In a previous post, I debated whether it’s better to buy a home with a bigger lot or an amazing view. One key point was that unlike increasing livable square footage, it’s nearly impossible to create or improve a view.
Sure, you could add a level to peek over surrounding houses. But building a 1,000-square-foot new level in San Francisco costs $1+ million and takes over two years – if you can even get it permitted. Who has the money, time, or patience for that? And while you’re at it, you’d probably need to relocate and pay sky-high rent.
And let’s be real: the house in front of you is never going to voluntarily shrink itself to give you a better view. That would be like torching home equity for fun. In real estate, more livable square footage almost always equals more value. Investors build up, not down.
If you buy a home with expansion potential, you can also build out or smartly reclaim some wasteful indoor space. Increasing a home’s livable square footage is not easy, but far more feasible than improving your home’s view.
But there is one way to improve your home’s view: through foresight, luck, and a whole lot of patience. Let me explain a fortuitous situation that happened at one of my rental properties.
How I Improved My Home’s View (and Boosted Its Value)
In 2014, I bought a fixer-upper in Golden Gate Heights for $1.24 million. It was quiet, safe, and had incredible panoramic ocean views. My wife and I weren’t willing to rent our old Marina District place for $7,600–$8,000 a month, so the obvious solution was to rent it out to people who would willingly pay that amount.
At the time, I was only two years into early retirement. The economy was recovering, but we were also planning to start a family, and I had promised my wife that she could negotiate a severance package and retire early if our finances still looked solid by the time she turned 35 in 2015. So we prudently down-sized into a place comfortable for three people.
After some exploring, I stumbled on a tired old home with world-class views. I could see myself writing in the living room or on a future deck on warm days. But there was one issue: a giant, wide eucalyptus tree partially blocking the lower-level view.
Researching the View-Blocking Tree
During the buying process, I spotted an arborist trimming trees nearby and asked about the eucalyptus. Its trunk was nearly four feet across, meaning it was likely 120 years old. He also noticed early signs of disease. Although eucalyptus trees could live to 200 years old, he didn’t think this one would.
“Worst case,” I thought, “this tree probably has 30 years left.” If I held the house long enough and passed it down to my future kids, maybe they’d eventually enjoy an unobstructed ocean view. I was 34 at the time.
Over the next eight years, the tree kept growing, roughly 6 inches taller annually, sprouting bright red leaves every spring. I love trees (I’ve planted several myself), but losing more and more ocean view was not ideal. At its growth rate, it would soon block 50% of the view from the upper level too.
The Shock of 2025: The Tree Vanishes
Then in July 2025, 11 years after I bought the house, I returned from my 5-week trip to Honolulu and the tree was… gone. Completely. Before we left it was there; five weeks later, nada.
After I had politely asked years earlier about trimming it (and been declined after doing so once), the neighbor decided to remove it altogether. He said the tree had become a liability with rotting branches and utility lines running through it. Removing it was the safest choice.
Poor tree. But also… hallelujah!
Suddenly my partially obstructed lower-level view became fully panoramic again. And I no longer had to worry about the upper-level view being impacted, for at least another 120 years!
The Value of A Home With a Better View
The view is undeniably better now than when I bought the home, and far better than after the tree grew an additional 3–4 feet.
So of course I started thinking: What is this improved view worth?
As a personal finance enthusiast, my gut says the better view is worth at least $100,000 more because I’d happily pay $100,000 more for this home with a better view.
And this is partially supported by the fact that I would have gladly paid the $50,000 quoted by a professional to remove that tree to improve my view. Since the neighbor paid for it instead, it felt like winning a $50,000 lottery plus another $50,000 for the better view.
As a percentage of the property’s current value, $100,000 is about 4%. But quantifying the value of a view is tricky. Land, livable square footage, interior quality, location, and view are the main components of home value. But panoramic ocean views can be worth a small fortune. There are phrases like “million-dollar views” and “priceless views” for a reason.
