Important Landscaping Tips for Homeowners in Colorado

As we all know, the first impression is what matters most. According to Realty Times, this is also true with a house. Even in those markets where houses are selling quickly, at full asking price nonetheless, it’s still important to take the time to spruce up your home. By showcasing its best features you’re showing your property is worth every penny you’re asking for it.

While some people think home staging is only about the inside of a home, this isn’t true at all. Before you ever go inside a home you see its curbside appeal. This is where your home makes its primary first impressions. This is why it’s so important that you don’t only stage the inside of your home, but also the outside as well. These are things you should still consider even if you don’t plan on selling your home anytime soon as you never know what tomorrow might bring.

Rules of Staging

According to the U.S.A. Today, an unsightly yard next to your home can negatively impact the price of your own property. While you can’t do anything about what your neighbors are doing, you can stage your home – either for your own enjoyment or so you can sell your own home faster and for more money.

One of the first things to do when you’re ready to stage your home is to think big. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need large landscape features, but it does mean you should choose landscape features that appeal to a big percentage of the buyers out there in the market today.

Kristie Barnett, a color expert and decorator, advises using great care not to confine yourself to a specific taste or style. After all, you’re attempting to sell a lifestyle here. So, when you set out to stage your home’s landscaping you should stop to consider what appeals most to the average home buyer.

The main points here are beautifully kept yards and nice outdoor living spaces. After all, most of today’s homeowners and homebuyers’ will tell you that outdoor living space is no longer just a perk, but it’s something they must have.

Planning Your Landscape’s Staging

There are many different types of landscape staging you can do today. However, if you live in Colorado, there are some landscaping tips for homeowners you’ll want to keep in mind depending on what part of the state you live in.

Those living in the eastern plains (covering about 40% of the state) are probably already accustomed to the wild fluctuations in temperature, but these things make it difficult for some trees and shrubs to grow. This area also receives 10 – 15 inches of rain per year, which really isn’t much participation at all. As such, make sure to choose drought resistant plants. The nice thing about the area is there’s plenty of sun without much humidity resulting in very few problems with diseases and insects.

On the other hand, if you live on the Front Range (the picturesque topography stretching from Wyoming to New Mexico) you have a limited choice of plants because the weather changes aren’t as drastic as in other areas. For instance, while the quaking aspen tree grows beautifully in the mountainous parts of this state, on the Front Range it’s known for having problems with insects and disease.

In the third area of this state, the Western Slope, you’ll find very dry ground because humidity is under 10% throughout the winter and summer months. This type of weather is hard on broad-leaf evergreens (e.g. boxwood), but not as hard on green ash and cottonwoods. The state’s “Banana Belt” is also found here, with large crops of peaches and apples growing there because farmers built really good irrigation systems in the area. Otherwise, the types of landscape plants growing here are even more limited than what can grow in other areas. Since the soil isn’t great and the weather changes are so major, much of the same thing grows there.

Regardless of which zone you live in, irrigation is vital. You must keep your trees watered, especially during dry, warm winters. Organic fertilizer is best to use (e.g. Revive, Milgoranite) here. Additionally, if you plan on growing grass, you’ll want to allow it to grow a bit taller to crowd out any weeds.

Hardscaping

Adding or upgrading a hardscape (the manmade part of your backyard, including the masonry, cement, retaining walls, decks, etc.) is one of the best things you can do for your home. This part of your outdoor landscape provides extra value to your home by providing you a place to dine, entertain, or simply relax. However, you’ll need plenty of planning here since once you’ve installed hardscaping it’s difficult to uninstall and move.

Some other tips you’ll want to remember about creating a hardscape are:

• Think about the types of landscaping you can use throughout the rest of your yard. This should include one or two focal points that cause your eyes to pause in wonder.
• Don’t overlook the drainage or you’ll cause problems for your hardscape.
• Make sure to balance out all the items in your landscaping.
• Plan your hardscaping around the other elements in your landscaping.

A Final Word

Now that you know how to stage your home’s landscaping, you may find yourself looking forward to selling your home. After all, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, for each dollar you invest in landscaping projects, you’ll see a $2 return when you sell your home. So, when you’re ready to cash in on that return, go ahead and contact me. I’m more than happy to help or just give you a feel for the metro Denver real estate market.