In a earlier submit, I debated whether or not it’s higher to purchase a house with a bigger lot or an amazing view. One key level was that in contrast to rising livable sq. footage, it’s practically not possible to create or enhance a view.
Certain, you may add a degree to peek over surrounding homes. However constructing a 1,000-square-foot new degree in San Francisco prices $1+ million and takes over two years – if you possibly can even get it permitted. Who has the cash, time, or persistence for that? And when you’re at it, you’d most likely must relocate and pay sky-high hire.
And let’s be actual: the home in entrance of you isn’t going to voluntarily shrink itself to present you a greater view. That might be like torching residence fairness for enjoyable. In actual property, extra livable sq. footage virtually at all times equals extra worth. Traders construct up, not down.
In case you purchase a home with expansion potential, you may also construct out or well reclaim some wasteful indoor house. Growing a house’s livable sq. footage will not be simple, however much more possible than enhancing your private home’s view.
However there is a technique to enhance your private home’s view: by foresight, luck, and a complete lot of persistence. Let me clarify a fortuitous state of affairs that occurred at one in all my rental properties.
How I Improved My Dwelling’s View (and Boosted Its Worth)
In 2014, I bought a fixer-upper in Golden Gate Heights for $1.24 million. It was quiet, protected, and had unimaginable panoramic ocean views. My spouse and I weren’t keen to hire our previous Marina District place for $7,600–$8,000 a month, so the apparent answer was to hire it out to individuals who would willingly pay that quantity.
On the time, I used to be solely two years into early retirement. The financial system was recovering, however we had been additionally planning to start out a household, and I had promised my spouse that she could negotiate a severance package and retire early if our funds nonetheless appeared strong by the point she turned 35 in 2015. So we prudently down-sized into a spot snug for 3 folks.
After some exploring, I discovered a drained previous residence with world-class views. I may see myself writing in the lounge or on a future deck on heat days. However there was one difficulty: an enormous, extensive eucalyptus tree partially blocking the lower-level view.
Researching the View-Blocking Tree
In the course of the shopping for course of, I noticed an arborist trimming bushes close by and requested concerning the eucalyptus. Its trunk was practically 4 ft throughout, that means it was doubtless 120 years previous. He additionally observed early indicators of illness. Though eucalyptus bushes may dwell to 200 years previous, he did not suppose this one would.
“Worst case,” I assumed, “this tree most likely has 30 years left.” If I held the home lengthy sufficient and handed it all the way down to my future children, possibly they’d finally take pleasure in an unobstructed ocean view. I used to be 34 on the time.
Over the following eight years, the tree stored rising, roughly 6 inches taller yearly, sprouting brilliant crimson leaves each spring. I really like bushes (I’ve planted a number of myself), however dropping increasingly more ocean view was not excellent. At its progress fee, it will quickly block 50% of the view from the higher degree too.
The Shock of 2025: The Tree Vanishes
Then in July 2025, 11 years after I purchased the home, I returned from my 5-week journey to Honolulu and the tree was… gone. Utterly. Earlier than we left it was there; 5 weeks later, nada.
After I had politely requested years earlier about trimming it (and been declined after doing so as soon as), the neighbor determined to take away it altogether. He stated the tree had turn out to be a legal responsibility with rotting branches and utility traces working by it. Eradicating it was the most secure selection.
Poor tree. But additionally… hallelujah!
All of a sudden my partially obstructed lower-level view grew to become absolutely panoramic once more. And I now not needed to fear concerning the upper-level view being impacted, for a minimum of one other 120 years!
The Worth of A Dwelling With a Higher View
The view is undeniably higher now than once I purchased the house, and much better than after the tree grew a further 3–4 ft.
So after all I began pondering: What is that this improved view value?
As a personal finance enthusiast, my intestine says the higher view is value a minimum of $100,000 extra as a result of I’d fortunately pay $100,000 extra for this residence with a greater view.
And that is partially supported by the truth that I might have gladly paid the $50,000 quoted by an expert to take away that tree to enhance my view. For the reason that neighbor paid for it as a substitute, it felt like successful a $50,000 lottery plus one other $50,000 for the higher view.
As a proportion of the property’s present worth, $100,000 is about 4%. However quantifying the worth of a view is hard. Land, livable sq. footage, inside high quality, location, and examine are the principle elements of residence worth. However panoramic ocean views might be value a small fortune. There are phrases like “million-dollar views” and “priceless views” for a motive.
