Do the Landscaping ASAP!

Most people have a long "to-do list" for their homes. My advice, do the landscaping first.

Okay, maybe you should fix the faulty wiring or other safety concerns first. But then, ASAP, do the landscaping.

Since I was a kid, I've enjoyed watching plants grow, especially ones that I had planted. At our last home, a serious fixer-upper, we had lived there for a couple years before we finally took the landscaping seriously, and that's one regret that I have. Once we finally installed some new plants and a bed of mulch the home was transformed.

In addition, we enjoyed the home so much more! Every time we drove up we had a renewed pride and excitement as we watched the plants mature. We wished that we had taken time to start with the landscaping because it made such a profound affect on how we enjoyed the home. It was still a rough home on the inside, but the blooming flowers reminded us of the finish line and gave us a glimpse of what could be.

Having moved into a new home last summer, we have just started re-landscaping. It has been a huge project, since all of the home's landscaping had fallen to much neglect for many years, but what a payoff!

Of course, landscaping can be a great way to boost your curb appeal (if you do it right). There's a great article on Bob Vila's website where they say you can boost your home's value by 20%. I'm not sure how they get those numbers, but without a doubt, it will make your home more attractive to a future home buyer.

A word of caution... don't bite off more than you can chew. If you lack a green thumb, start with a small, manageable section to landscape and try to select low maintenance plants. A good start is usually to just clean up what you have by pulling weeds and trimming trees. For some homes even this first step will greatly increase your curb appeal! :)

Go to it!

-Peter

http://www.nashvillecityhomes.com/