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7 LANDSCAPE TIPS TO MAXIMIZE CURB APPEAL

October 11, 2019 by chorton 13 Comments

7 LANDSCAPE TIPS TO MAXIMIZE CURB APPEAL

7 Landscape Tips to Maximize Curb Appeal

These landscape tips will come in handy when you put that for sale sign in the ground. Whether you’re selling your house or just want to make the neighbors envious, enhancing the curb appeal of your home can be a rewarding project — and not just for your ego. It can also boost your bank account.

The landscaping tips will make all the difference. According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical homebuyer views 10 homes during the house-hunting process. So, if you intend to sell your home, it must compete successfully against the other nine.

It comes down to making a first impression. So the home’s exterior, including pathways, yard, and garden needs to capture and entice. Here are seven landscape tips to maximize curb appeal, and the
final offer.

1. Use Your Home as a Canvas

Landscape tips that’ll make a difference. Don’t leave your hard-earned cash on the table when you sell your home. Maximizing your curb appeal will help you put more of your home equity back in your pocketbook.

Think of yourself as an artist about to paint a masterpiece. Your landscape is the first thing people see when they arrive, so it must be picture-perfect. Three out of four home sellers plan to spend money improving their homes before putting them on the market.

Sassy Grassy Front Yard

Landscaping can be a relatively inexpensive way to compete. Start with the lawn. The high temperatures and lack of rainfall in Phoenix leave many lawns looking unkempt, even yellow or brown. If you’ve planted a warm-season grass like Bermuda or St. Augustine grass, you’re one step ahead of the game.

Both are drought-resistant. But even drought-resistant grasses need regular, deep watering every three to four days unless there is rain. The time of day is also important. Water early in the morning to give the grass time to soak up the water.

Regular mowing, edging and weeding are just as important. Mow in a different direction each week to encourage the blades to grow upright. Edging every other week will give your lawn that manicured look.

 2. Add Color

Homebuyers are looking for a low-maintenance yard, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to cacti and yucca plants.

Look for native flowers such as feather bush or desert fairy duster to make the landscape pop.

Native flowers and plants are those that have been in Arizona since before the first European settlers arrived.

They thrive in the climate and soil conditions and need little water or maintenance. It’s best to choose flowers and plants that match or complement the color of your home.

But if you can’t find them, consider a desert container garden and select containers that follow the color scheme to host the plants. You can use those containers to line the front walkway.

Trees  |  Big Pots  |  Flowers

Sometimes adding a couple of oversized pots with small trees in them makes for a stately look. Add some geraniums in around that those trees and you’ve really got a handsome look.

Many varieties of trees do really well in pots. Work with your local nursery to select the perfect statement tree for your house. You’d be surprised to see how much impact this can make on your curb appeal.

3. Add Depth and Sharpen the Edges

Landscape tips # 3 is all about the edges.

Mix and match shapes, textures, foliage, and color to achieve depth in your garden. Use fine-textured plants in the front row, medium-textured plants in the center and taller or large-leafed plants in the back.

Create a border between the garden and lawn. Landscaping timbers, plastic edges or brick offer architectural structure to the landscape. The yard looks neater, and manual trimming becomes a breeze.

4. Highlight the Garden and Pathways

You’ve put a lot of work into the landscape, so show it off at night. Rope lighting around your garden will highlight the neatly trimmed edges.

Solar lights along the pathway will increase security and safety and give your home a nice glow. Same thing with the patio. Aim a light at the trees.

5. Be Unconventional

Most mailboxes are humdrum and don’t add anything to the landscape. Why not surround yours with a garden or planter featuring plants that won’t overgrow or need much maintenance. Do the same with the electrical boxes and HVAC units. They’re
necessary items, but few people want to see them.

Pro tip: Don’t plant cacti or other sharp-edged plants if you ever want to see a piece of mail or a service technician again.

. Prune and Cut

Start by pruning your larger shrubs and trees with a trusty electric hedge trimmer, then use hand shears to take care of the little details.

Once that is done, remove trashy- looking trees and overgrowth. Re-evaluate your landscape. That vegetable patch might look like heaven to you and your family, but it could mean unwanted maintenance for potential buyers.

