Improve curb appeal for better chance at home sale
Thinking about selling your home?
The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) says there are some easy ways to increase curb appeal and interest in your home.
“Curb appeal is extremely important,” said PLANET President Jim Martin, CLP. “If they can’t bring themselves to even stop, you have no chance of their ever seeing the inside of the house or the back yard.”
Here are some inexpensive ways to improve your front lawn and landscape from PLANET:
• Create clean bed lines and mulch. Properly edged beds and new mulch will go a long way in improving the way a yard looks. To have this done professionally will cost approximately $45 to $70 per cubic yard of mulch, which covers about a 10-by-12-foot area.
• Plant new trees and shrubs. Replace any dead or dying trees or shrubs. Plant new trees and shrubs to create focus areas and camouflage foundations and old fencing or unsightly views. The cost to have this done professionally is $100 and up, depending on shrub and tree sizes.
• Have your trees and shrubs professionally pruned. Do-it-yourself pruning can result in disaster if you go shear happy. Professionals know what to cut and what time of the year is best to prune each plant. The cost is $40 to $60 per hour.
• Add color. A well-designed container at the front entry will add a burst of energy and warmth at your front door. A flowering plant around a curbside mailbox will give your yard a finished look. And you can always pop some bright colorful annuals into your beds. The cost is $20 to $300 for a do-it-yourself container and plants.
• Pay attention to your lawn. Mow, edge and trim your lawn and get rid of the weeds. Purchase and install sod in areas where there are bald spots. The cost to have this done professionally is $25 to $60 to mow a 5,000-square-foot lawn and $50 to $65 for fertilizing and weed control on the same size lawn. Sod costs $12 to $15 per square foot.
• Power wash walkways, driveways and front porches. Power wash those areas that have become tracked with dirt. This can be professionally done for $500 or under, depending on the amount of work needed.
• Paint the house foundation. A neutral colored paint will cover up outdoor dirt and scuffs and provide an attractive backdrop for foundation plantings. It will cost approximately $250 to $500 to have this professionally done, depending on house size.
• Be proactive. Proactively care for your landscape and lawn. Have a landscape professional and/or lawn care specialist inventory your property. Professionals will be able to diagnose and treat conditions before they start.
In addition to the aesthetics, healthy lawns and landscapes provide environmental benefits. Lawns filter rain water as well as dust and dirt in the air. Plants help to purify air.
And a well-landscaped, well-cared for lawn can increase property values by as much as 15 percent.
This information was provided by PLANET. For more information, visit LandcareNetwork.org/ findaprofessional or call (800) 395-2522.
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