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Everyone
wants a
home and
yard
that is
the envy
of the
neighbors.
At the
same
time,
most
homeowners
want to
make
smart
investments
in their
landscaping
that
adds
value to
their
property
and get
the best
price
when it
is time
to sell.
Just as
one
invests
in the
stock
market,
with
real
estate a
homeowner
should
carefully
determine
the best
areas to
put his
or her
money
when
dealing
with a
home’s
surroundings.

Investigate
your
property
Before
determining
how much
money
you are
going to
spend,
investigate
your
property
and its
needs.
Hold it
up to
scrutiny
and see
what you
have
that you
might be
able to
utilize.
That
will
help
you plan
and make
the
project
seem
less
daunting.
And
remember,
some
areas of
your
existing
property
might
have
alternate
uses.
Can you
turn
that
crumbling
walkway
into a
rustic
garden
path?
Consider
these
options
as they
can keep
your
costs in
line.
Budget
Every
good
landscaping
project
needs a
starting
point,
and a
budget
is a
solid
place to
begin.
The
American
Society
of
Landscape
Architects
recommends
that
homeowners
spend
approximately
10
percent
of the
value of
their
home on
landscaping.
That
doesn’t
just
mean
flowers,
bushes
and
trees.
It means
investments
like
fencing,
decks
and
other
elements
that
make
their
homes
more
attractive,
while
also
adding
functionality.
It also
means
investigating
the
value of
your
home,
comparable
home
sales in
your
area,
and
local
real
estate
market
trends.
Planning
Properly
landscaping
your
property,
and
making
the
appropriate
investments
will
require
a plan.
Create
an
action
plan
that
works
with
your
budget.
This
will
reduce
both
time and
stress,
and keep
your
project
on
track.
One of
the
biggest
mistakes
homeowners
make is
doing
landscaping
piecemeal,
without
a focus.
A
scattered
approach
can lead
to
costly
errors
that
will
have to
be
overhauled
at a
later
date. By
coming
up with
your
landscaping
ideas
before
you
start,
you’ll
have a
clear
path to
follow.
Hire a
pro
If you
were
building
a new
home,
you’d
surely
hire an
architect
or
contractor.
The same
should
be true
for your
landscaping
project.
By
hiring
an
experienced
landscape
company,
you can
be
comfortable
that
your
project
with be
handled
with
care and
professionalism
(one way
to
source a
local
landscape
architect
is to
visit
the
American
Society
of
Landscape
Architects
at
www.asla.org).
These
experts
understand
the big
picture,
as well
as the
nuances
of your
property’s
grading,
soils,
and
irrigation
demands.
Landscaping
can be
costly
and will
not
yield
the
desired
results
if done
improperly.
By
hiring a
pro,
you’ll
avoid
this
pitfall.
DIY
There
may well
be
elements
of your
project
that you
can
undertake
without
needing
to spend
on
expensive
labor.
This is
worth
investigating
before
your
proceed.
Can you
cart
some of
the
discarded
plants
away?
Can you
move
soil
around?
This
will
keep
your
costs
down.
Revisit
your
projects
Once a
landscape
project
is
finished,
a
homeowner
won’t
have to
worry
about
spending
more
money,
right?
Wrong.
Just
like any
good
investment,
your
landscaping
project
needs to
be kept
up and
regularly
maintained.
Your
landscape
designer
can help
you
maintain
your landscaping
so your
smart
investment
doesn’t
go to
seed.
Contact
Me
I can help you with every
aspect of buying or selling your home because I’m
experienced, because I am a Better Homes and Gardens
Rand Realty Real Estate Professional . . .and because I
care.
As
your
Better
Homes
and
Gardens
Rand
Realty
Sales
Professional,
I
will
provide
you
with
the
information
you
need
to
make
an
educated
decision.
The relationship between a home buyer or seller and their agent is based on trust, shared goals and understanding. I strive to continually improve and to do this I listen and take the needs and wants into consideration.
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you. |