By Lisa Allen General Information • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Which Outdoor Landscaping Improvements Will Increase the Resale Value of My Home?

Which Outdoor Landscaping Improvements Will Increase the Resale Value of My Home?

The housing marking in Kansas City is hot right now. Homes are selling for higher prices and showings abound as soon as a new property hits the market. But what if you’re not ready to sell right now? What if you’d rather stay in your place a bit longer and make improvements that will increase the resale value even more?

If that’s you, read on to learn about some outdoor improvements can increase the resale value of your home once you are ready to sell.

Your Outdoor Landscaping Matters Most

Not surprisingly, Consumer Reports says that improving your landscaping is the number one way to increase the resale value of your home. Zillow even says that adding the word “landscaping” to your sale listing can add 2.7% or more to the sale price.

Why? Curb appeal! Your front lawn and whatever features it includes, whether that’s shrubbery, a flower bed, or something bigger like a water feature, give a potential buyer a first impression. And that first impression can’t be changed. When your lawn and landscape is well-maintained and attractive, a potential buyer will think that the inside of your home is also well-maintained, tidy, and attractive.

Of course, we’d recommend working with a landscape architect or landscaping firm to make sure your outdoor space is ready for potential buyers. But if you choose to do the work yourself, focusing on a few key things will give you the best return. One of those things is to mulch with dark-brown or black mulch. You should also mow your grass to the appropriate height. Another important task is to trim foundation hedges so that first-floor windows are clear.

Think About Your Outdoor Landscaping Lighting

Adding new or improved lighting to the outside of your home can have a dramatic effect on your resale efforts. According to Zillow, listings that included the words “outdoor lighting” sold 3.1 days faster and for 1.6% more than other homes (on average).

We specialize in outdoor lighting and would welcome the chance to help. But if you’re DIYing your way through selling your home, there are a few things you can consider first. Those include path lighting, spotlight lights, or solar options to make the most of your efforts.

Making the Most of Your Outdoor Space

If you have an outdoor living area like a patio or deck, an outdoor kitchen, or a fire or water feature, be sure that those areas are working and staged. It’s important to show potential buyers how the space is intended to be used. But it’s also important to keep your personal “stuff” out of that space. Too many personal touches, like personalized decorations, can work against you by making it difficult for potential buyers to see themselves using the space.

If you’re working with a team on the sale of your house, we’d love to be part of it. Reach out for a consultation or a discussion to see how we can help you net more when you sell your home.

By ddmg Landscape • • 0 Comments

What is Olathe Landscaping?

You already know what consists of an Olathe landscaping by definition. Landscaping is making or maintaining improvements to a property’s grounds in practical or aesthetically pleasing ways.

Anything and everything on your property that is not part of the home itself is part of the landscape. To break things down even further, anything you can see outside your window that is part of your property is also part of your home’s landscaping.

Different Landscaping Features

As an Olathe landscaper, you know that your grounds can have numerous features. No two landscapes are the same. It’s impossible. No two lawns grow at quite the same speed. But there’s more to it than that.

Each home offers a landscape that has a number of different features. Here are just a few of the features you’ll find in Olathe landscapes:

  • Lawns
  • Shrubs
  • Planting beds
  • Flowering trees
  • Fences
  • Walkways
  • Foundation plants
  • Water gardens

…And so much more!

With such an array of different features, it should come as no surprise that every ground and landscape is completely different. While humans control nature to create a stunning landscape, nature can only be controlled so much. That’s the beauty of Olathe landscaping.

Avoiding Olathe Landscape Mistakes

With landscaping being such an individual endeavor, there’s no way to do it wrong. Your yard is who you are. Your Olathe landscape is a part of your personality.

However, there are a few mistakes you’ll want to avoid. For example:

  • Only Considering Your Tastes

If you plan to live in a home forever, then you should only worry about your personal landscaping tastes. Get crazy with it. Do whatever you feel like. However, most of us live in homes that we will one-day list on the market. If that’s the position you’re in, then don’t forget to consider potential buyers and place curb appeal at the top of your list.

  • Don’t Remove Trees

While you may find that big tree in the middle of your landscape to be an eyesore, you don’t want to remove it. If you do, you’ll be hindering curb appeal and resale value significantly. Mature trees help sell houses. You should think twice before you ever cut one down on your property.

  • Don’t Always Do It Yourself

As Olathe landscapers, we see it all too often. You take on a big project, like an Olathe retaining wall installation, only to realize that your skill set isn’t exactly there yet. Then we get a call asking for help. While we are certainly happy to oblige, we try to warn people of the perils of doing too much yourself.

Ideal Olathe Landscapers For You

If you’re thrilled that spring has sprung and ready to get a grip on your Olathe landscaping, get in touch. Here at Huston Contracting, we’re here to help your lawn look its best. No matter what your landscaping needs are, we guarantee honest and dependable work.