Landscaping

Is your landscaping at least average for the neighborhood? If it is not,
buy a few bushes and plant them. Do not put in trees. Mature trees are
expensive, and you will not get back your investment. Also, immature
trees do not really add much to the appearance value of the home.

If you have an area for flowers, buy mature colorful flowers and plant
them. They add a splash of vibrancy and color, creating a favorable first
impression. Do not buy bulbs or seeds and plant them. They will not
mature fast enough to create the desired effect and you certainly don’t
want a patch of brown earth for homebuyers to view.

Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free
of brown spots. If there are problems with your lawn, you should
probably take care of them before working on the inside of your home.
This is because certain areas may need to be re-sod, and you want to
give it a chance to grow so that re-sod areas are not immediately
apparent. Plus, you might want to give fertilizer enough time to be
effective.

Always rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings.

copyright 2000 by Terry Light and RealEstate ABC, revised 2002