San Mateo-Foster City Real Estate News

Almost everyone wants to improve their home so it shows to its best.  Well, maybe not everyone, but most normal people do.  I was in an unnamed North County city earlier this week while out on Broker's tour and drove down a street that looked like no one took any pride in ownership of their homes.  And, I mean NO ONE!  It looked like a slum but a slum with homes worth $700,000 to $800,000 if they were in good shape.  It got me to thinking about what must go into someones mind when they just stop taking care of their property.  The front landscaping turns to weeds, trees and shrubs die and the place looks, well it looks like a slum. So what are the five easiest ROI in landscaping your home? 

1.  Lawn.  That's the first and easiest ROI in landscaping your house.  If it's dead, pull it out, and either seed or roll out a carpet of sod (instant gratification, believe me).  The investment on this can be as little as a weekend of labor in rototilling the dead lawn, adding top soil, leveling it smooth and spreading seed.  Then water daily and watch it sprout.  Or, if you want to spend a little more money, rototilling, adding top soil, leveling it smooth and rolling out the sod

2.  Trees and Shrubs.  Having too many on a lot is as bad as not having any.  We all like to see a couple of trees, especially the shade variety if one has a western exposure.  If you have a lot with too many trees planted too close together, get one or more of them out.  That is easier said than done, believe me, since I have had a yard like that in my lifetime.  I often wonder what the people were thinking planting 3 trees within four feet of each other.  They weren't and knew they weren't going to be living there when the trees matured and were entangled into each other!  Here's how to remove the dead trees and shrubs on your own and save money.

3.  Flowers.  We all like to see color in a garden and flowers marching along side a entry walkway are welcoming.  Take an afternoon and plant some.  Don't plant them too close to each other, and allow for space to grow.

4.  Bark.  When you see a home that has been staged go on the market, inevitability the yard has fresh bark spread in the garden.  It inhibits wees, covers blank spots by filling in the earth between plants, and just finishes off the look. 

5.  Fencing.  If your fence is falling down by all means fix it.  If you are going to ask a lot of money for your home, the least you can do is fix the fence.  If you have neighbors surrounding your property you can ask them to split the cost as it's a benefit to them as much as one to you. 

That's it.  The top five things you can do to enhance your home and see an ROI on the investment of money and time.  Take a look at this house now.  It has curb appeal and makes someone want to go inside to see the rest of the house.  No one wants to see a dump, unless it is a fire sale.  Keep that in mind when you're doing your yardwork.  There really is a pay back when you have a nice looking yard.

Getting back to my drive down the North County street.  There was one house there that stood out from the rest so I lied about there not being any nice homes there.  It was painted.  It was inviting.  It had neat landscaping.  And, it was For Sale.  But, I did not stop to look at it because of the neigboring houses.  I could not show a client the best house a the block of slum houses.  I can't do it.  And now you know why.

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