Top Five Common Landscaping Mistakes
A home's resale value is not just about the house itself, but also takes into consideration the property. Your property's landscaping is just as important as the inside of the home. It can either increase the value or diminish the value of the home.
Let's take a look at these top five common landscaping mistakes that I have seen when showing to home buyers. If you are thinking of listing your home on the market soon, you may want to keep this in mind.
1. No Curb Appeal
If you put your home up for-sale home without landscaping, you have no curb appeal. While it's highly recommended to have your home professionally staged on the inside, you must attract buys with a professionally staged landscape as well. If you don't invest a bit in the beginning of the preparation, you will probably have to offer a provision to the home buyer in the offer. This provision will decrease the resale value. A bit of planning and time to establish the landscaping not only increases the house's value but also gives the home a much better curb appeal.
2. Over-planting and Overgrowth
Less is more. Clean, not clutter. Too many plants can obscure the beauty of the home and overgrowth can seem like the home hasn't been taken care of. Remove heavy foliage and vegetation and plan your landscaping around ease of maintenance. If the home buyer sees that it's going to take a lot of upkeep for the landscaping, it may a negative impression or, again, you may be asked to provide a provision so they can clean up the landscaping.
3. Large Trees
Homeowners and property owners are responsible for landscaping maintenance and are not going to like the idea of removing trees if they do decide to purchase. While some cities enforce regulations to protect large trees of a specific age and species, it's all on the homeowner if the large trees that are planted in the wrong spot or that have outgrown the space. If this happens, it can destroy plumbing, sewer, underground utilities, patios, pools, ponds, and foundations - all at the homeowners expense. A beautiful investment for a non-experienced homeowner can turn ugly over time. An experienced home owner and realtor will immediately take into consideration of the responsibility and investment to repair.
4. Non-Permitted Structures
If he homeowners added non-permitted structures such as sheds, gazebos, lanais, or overheads without the proper permits, they may find themselves under scrutiny with home buyers. An experienced realtor will have researched the permits and allowances for the area and will have shared this with the home buyer. If they see the homeowners have local code rules, they may wonder what else is non-compliant with the home. The homeowners may find themselves ripping out some of their investments and having to reduce the price of their home to accommodate the need for compliance. Check local codes and rules to identify any potential issues before listing your property.
5. Improper Drainage
Improper drainage can cause water damage to a home and its property, including erosion and flooding. The number one cause of improper drainage is often an inadvertent change in the property's grading. Changes in the grading's elevation are generally due to after-market, do-it-yourself improvements such as decks, walkways, and paths - which is why it's important to comply with local codes and rules to identify these potential issues. Water drainage should flow away from the house in a planned and controlled fashion when installed correctly.
These common landscaping mistakes have a negative impact on a home's resale value. However, if the homeowners check local codes and rules and with some planning and proper maintenance, the homeowners can easily reverse or minimize these issues and not have to deal with unexpected resale issues, possible fines, and provisions when they are ready to sale.