Going from no view to an superb view may increase a house’s worth by as much as 50%, relying on comps. However my residence didn’t go from zero to hero. It went from “good view partially blocked” to “absolutely unobstructed panoramic.”
So realistically, I estimate the tree elimination elevated my residence’s worth by 2%–4%, or $50,000–$100,000.
If I ever promote, I’ll embrace before-and-after view images, simply as I do with all remodeling, to assist patrons see the transformation and respect the time, price, and energy behind it.
In my expertise, the worth of a transform will increase as soon as a purchaser understands how a lot effort and time went into it. So preserve a working spreadsheet of all objects, prices, dates, and work accomplished, together with earlier than and after images.
How To Enhance Your View: Research the Surrounding Bushes
One of many unhappy realities of getting older is realizing nothing lasts endlessly. Every part breaks down. Every part wants upkeep, from automobiles, roofs, water heaters, even century-old eucalyptus bushes.
So should you’re eyeing a house with a doubtlessly nice view however some tree-related obstacles, keep in mind: bushes finally die and have to be eliminated for security causes. As well as, bushes might be trimmed down should you negotiate correctly along with your neighbor.
Right here’s what to do earlier than your private home buy:
1. Research the encompassing bushes
Spend time taking a look at each tree that impacts your sightline.
Then rent an arborist or a gardener without spending a dime in search of enterprise and ask:
- How previous is the tree?
- What’s its estimated lifespan?
- Any indicators of illness?
- Is it changing into a legal responsibility?
A tree trimmer also can give tough estimates without spending a dime. As well as, you possibly can add the tree to ChatGPT or Claude and ask the identical questions. Their solutions are often fairly strong.
Please pay attention to the potential legal responsibility of getting a big tree on or close to your property. A big department and even the complete tree may fall and harm your private home throughout a significant storm. This is the reason it’s vital to grasp the sensible price of elimination.
2. Ask the neighbor (politely)
Have your agent ask the itemizing agent to ask the neighbor in the event that they’re open to trimming. A greater view will increase your private home’s worth, and theirs too. They need to love that logic, particularly should you pay for the trimming.
Trimming additionally helps enhance the well being of the tree, if executed correctly. However typically folks want a nudge.
Providing a gift or a monetary incentive works surprisingly properly if framed correctly. I am comfortable to have my neighbors trim my bushes without spending a dime, as long as the bushes proceed to offer privateness. I am all about that cozy home feeling that features having plenty of surrounding vegetation.
3. If the neighbor says no…
It occurs. Tree disputes have led to lawsuits, neighbor wars, and unhealthy blood. In the event that they’re not open to trimming, your solely possibility is to estimate when the tree will finally must be eliminated.
Lengthy-time residents typically hate it when new potential residents begin asking for change. So strategically, it’s possible you’ll need to construct a very good relationship along with your neighbors for a number of years, supply them plenty of small goodies, after which ask should you will pay to trim their bushes. Your possibilities go means up should you go this route.
4. Be careful for brand new development
Bushes aren’t the one menace to views. Examine:
- Pending allow functions of surrounding properties
- Deliberate remodels
- Whether or not neighbors can legally construct larger
Views and airspace often aren’t protected. Then once more, often cities have ordinances the place you may also construct as excessive up as your neighbors.
It’s Not Bizarre To Suppose This Far Forward For A View
Some folks will suppose I’m loopy for calculating the lifespan of a tree to estimate future view potential. However once you’re dealing with a housing affordability crunch, massive cash is at stake.
Pondering is FREE. Not pondering can price you lots of of hundreds.
I’ve spent 23+ years shopping for and promoting actual property and sharing what I be taught so you possibly can keep away from expensive errors. A house will doubtless be the largest buy of your life. It will possibly make you wealthy or make your life depressing.
Please do not skip out on a professional inspection after doing your personal inspection a number of occasions. I do not care how many individuals you carry to take a look at the home throughout a number of visits, there may be at all times one thing you’ll miss that may price you cash down the street.
My purpose is that can assist you make optimum monetary choices so you possibly can obtain monetary freedom sooner.
And with a bit of foresight and luck, possibly you can also purchase a house that magically will get a greater view in the future.
Readers, have you ever ever improved your private home’s view? In that case, how did you do it and the way a lot did it price? Do you understand the potential advantages and liabilities of bushes on and surrounding your property?
