Curb Appeal and Home Value

Residential remodeling should always take into account the exterior appearance of a home. Yep, there is no doubt about it, curb appeal draws in potential buyers. There are many elements to curb appeal: a fresh paint job, new windows or a freshly mowed lawn. Lawns provide the base for your best landscaping efforts.

You set the table with your lawn, and then serve the meal with beautiful trees, shrubs and plants.  Grass lawns add coherence and connect disparate parts of your front yard. Since it is usually the first feature seen by approaching buyers, it needs to make a good impression. A patchy or weedy lawn may cause buyers to stay in their cars and drive away.

Different seed produces different colors and textures. Always buy the best seed you can find and make sure it is appropriate for your climate and conditions. If you have a choice of different grasses, check out your neighborhood and see which one pleases you the most. Bear in mind that a nice lawn can add up to 15 percent to your home value, so don’t skimp on bargain seed. If you have neglected your lawn for several years, consider ripping it out and having sod put down. This is truly instant gratification, but will only work if you water several times a day for the first three weeks. If you have an automated sprinkler system then this is easy to set up. Otherwise you have to commit to water your lawn by hand on a strict schedule.

Perhaps that’s why many young people today are opting for artificial turf. In many instances, it is indistinguishable from the real thing until you bend down and touch it. It never needs watering or mowing, but does require the occasional vacuuming. Although expensive to install, you can actually save money in the long run. However, remember that many prospective homebuyers may not be comfortable with a yard full of artificial grass. This will especially be true when buyers have lived only in apartments and have never experienced the joys and heartaches of tending to their own lawns.

Assuming you stick with real grass, you need to educate yourself on correct watering techniques and the proper use of:

• Fertilizer
• Mulch
• Weed killer
• Insecticide
• Fungicide

You can find all the best products at garden stores and home centers. Remember to set aside enough budget so that you do not short-change your lawn. Proper care may cost a little, but you will make it back many times over when your lawn helps you snag a buyer for your home.