CA Contractors #344056
When was the last time your house had a job interview? If you think about it, your house is auditioning for the role of "Their Next Home" every time a potential buyer sees it.
That means when they see your listing on the real estate site, drive by, or schedule a showing. So what does a house wear to an interview?
It wears what you would: its very best. It wouldn't want to wear broken shutters or have overgrown grass. How would a boss take you appearing sloppy in an interview?
Personification aside, first impressions matter and your house's home landscaping isn't immune. It needs to dress it's best to impress potential employers (buyers) and it can do that with good curb appeal.
Part of curb appeal? A neat but personalized home landscaping image, it's worth the upfront cost.
Need proof? We're addressing the "why's" below.
Your front yard doesn't need to look like an English garden or have topiaries the shape or cherubs. That's over the top.
Your landscaping needs to look like you've taken care of your house and that there's a plan in place for the next owners to follow in your footsteps.
It's overwhelming enough to buy a house, you don't want them writing your house off because they don't want to deal with the yard.
The front of your house - assuming that's how it's oriented- is the first thing people see. Just like your outfit or your suit.
They need to look at the front of your house and want to see inside. A well-manicured lawn encourages that. It says, "Come in, This house is well-taken care of on the outside, so you can assume it is on the inside as well".
It's one of the aspects of your curb appeal that draws them in.
Maybe you know that, but you have one drawback. You think home landscaping is too expensive.
It can be expensive, yes but were about to tell you, in terms of Return On Investment (ROI), how much it's worth it.
If you watch a lot of HGTV, you know about the show Curb Appeal. The landscaping pro on that show has a lot to say about why you should put up the money to get your lawn done.
Why? In some cases, he's seen a return on investment up to one thousand percent. Yes, you read that right - one thousand percent!
This isn't a guarantee, 1000% is an outlier. But you can expect to make back your investment easily - if not more.
There's not one specific number on the web that promises the ROI rate of landscaping. It ranges between five and twenty percent.
Not all of us have $20,000 to put into landscaping - like the Curb Appeal pro did when he got 1000% ROI back. So how much should you spend?
According to him, around 10% of your home's value is a good place to start. If you can't spend that, spend something! The buyer will appreciate your effort.
A well-landscaped yard can be the difference between your house being number three on a buyers list vs the top two.
You don't want to overdo your home landscape design. If it's too complex, potential owners will see it as too much work.
They'll see it as them having to spend too much time getting their hands dirty or mentally calculate the cost of a gardener.
You want to strike a balance somewhere in the middle. Bring color to the yard with flowers, but don't go planting orchids. You want something that's easy to take care of and can mostly self-sustain.
If there are bushes on your property, make sure they're uniformly trimmed. Pick a shape profile you like and make sure they match.
The driveway needs to be clear of weeds growing in cracks or along sides. A power washing wouldn't hurt your chances either!
When you look out at your grass, what do you see first? Is it overgrown with weeds or just overgrown in general? Get someone to come out and mow it. It doesn't cost that much and is the equivalent of a fresh new haircut.
It makes everything else look more fresh and clean.
If portions of your yard have mulch, put down a fresh batch. It'll deter weeds for a little while and add some vibrant color to your lawn.
Before you list your home, make sure you're seeding (or having someone else seed) the bare spots in your grass.
Front walkways and porches need a good scrubbing. Whether that means a pressure washing or a new coat of paint depends on their current condition.
Having a professional come out and get your house listing ready is the best choice. They know what they're doing so they're more efficient and they'll make fewer rookie mistakes.
But we understand if you can't afford that right now. At the very least, do the following things:
The more you put into your yard, the more ROI that you'll get out of it.
Home landscaping is one of those things that costs money to make money. It's how the industry works.
The best way to maximize your home landscaping ROI without breaking the bank? Talk to your local landscaping company. They can come out and make suggestions for improvements that fit your budget.
Many companies offer free evaluations, so there's no reason not to schedule one.
What are you waiting for? Contact us for a consultation now.