Orlando Real Estate - Blog

If you’ve ever sold one of the Orlando homes, you’ve probably heard the term “curb appeal” more times than you care to count from your real estate agent. Well, it’s time to hear it again, but maybe in a way you hadn’t considered.

With curb appeal, you might think of cutting your lawn, trimming bushes and getting rid of weeds. Have you considered that creating a beautiful landscape for your home can add resale value? Here are some tips on how to do just that:

Planting Frenzy

A beautiful landscape adds increasing value over time. That doesn’t mean you go on a planting frenzy, however. As a landscaping do-it-yourselfer, you don’t want buy a whole bunch of plants and throw them in the ground. You need to purchase the type of plants that will give your home the best resale value. The types of plants that add more resale value to Orlando homes are trees and long-living flowering shrubs. Others, such as perennials, add less resale value, and still others, like vegetable gardens that need to be replaced yearly, add the least amount of value to a home.

Steps to Take

By following these steps in order, you have a much better chance of getting the best resale value out of your landscaping work:

1. Talk to the experts

Local nurseries, gardeners and professional landscapers can help you with what to plant, how to plant and where to find them.

2. Check grading and drainage

Bad drainage can ruin a lot of landscaping work, as can a poorly graded lawn. Pay attention during a heavy rain and make sure there is no erosion in your planned area, and no standing water. Both conditions can make a mess of landscaping.

3. Remove local plant pests

Local plant pests include such things as eucalyptus, scotch broom, pampas grass and certain types of ivy. These plants can quickly overgrow your garden, lowering your property value. If you have any plant pests, check online or with professionals to find out how to remove them.

4. Design

As any good landscaper knows, always start out by drawing out a landscape design on graph paper. Pay attention to the spacing needed for each plant, as well as such things as when the flowers will bloom and what the colors will look like together.

5. Prepare the soil

Not every yard has soil that’s perfect for planting. Make sure you have a good soil mix and make sure the plants you use match the PH of the soil.

6. Start planting!

Orlando homes with beautiful landscapes have a much better chance of selling, and selling well. Turn your thumb green and get to work on your home’s curb appeal.

If you’re thinking of selling your home, with or without a beautiful landscape, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.