7. Restore the Luster With a Power-Wash

Over time the hardscaping can get dirty and grungy. Either rent a power-washer or hire a professional to pressure-wash the paved areas, deck, garage, and fence. The inside of your home is also important. But you won’t get buyers inside unless the
outside is inviting. Most real estate agents will tell you the location of a home is vital, but so is landscaping, landscaping, landscaping.

So get out there and use these 7 landscape tips to maximize your curb appeal.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Real Estate Advice Tagged With: advice, buying, landscaping, selling, tips

Firepit Ideas and Backyard Living

October 4, 2019 by chorton Leave a Comment

Firepit Ideas and Backyard Living

If you are interested in creating an area of entertainment for you and your family, you will want to make use of a backyard firepit. There are several types of backyard fireplaces that you can choose from when making this decision. You should have a clear understanding of what type of fireplace would best suit the design and appearance of your home before you begin to build it. This will make the entire process much easier for you.

One of the most popular types of backyard fireplaces is the one that sits on a small patio table. You might want to build a fireplace which can sit comfortably against a wall. You may also want to build a fireplace that sits directly against the front door. The size of the fireplace you choose is going to depend on the overall style and design of your home. You will also want to consider whether or not you plan on installing a built-in wood stove. A built-in firewood stove is generally cheaper than a portable stove so you will want to make sure to take the time to determine the benefits of each type.

In addition to your fireplace, you might want to think about adding some other elements to your outdoor living space. You will need to take into consideration the amount of space that you have available to place your backyard fire pit. This will allow you to find the perfect design for your home. Once you have decided on the layout, it is time to select your materials.

27 Firepits You Can Build Yourself

DIY Firepit Projects

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: fire pit, firepits, landscaping

Adding Recreational Value to your Property

September 6, 2019 by chorton Leave a Comment

The majority of the buyers in my market are typically looking for properties with two characteristics: timberland for an investment and hunting for recreation. However, there aren’t many properties that ideally fit both characteristics. Sometimes I scratch my head, wondering why there aren’t more people willing to play the role of a developer and convert timber tracts into recreational retreats for profit. While it’s rare for an established hunting retreat to hit the open market, the properties that do, usually justify their price premium and get purchased quickly.

Timber real estate investment trusts (REITs) and investors are realizing that recreational value on many properties is now exceeding the timber value, which in turn justifies selling the property for a substantial profit. While there are many different ways to add recreational value to a property, I’ve decided to focus on one particular property, as it’s a great example. The main goal behind the property is continuing to operate a pine plantation for investment purposes, however, have the means to hunt, fish, and enjoy the property recreationally year-round. Here are some ways this property was able to achieve this goal:

1. Created Food Plots

While it does take some time and money to prepare a food plot, the end result will benefit wildlife and keep them on your property.  This requires cutting timber, removing the stumps, liming and fertilizing the soil, and figuring out what and when to plant. The majority of these food plots are on the edges of hardwoods. This one, in particular, has been low fenced to keep the hogs out.

2. Built A Dove Field

Having a great dove field is a great way to host guests, family, and friends for entertainment. It’s a fun social event you can put on several times a year. This dove field has all the makings for being successful including a fake power line and trees for the birds to roost, water to drink, sand/gravel, and approximately 12 acres to plant.

 

 

 

 

3. Created A Duck Impoundment

Since this property sits along the eastern flyway, this duck impoundment is ideal to attract passing ducks. This impoundment is planted in June and the water level is manually controlled through a flashboard riser. The owners are able to enjoy it from early teal season in September, all the way to the end of the season in February.

 

 

 

 

4. Created Quail Habitat

This required thinning the trees back to 35-50 trees per acre. A skid steer with a grinder ate up a lot of the long-abandoned understory before Garlon (Triclopyr) was sprayed to prevent hardwood growth. These fields were burned using prescriptive fire in late February. Continuing to burn every one or two years will keep this stand clean and provide great habitat for all wildlife.

