Yes, paying for landscaping usually pays off; it commonly recovers 70 to 100 percent of its cost at resale and helps homes sell faster. Real-estate agents generally credit strong curb appeal with a 5 to 10 percent bump in perceived value.
The usual rule of thumb is to keep total landscape spending near 10 percent of home value, weighted toward the front yard and toward trees, which gain value as they mature. The main ways to lose money are overbuilding for the neighborhood or installing high-maintenance features the next owner sees as a chore.
Before committing real money, it helps to see the finished yard first. OutdoorBrite renders design concepts on a photo of your own home; see OutdoorBrite's plans and pricing.