Neglected Gardens Cost Melbourne Property Sellers Up to A$150,000 at Auction
Melbourne landscaping firm Must Have Maintenance warns that unmaintained gardens can slash property values by up to 15 percent, while strategic pre-sale outdoor improvements can boost final auction prices by up to 20 percent.
Harry Taruva 
Melbourne - Homeowners preparing to sell their properties in Melbourne face substantial financial penalties at auction if they neglect their gardens, according to market data released by a regional landscaping firm, Must Have Maintenance (MHM).
The assessment indicates that poorly maintained outdoor spaces can depress a property's final sale price by 5 to 15 percent.
On a residential property valued at A$1 million, this reduction represents a potential loss of up to $150,000.
Conversely, data shows that professional landscaping and structured exterior presentation can enhance overall property valuation by 15 to 20 percent, positioning the garden as one of the most cost-effective interventions for vendors prior to entering the market.
Industry metrics highlight that external presentations heavily influence initial buyer behavior, with structural neglect outdoors often souring broader market interest.
"Forty per cent of real estate agents believe that a well-presented lawn can boost a home's value by up to 20 per cent," the report from Must Have Maintenance states.
"Almost 90 per cent of Australians would offer below asking price if the exterior of a property was unappealing.
"An unmaintained garden actively signals neglect to buyers, prompts lower offers, and can add days to time on market," the report says.
With Melbourne's current median dwelling value positioning at A$828,249, a optimisation failure can result in a six-figure variance in final bids.
The operational challenge for many vendors involves moving away from emergency, short-term alterations immediately before an open inspection toward sustainable curb appeal.
"Rather than one-off clean-ups in the week before an open home, pre-sale maintenance programmes are structured to bring a garden up to standard progressively," the firm noted regarding strategic property presentation.
This methodology aims to ensure visual consistency "from the first listing photo through to auction day."
The data stresses that long-term structural maintenance remains a critical asset protection strategy for suburban property owners looking to maximise equity returns in a competitive metropolitan real estate sector.