 

 

 

 

5. Building A Fishing Pond

This pond was started almost a year ago. The owners were able to reach a mutual agreement with a local contractor and the Department of Transportation. The agreement allows the two parties to have free rights to the dirt in order to finish converting a nearby roadway from two lanes into four. Once completed the landowners will have a 17.5 acre stocked pond to enjoy year-round fishing.

 

 

 

 

6. Starting A Garden

Establishing a garden requires a lot of work. However, it is very enjoyable to be able to eat what you have grown. This garden contains a mixture of fruit trees including blueberries, blackberries, peaches, limes, nectarines, oranges, apples, pears, and grapes. It also has a seasonal section that is currently planted in corn, squash, cucumbers, peppers, okra, bush beans, cantaloupes and watermelons.

While there are certainly several other recreational aspects to add to a property, I thought this property did a great job of highlighting many of them and a great example of maintaining a timber investment and year-round recreational enjoyment.

Interested in becoming an expert in recreational land transactions? Check out the RLI’s Recreational Land Real Estate LANDU course.

This post is part of the 2018 Future Leaders Committee content generation initiative. The initiative is directed at further establishing RLI as “The Voice of Land” in the land real estate industry for land professionals and landowners. For more posts like this, click here.

Filed Under: Blog, Investing, Real Estate Advice Tagged With: advice, Homes for sale Stephenville TX, land for sale in texas, landscaping, Preferred Properties of Texas, real estate advice, recreational value, texas ranch land for sale, value

Back yard transformation lawn care tips

May 31, 2019 by chorton Leave a Comment

www.angieslist.com/articles/backyard-transformation-lawn-care-tips.htm

 

Lawns are like gardens. They are a man-made concept and like a garden, they require proper tending and care.

It comes as no surprise that there are professionals that specialize in lawns. This is because caring for turf is just as important as caring for the plants in the garden. There’s quite a bit of important information to understand how to properly care for a lawn. From proper mowing techniques, feeding and tending to the lawn throughout the seasons, here’s how to get started to improve the overall health and appearance of your lawn.

Proper mowing

During the active growing season, lawns should be mowed approximately every seven to ten days. Lawns do best when mowed dry, so allow the lawn to dry a bit after a recent rainfall or watering.

During warmer summer months and growing season, it is recommended to mow to a finished height of 3 to 4 inches. Lawns that are mowed shorter run the risk of stunted root growth as well potentially causing susceptibility to drought and pests like grubs.

Blades on the mower should be sharp. An annual blade sharpening at the beginning of the season helps to prevent the spread of disease by giving each blade of grass a nice clean cut. If disease is present in the lawn, cleaning the mower blades is a good idea. After mowing, move off the lawn. Lay the mower on its side, and spray the blades and the underside of the deck with a safe cleansing agent. Then rinse with water and allow it to dry. The mower can then be put away and is ready for the next mowing.

Mowing a lawn too short can damage a healthy lawn. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly's Nest)

Mowing a lawn too short can damage a healthy lawn. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly’s Nest)

How Much Does Lawn Mowing Cost?

Most homeowners pay between $30 and $80 for lawn mowing services. It varies based on your city and the size of the lawn.

Feeding the lawn

During the growing season, lawns are fed approximately every six to eight weeks. Many lawn care companies have simplified the process with four-step applications during the growing season. Whether organic or synthetic, the schedule remains the same. If fertilizers are applied too frequently or during periods of drought, there is a risk of burning the lawn. Synthetic programs often contain weed killers. Be sure to read the labels prior to application. Some require kids and pets to remain off the lawn following application until the product can be watered in thoroughly.

Lawns can also be fed on a weekly basis via mulching grass clippings back into the lawn. Simply insert the mulching plug into the deck of the mower and mow the lawn as usual. When properly mulched, there will be no clumps of lawn clippings left in the mowing path. If the lawn grows too long between mowing, you may have to re-mow the lawn to properly incorporate and mulch in the cut grass. Mulching grass back into the lawn recycles nitrogen back into the lawn and soil.

