Dear
Pat,
My husband and I just bought our first house,
which needs lots of work inside and out. We
don't expect to live here more than five years,
and naturally we want to use our resources to
get the best price when we sell. My husband
wants to start with wall and ceiling repair, but
I want to work on the yard right away. I say the
neighbors have waited long enough. Can you
settle this?
--First Things First
Dear First,
Your concern for your neighbors is admirable,
and you may be rewarded at the closing table as
well as in heaven: I know of no home improvement
with a better return than landscaping. I don't
have hard data to support this, but I have seen
that a $1000 landscaping investment can add
perhaps $10,000 to value in just a few years.
It's important to start planting trees and
bushes right away-every year you wait can make a
big difference in how mature and impressive your
yard will look to a buyer.
Start with a top view of the
house and yard, and lay out the design of how
you want the yard to look eventually. Now is the
time to plan for a future patio or deck-you'll
want to plant complementary shade or
light-filtering trees right away, even if you
build the structure years from now. Flower |
 |
 gardens
add charm and value as well, of course, but they
can be planted at any time in the future. Trees
and shrubs should be planted immediately,
although the fastest-growing varieties will not
always be your best choice-nurseries, books,
landscape designers and grateful neighbors can
help you make the right decisions.
So get your husband to put
aside the trowel for a while, First, and hand
him a shovel-think of it as digging for gold.
May your backs be strong, and your ground soft!
| Pat
Rosaves is a full-time real estate
professional living in the Seward -
Longfellow area. She has more than 24
years experience in helping people with
their real estate needs. Questions may be
sent to her at River Realty, 2543 38th
Avenue South, Mpls, MN 55406. Or call her
at 612-724-1314 or email her at
pat@riverrealty.net
|
|
