LANDSCAPING YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE

How to Get the Most For Your Money

Landscaping $-$$$$

You only get one first impression. Attractive, manicured front-of-house landscaping is one of the first things that your visitors or potential buyers will see when viewing your home. As a result, it can add significant value to your home when done right. Financial return from landscaping improvements depends a great deal on several factors. The ease of maintenance will be an aspect that many people will consider when looking at your home. Also, many people will judge how compatible the landscaping is; they will look at whether the look of the yard is fitting to the overall visual design of the house, and vice versa. Drought-tolerant plants and easy-to-care-for perennials work well for both avid gardeners and for those who don't want to spend their time in a garden or have trouble keeping plants alive.

Consider removing unnecessary or unhealthy plants, trees, and shrubs. Overgrown shrubbery trees, and foliage in the yard often make a home feel dark, small, or outdated.

Most potential homeowners gravitate towards a clean, fresh look which requires low maintenance.

Cracked steps or walkways can be a real turn-off for potential buyers and can cause them to question the structural stability of the home. Replacing or repairing walkways can be a valuable remodel; buyers are always on the lookout for "solid" homes that look like they will hold up well for years to come.

Concrete options have come a long way and are now available in a wide range of colours and patterns.

XERISCAPING:

Xeriscaping is popular in the Okanagan due to our hot summers and ever-so-common watering restrictions. Xeriscaping is a style of gardening that uses plants which are appropriate to the local climate and can be maintained with little supplemental watering. They also tend to be lower maintenance once established.

Backyards can be extremely important to homebuyers as they often serve as a sort of "outdoor oasis" or retreat in the warmer months. A solid, attractive deck for entertaining, as well as a suitable area for barbequing are great additions to any backyard design. Outdoor living is something more and more people desire as it provides an opportunity to interact with nature without straying far from the comforts of the home.

WHEN TO START?

Fall is the best time to embark on landscaping projects as plants are substantially discounted at the end of season; just be sure to buy perennials and plant them as soon as possible so they have time to take root. Ask around to find out which plants, ground coverings, trees, or shrubs work best for your particular backyard. Determining whether your yard is full-sun, part-sun, part-shade, or full-shade will affect the variety of plants available to you.

Other yard improvements such as the construction of new fences or pools rarely end up paying for themselves; they usually decrease the average return on a landscaping project.

Depending on the extent of the landscaping project and degree of improvement, one can usually expect only about a FIFTY PERCENT return on investment.

This is one of the most affordable renovations you can make to your home but it is not advisable to go over-the-top if you are planning on selling soon, as you are not likely to see the full return on your investment.

 

Be sure to check out the full article on how to be money wise when renovating.

Most Valuable Home Updates has valuable tips and information on renovation as well as links to the other top home renovations.

You may also be interested in the following:

Incorporating Sustainable Design; Learn more about "Green" cost saving measures.

RENOVA; The Appraisal Institute of Canada's guide to the value of home improvement.