homeowner stopped caring — and they wonder what else was neglected inside.
If your lawn is struggling in summer heat:
- Start watering properly now — deep, infrequent watering during allowed days and times. Check the watering restrictions for your city
- Apply chelated iron — yellow grass from iron chlorosis is the most common issue. See our iron chlorosis treatment guide
- Raise the mowing height — taller grass shades its own roots and survives heat better
- Consider sod replacement if the lawn is beyond recovery — fresh Bermuda sod establishes quickly in warm soil
What Real Estate Agents in Fresno Recommend
Talk to any listing agent in the Central Valley and they will tell you the same thing: spend money on the front yard first. The backyard matters for serious buyers who schedule a showing, but the front yard determines whether they schedule that showing in the first place.
Prioritize in this order:
- Green, mowed, edged front lawn
- Clean beds with fresh mulch, no weeds
- Trimmed trees and shrubs
- Color near the front entry
- Clean driveway and walkways (pressure wash if needed)
- Then address the backyard
For most homes in Kerman, Fresno, and Clovis, improvements #1 through #4 can be completed for $1,000–$3,000 total and make a dramatic difference in listing photos and buyer perception.
Before-and-After Impact
We have helped homeowners across the Central Valley prepare their properties for sale. The transformation from neglected to sale-ready typically takes less than a week and costs a fraction of what sellers spend on interior staging.
The before-and-after difference is not subtle. Fresh sod, clean edges, dark mulch, and trimmed trees turn a "we need to negotiate hard" property into a "let's make a strong offer before someone else does" property.
Get Your Yard Sale-Ready
Listing soon? We can typically get your yard sale-ready within a week. Tell us your timeline and we will prioritize accordingly.
For quick maintenance (mowing, edging, cleanup): Get instant pricing — enter your address and subscribe in under 2 minutes.
For sod, mulch, tree trimming, or a full makeover: Request a free estimate or call (559) 809-1230. We will walk the property, discuss your listing timeline, and give you honest recommendations on what is worth the investment and what is not.
We serve sellers and real estate agents across Kerman, Fresno, Clovis, and the greater Central Valley.