Create Curb Appeal

Six tips to get your house noticed

BY: NHGC Staff

A healthy, well-landscaped lawn can increase your property value by as much as 15 percent. Here are six suggestions from the Professional Landcare Network on how to improve your front lawn and landscape:

1. Create clean lines. Make sure your garden beds have a well-defined edge. Add fresh mulch to improve the looks of your beds.

2. Have your trees and shrubs professionally pruned. Do-it-yourself pruning can result in disaster if it’s done wrong. Spend $40 to $60 per hour and hire a professional.

3. Add color. Place a well-designed container at the front entry to add a burst of color to your front door. Add some colorful annuals to your garden beds.

4. Spruce up your lawn. Mow, edge, and trim your lawn and get rid of weeds. Install sod or reseed in empty spots.

5. Clean up. Power-wash walkways, driveways, front porches, and other areas that have become tracked with dirt.

6. Paint the house foundation. A neutral-colored paint will cover up outdoor dirt and scuffs and provide an attractive backdrop for foundation plantings.

Comments

By ttammaro68 Wednesday, July 13, 2011 2:49 PM

For bette curb-appeal, we decided to add deck to the front of the house instead of fixing the crumbling concrete patio, we are building on top of it. We also are adding inset stairs instead of traditional deck stairs that would end up in our driveway. I already have beautiful hostas that will remain in front of the deck and hydrangea bushes in an area we are building a 3 tier flower garden out of slate rocks. It will be quite beautiful when done! We also have installed a new front door that we found solar light post caps to match ( arts & crafts style).