Apply a fertilizer regularly to keep your lawn fed. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly's Nest)

Apply a fertilizer regularly to keep your lawn fed. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly’s Nest)

The presence of clover in the lawn is a sign of a healthy lawn, plus it is good for the lawn too. Clover is able to absorb naturally occurring nitrogen in the air and pull it into its root system, which in turn feeds the surrounding lawn. In fact, years ago, clover was included in many grass seed mixtures until grass seed companies eliminated it in the 1960s because Americans were craving golf course lawns. Clover seed for planting is readily available on shelves near grass seed products.

Clover indicates your lawn is healthy. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly's Nest)

Clover indicates your lawn is healthy. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly’s Nest)

Common lawn diseases

Unfortunately, like all plants, lawns can be affected by disease. There are many causes including drought, stress from mowing too close and over-watering. Humidity often can exacerbate these issues. Red Thread is a common lawn disease. Areas of the lawn will take on a pink appearance. Red Thread will not kill your lawn but will continue to return and spread via contaminated mower blades. In the presence of Red Thread, a boost of nitrogen can help to push new growth and remove the disease. Be sure to bag lawn with Red Thread and dispose of it verses mulching the cuttings into the existing lawn.

Dollar Spot is a fungal disease and looks like round yellow silver dollars.  Brown Patch, another fungal disease, looks just as one would imagine. It is caused from thatch in the lawn that remains wet. These two conditions can be improved with proper watering techniques.  Dethatching is also helpful and avoid over fertilizing.  

Lawns are susceptible to diseases, like red thread. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly's Nest)

Lawns are susceptible to diseases, like red thread. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly’s Nest)

Dealing with moss

Moss seems to find its way into lawns where shady spots are present. Moss can be raked out and replanted with shade loving grass seed blends. However, the moss will most likely return due to shade. To fully battle moss, often trees will need to be removed or their canopies lifted to allow more sunlight to reach the soil. Another potential solution is to embrace the shade and create a perennial shade garden in this spot instead, with plantings such as hostas.

Lawn pests

In the Northeast, treatment for grubs is usually applied in June. A slow release type of product can last up to five months and work throughout the grubs’ entire lifecycle. The use of Milky Spore Disease (Bacillus popilliae) to control grubs typically takes years of regular applications to become effective. In order to be effective, it also requires warm soil temperatures. It is not effective on all types of lawn grubs

How to Stop Moles from Wrecking Your Lawn

The burrows and mounds moles create cause big problems. Learn how to get rid of moles.

 

Watering needs

Lawns require approximately one inch of water every 7 to 10 days. Add a rain gauge to the garden to help keep track of natural weekly rainfall. When watering an existing lawn, morning is preferred and helps to prevent disease. Water deeply, and provide one-inch of water all at once verses breaking up the one inch of watering into separate sessions.  

A healthy lawn will improve the look of your landscaping. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly's Nest)

A healthy lawn will improve the look of your landscaping. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Caughey/Tilly’s Nest)

Adjusting pH

Lawns thrive in a pH around 7.  To determine the pH of your lawn you can use a soil pH test kit available from your local garden center. Garden centers and Master Gardener Programs are also often able to test the pH of your soil and recommend how to amend it. Lawn pH can be adjusted with an application of lime or sulfur depending on your lawn’s specific pH.

Winterizing the lawn

As temperature drop in the Northeast, the lawn will prepare to go dormant for its winter slumber. Regularly remove the fallen leaves from the lawn. For the final mowing of the season, mow the lawn as usual to three inches tall.  Then take another inch off the top a few days later.  Winterize the mower by allowing it to run dry of fuel until the following season. You can also opt to have your lawn mower serviced at this time as well as the blade sharpened. This time of year is less busy for servicing verses springtime.

Beautiful lawns are not impossible to achieve. It can take multiple growing seasons to attain the lawn of your dreams. Think of the lawn as another garden for inspiration and tending needs. For more information about lawn care contact your local garden center, Master Gardeners, landscaping professional or visit your local library for more reading resources.

 

www.angieslist.com/articles/backyard-transformation-lawn-care-tips.htm

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Real Estate Advice Tagged With: landscape, landscaping, lawn care, remodeling

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Preferred Properties of Texas

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for Over 25 Years
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(254) 965-7775|Contact Preferred Properties of Texas
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