Is Landscape Lighting a Good Investment? Understanding the ROI

If you’ve looked into professional landscape lighting, you probably already know it is no small investment. So, is landscape lighting worth the cost?

For many homeowners, the answer is yes. A professionally designed lighting system can support your home’s value while making your property more attractive, functional, and enjoyable after dark. However, there is no single ROI percentage that applies to every project. The return depends on the quality of the lighting, how well it fits the property, its long-term operating costs, and the value it adds to your everyday experience at home.

That is why it helps to look beyond resale value alone. The return on landscape lighting can include energy savings, lower maintenance needs, greater use of your outdoor spaces, and the enjoyment you receive from your home now.

In this article, we’ll explain what can affect the ROI of landscape lighting and what you should consider before deciding whether it is a worthwhile investment for your Memphis home.

The type of system you choose will make a significant difference. Here, we are specifically discussing high-quality, commercial-grade LED lighting rather than outdated incandescent or halogen systems.

What Makes Landscape Lighting a Worthwhile Investment?

Any time that you are investing in a home project, you want to feel confident that your dollars will deliver maximum value. That includes getting a good return on investment (ROI).

As you probably already know, different projects around the home can have different ROIs. Outdoor projects tend to usually have a strong ROI as people are looking to be able to spend more time outside. Outdoor living areas tend to retain their value. Landscape lighting is part of that.

That’s because it’s hard to maximize time outside when you can’t see what you’re doing. For that reason, investing in landscape lighting can be a wise choice that helps you get the most possible value out of your outdoor living spaces as a whole. 

When evaluating the return on your landscape lighting investment, it is important to consider more than its potential effect on your home’s resale value. A professionally designed system can also improve how your property looks, feels, and functions after dark.

Some of the most valuable benefits include:

Improved functionality - As we’ve mentioned, it’s hard to get the most possible use out of your yard when you can’t see. That’s why a significant benefit of investing in landscape lighting is increased functionality. You’ll use your outdoor living spaces more (and for a longer amount of time).

Enhanced aesthetics - There is also major curb appeal associated with landscape lighting. A well-lit property looks gorgeous at night. With the right outdoor lighting, you’ll become the envy of the neighborhood.

Safety - Another benefit of outdoor lighting is the improved safety of your property. People will be able to safely navigate your property at night without the risk of trips and falls.

Security - Anytime that you’re adding thoughtfully placed lighting around your home, you are also making an important step in increasing the security of your property. Thieves, vandals, and other trespassers will be less likely to attempt to enter your property. It will also always look like someone is “home.”

Benefits like these are what make exterior lighting ROI so high. Great landscape lighting can deliver tremendous value.

What Determines the ROI of Landscape Lighting?

The benefits of landscape lighting are clear. But what is the ROI on exterior lighting?

There are a few considerations to keep in mind when determining whether this investment is going to get you the ROI you anticipate.

Upfront investment: There’s no question that your investment in high-quality, commercial LED lighting is substantial. It’s going to be more than outdated incandescent lighting. But you need to think in terms of long-term value. When you choose LED lighting installed by a pro, you are investing in a product that is going to last longer and save you money on energy bills. Those cost savings will add up over time.

Energy savings: While LED lighting does cost more than traditional lighting upfront (after all, it's superior technology), in the long run, you’ll actually save money on both electricity bills and maintenance expenses. Low-voltage LED lighting uses a fraction of the electricity that incandescent or halogen bulbs use which means you’ll see a big difference in your electric bill. On average, LED bulbs use at least 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and they can last around 25 times longer.

Maintenance costs: There is also less maintenance involved in high-quality LED lighting as bulbs last longer and do not require regular changing. Of course, keeping up with periodic maintenance will help you protect your investment, so we are not suggesting that you forgo it entirely. Having a lighting professional check on your lighting helps ensure that everything remains in the best working order so that you can continue to get maximum value.

As far as the actual ROI for exterior lighting, one report by the National Association of Realtors stated that landscape lighting can offer as much as a 50% return on your investment. 

“Return on Enjoyment:” Considering the “ROE” of a Project

While we all tend to get caught up on figuring out the ROI on home projects, don’t forget that the “ROE” or “Return on Enjoyment” is also important. 

After all, a project like landscape lighting is going to help you enjoy your Memphis home more…and that’s what it’s all about. 

One day you might sell your home so you want to make sure you are doing projects that help contribute to property value. But right now, while you’re living there, you also want to enjoy your home and its outdoor spaces to the fullest.

When your home is well-lit, you’ll likely find yourself spending more enjoyable time outdoors. That means memories are being made and life is being enjoyed. At the end of the day, we think that’s even more important than ROI.

But the good news is that exterior lighting delivers a good ROI plus a good ROE. You truly get the best of both worlds.

Getting the Most Out of Exterior Lighting

Getting the most value (both in terms of ROI and ROE) comes down to choosing a landscape lighting company that can deliver the best results.

At Mid South Outdoor Lighting & Audio, lighting is all that we do…and for that reason, we take it very seriously. You can count on us to keep up with the latest technology so that we can give you the best.

If you choose Mid South Outdoor Lighting & Audio for your outdoor lighting project, we are ready to help you maximize the enjoyment and use of your outdoor areas with an LED landscape lighting design that is customized for you. With just the right lighting, you’ll be enjoying your property more than ever rather than worrying about bulbs going out and leaving you in the dark!

Are you ready to create a beautiful property with the best LED lighting technology at any hour of the day? If so, let’s meet and discuss some bright ideas.