Going from no view to an amazing view could boost a home’s value by up to 50%, depending on comps. But my home didn’t go from zero to hero. It went from “good view partially blocked” to “fully unobstructed panoramic.”
So realistically, I estimate the tree removal increased my home’s value by 2%–4%, or $50,000–$100,000.
If I ever sell, I’ll include before-and-after view photos, just as I do with all remodeling, to help buyers see the transformation and appreciate the time, cost, and effort behind it.
In my experience, the value of a remodel increases once a buyer understands how much time and effort went into it. So keep a running spreadsheet of all items, costs, dates, and work completed, along with before and after photos.
How To Improve Your View: Study the Surrounding Trees
One of the sad realities of aging is realizing nothing lasts forever. Everything breaks down. Everything needs maintenance, from cars, roofs, water heaters, even century-old eucalyptus trees.
So if you’re eyeing a home with a potentially great view but some tree-related obstacles, remember: trees eventually die and must be removed for safety reasons. In addition, trees can be trimmed down if you negotiate properly with your neighbor.
Here’s what to do before your home purchase:
1. Study the surrounding trees
Spend time looking at every tree that impacts your sightline.
Then hire an arborist or a gardener for free looking for business and ask:
- How old is the tree?
- What’s its estimated lifespan?
- Any signs of disease?
- Is it becoming a liability?
A tree trimmer can also give rough estimates for free. In addition, you can upload the tree to ChatGPT or Claude and ask the same questions. Their answers are usually pretty solid.
Please be aware of the potential liability of having a large tree on or near your property. A large branch or even the entire tree could fall and damage your home during a major storm. This is why it’s important to understand the realistic cost of removal.
2. Ask the neighbor (politely)
Have your agent ask the listing agent to ask the neighbor if they’re open to trimming. A better view increases your home’s value, and theirs too. They should love that logic, especially if you pay for the trimming.
Trimming also helps improve the health of the tree, if done properly. But sometimes people need a nudge.
Offering a present or a financial incentive works surprisingly well if framed properly. I’m happy to have my neighbors trim my trees for free, so long as the trees continue to provide privacy. I’m all about that cozy home feeling that includes having lots of surrounding vegetation.
3. If the neighbor says no…
It happens. Tree disputes have led to lawsuits, neighbor wars, and bad blood. If they’re not open to trimming, your only option is to estimate when the tree will eventually need to be removed.
Long-time residents sometimes hate it when new potential residents start asking for change. So strategically, you may want to build a good relationship with your neighbors for several years, offer them lots of small goodies, and then ask if you can pay to trim their trees. Your chances go way up if you go this route.
4. Watch out for new construction
Trees aren’t the only threat to views. Check:
- Pending permit applications of surrounding properties
- Planned remodels
- Whether neighbors can legally build higher
Views and airspace usually aren’t protected. Then again, usually cities have ordinances where you can also build as high up as your neighbors.
It’s Not Weird To Think This Far Ahead For A View
Some people will think I’m crazy for calculating the lifespan of a tree to estimate future view potential. But when you’re facing a housing affordability crunch, big money is at stake.
Thinking is FREE. Not thinking can cost you hundreds of thousands.
I’ve spent 23+ years buying and selling real estate and sharing what I learn so you can avoid costly mistakes. A home will likely be the biggest purchase of your life. It can make you wealthy or make your life miserable.
Please don’t skip out on a professional inspection after doing your own inspection multiple times. I don’t care how many people you bring to check out the house across multiple visits, there is always something you will miss that will cost you money down the road.
My goal is to help you make optimal financial decisions so you can achieve financial freedom sooner.
And with a little foresight and luck, maybe you too can buy a home that magically gets a better view one day.
Readers, have you ever improved your home’s view? If so, how did you do it and how much did it cost? Do you realize the potential benefits and liabilities of trees on and surrounding your property?
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