Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or real estate advice.
Looking to make more money when selling your property? One of the biggest factors real estate agents notice when assessing your land is how well you’ve maintained it. Whether you’re working with residential lots in Carbondale, farmland, or acres of rural land… Maintenance matters.
Regular upkeep and land clearing can significantly increase your resale value. The best part? Keeping your land in good shape is simple when you know what you’re doing and have access to the right equipment.
Let’s go over:
- Why maintenance matters for land value
- Which maintenance tasks are most important
- How to find equipment that fits your needs
- Simple strategies to increase your return when selling
Why Maintenance Increases Resale Value
Imagine walking through a neighborhood… You know someone’s got to make an offer on these houses. But you only spend a few minutes looking at each property before deciding what you do want to see more of. That’s how buyers view land too.
Good upkeep tells buyers you care about your property. And if you take care of the outside, they’ll assume the rest of it is well taken care of also.
The National Association of Realtors actually found that curb appeal is so important, 71% of homebuyers factor it into their buying decisions. And when it comes to selling land, curb appeal is more than just your front yard. That covers fencing, pasture condition, drainage, you name it.
Bad maintenance sends the exact opposite signal.
Real estate that shows poor land maintenance can lose up to 30% of its value. That’s tens of thousands of dollars for just not bothering to take care of your land.
Fortunately for Carbondale property owners who are serious about keeping their land in good condition, nearby agricultural equipment dealerships have you covered. You can find Case IH and Kubota equipment in Carbondale with quality attachments and accessories to fit your specific needs.
Maintenance Tasks That Matter Most
Some maintenance tasks are more important than others.
Here are the big ones to consider.
- Mowing & Brush Clearing: If your fields are taller than you, that’s a big sign of an unkempt property. Keep your grass mowed at all times.
- Fencing: Rotten fence posts and hanging gates are bad signs to buyers. Replace and repair any damage.
- Water Drainage: Marshy yards and muddy low spots signal poor water drainage and can deter buyers. Fill in these areas before listing your property.
- Tree Line: Dead trees are hazards. Trim back overgrowth and remove trees that could fall.
- Soil: Perhaps one of the more overlooked parts of your land, but buyers can tell if your soil is rich and healthy. Make sure yours is!
Again, these visual cues matter because buyers assume that if you didn’t take care of the outside of your property, then what’s happening under the surface isn’t great either.
Maintenance Tasks Return BIG Returns
Here are a couple of charts to show you just how valuable well maintained land is.
As you can see from the chart above, provided by the USDA, farm real estate values in the U.S. increased by 5% in 2024. That’s the 4th year in a row of growth. Think about that.
Land is going up year over year. Now imagine a well-maintained piece of land going up against a poorly maintained piece of land.
Buyers have options. They won’t pay more for a rundown piece of acreage when a well-kept piece of land is sitting right next door for the same price.
That trend holds true for residential lots and land too. A study done by Virginia Tech showed that properties that took care of landscaping had between a 5.5% to 12.7% increase in value over properties that did not.
So if you were selling a property worth $200,000, that 5% bump in price equals $10,000 more in your pocket. Acquiring maintenance equipment and keeping your land healthy is far cheaper than that.
Also Read: Home Selling Strategies: From Listing to Closing Success
Get the Equipment You Need
This is where most property owners go wrong.
They know maintenance is important. But don’t know where to go to get equipment that can help them keep up. Depending on the size of your land will determine what you actually need.
If you’re working with small residential lots, a riding mower and some basic hand tools may be all you need. But if you’re working with 20+ acres of land, that’s simply not going to cut it.
A tractor, brush hog, post hole digger, tillage equipment, you name it. Bigger lands require bigger equipment. And if you try to maintain larger land sizes with residential-grade equipment, you’re going to have a bad time.
Instead, work with a local agricultural equipment dealership that can help you determine what size and scope of equipment you’ll need to maintain your land. Equipment manufacturers build their machinery to last and with Dealer Support, you’ll be set for years to come.
Easy Strategies to Increase Resale Value
Want to increase the value of your land before selling? Here are some quick tips.
- Create a maintenance schedule. Set times to clear your land throughout the year. Don’t wait until you’re about to sell to try and get it all done at once. Plan monthly mowing during the growing season, quarterly fence checks, etc.
- Clean up the entrance. First impressions matter most. Clean up the entranceway to your land first. Clear away brush, fix any broken gates, and make your driveway welcoming.
- Don’t ignore water flow. Drainage and water flow issues don’t get better over time. They only get worse. If you notice pooling water or washed-out areas of your land, fix them.
- Keep records. Document what maintenance you do on your own. Save receipts for any equipment you buy. And keep a spreadsheet of anything you upgrade or improve.
- Assess your property. Walk your land like a buyer would before putting it up for sale. What eyesores do you notice? Make a list and fix those things before listing.
Access to Quality Equipment Saves You Money
There’s one other thing I want to mention that truly shows who purchases land and who lists it… Those who already have access to quality equipment when they need it.
Odds are you’re not going to run out and purchase all of the attachments and accessories needed to maintain your land. But if you have a relationship with an agricultural equipment dealership, you can access those pieces when you need them. Rentals, financing, and expert knowledge all live at your local dealership.
Seasonal maintenance tasks are huge too. You’ll need different attachments to clear brush in the spring than what you’d use to prepare your field in the fall. Not to mention cleaning up in the winter.
A quality agricultural dealership will be your go-to for ensuring you have the right equipment to maintain your land all year long.
Wrapping Up
Maintaining your land isn’t just something you do to keep things nice… It’s an investment. Investment in your property that will protect what you’ve worked for and increase your potential return when it comes time to sell. Here’s your takeaway…
Also Read: What is Digital Real Estate? A Beginner’s Guide to Online Investments
Maintaining your land shows buyers you care about your property. Pay attention to the things that matter like regular mowing, taking care of fencing, and ensuring water flows correctly across your land. Quality equipment from brands you know and trust like Case IH and Kubota make maintaining your land easy and keep you prepared for whatever maintenance task comes your way.
Plus, land values aren’t going down. So by keeping your land tidy, you’ll not only protect your land, you’ll stand out from other sellers.
Don’t leave money on the table. Start treating your land like the valuable asset it is and watch as the offers start rolling in. The buyers that view your land will thank you for it before they make you an offer.
