Last week I wrote how you could increase your home's value by planting some trees. This article from Smart Money is similar in that it tells how you can cheaply landscape your property -- moves that will ultimately increase your home's value. Their main thoughts on how to landscape your yard without spending a fortune:
- The biggest way to save is to do it yourself. And the good news is you don't need to be a landscape architect to pull off something posh.
- But hire a pro when it gets too complicated. Turning your backyard into a Japanese water garden, complete with a fountain and Koi pond, may be beyond your skill set. So know that sometimes the best way to save money is to recognize that you need a pro.
- Aim for a multiyear project. If you're planning a major overhaul, accept that it might not be done until July 4, 2008.
- Keep an eye on home values. A home's landscaping can affect how quickly your house will sell — and what buyers are willing to pay. According to a recent study by the American Nursery & Landscape Association, improved landscaping can increase property value by 7% to 14%. The study also found that landscaping can accelerate the sale of your home by five to six weeks.
- Plant to save energy. Put evergreen trees on the north side of your home, and leafy ones on the south side. That way, you'll block winter winds and summer sun. Carefully positioned trees can cut as much as 25% off your summer cooling bill.
- Buy big-ticket items in the fall. Prices for trees and shrubs are highest in the spring and early summer, says Nardozzi.
- Embrace mulch. "It holds moisture and suppresses weeds," explains Bruce Butterfield, research director of the NGA. Using mulch will also add detail to your flower beds and give your yard a finished look — without costing much money.
As a gardner, I know a bit about landscaping and these are pretty good tips. In particular, I like the "do it yourself" idea (I cleared out a huge juniper bush on the front side of my house and made the space a rose garden two years ago) as well as the recommendation about mulch (for $100, it makes a WORLD of difference in appearance and ability to hold moisture). We already have a good set of trees, so I haven't had to do anything in that area.
I do most of my landscaping/gardening as a hobby (and to keep my wife stocked with roses), but who knew it could be so lucrative? On a $200,000 house, the 7% to 14% increase they mention above equals a $14,000 to $28,000 increase in the value of the property for the right kind of landscaping. Not bad. Not bad at all!
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