The impact of trees can be a factor when the time arrives to sell a home. A touch of green around the house can have a significant impact and might make the difference for a potential buyer.

For those with established trees in the garden, you’re in luck. However, it is essential that the gums, crepe myrtle or frangipanis are healthy and well-maintained to make the right impression. Dead or dying eucalypts are not an appealing look – and dangerous if they are too close to the property.

That said, living in a leafy suburb or town also adds value to your property as trees offer lifestyle benefits such as shade from the summer heat, store carbon and recycle oxygen. Moreover, deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in autumn allow sunlight to filter into gardens during the colder months.

While trees can be an excellent addition to any backyard, maintaining them can be a nightmare and costly if you select the wrong sapling, plant it too close to the house or they hinder a prized view. When selecting a tree, choose common varieties that won’t outgrow the available space in your garden or yard.

According to the website, homestolove.com.au, trees likely to add value as they are attractive, easy to maintain and compact include the deciduous crepe myrtle, which loses its leaves in winter and has long-lasting, colourful flowers that can survive from late spring to late summer. The crepe myrtle grows between 5-7 metres, which sounds very manageable. The website also no nominates frangipanis, a small succulent deciduous tree with fragrant white, pink or apricot flowers in summer and autumn. This tree is best in temperate to tropical climates, and they grow to 3-5m.

If you don’t have the gift of a green thumb and believe your home needs a horticultural lift, a Raine & Horne real estate agent, along with a local nursery, is worth consulting. A Raine & Horne agent will be able to tell you what types of trees grab buyer attention. For instance, if it’s some privacy and depth, lilly-pillies and select species of bamboo are often popular choices.

If it’s possible to stretch the budget, a landscaper could also help to ‘green up’ your home. For the latest tips and advice, or to find an accredited landscaper, visit the Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers website www.aildm.com.au