Plan Your Curb Appeal Strategy Now

Autumn brings ideal conditions for landscaping projects, so it’s the best time to evaluate the curb appeal of your house. If you want to take advantage of the fall home-buying season, you have time to make improvements, if you act quickly. If you plan to list next year, you can arrange to have your landscaping look its best at the right time. 

If you know you need to do something to improve curb appeal, but you don’t know where to start, call a landscape architect. Many will do a brief initial consultation at no charge, and can provide design ideas and cost estimates for a basic plan and installation. A thoughtful, well-designed landscape makes a great first impression, and can have a significant impact on the value of your home. Surveys compiled by Money Magazine show that a professionally designed landscape can raise property values 15%-20%, with cost recovery values of 100-200%. Improvements to your landscaping also result in better pictures, so they’re well worth considering, even when your budget is tight.

Visit the experts at your local nursery and discuss your plans, budget and timetable. Some nurseries offer a complementary initial consultation, including plant recommendations that can be keyed to perform at peak during your initial listing period, which is prime selling time. Nurseries have prepared for the fall planting season with large inventories, especially trees, shrubs and seasonal color. Act now and you’ll have many choices, including special plants that set your house apart from the competition. Balmy autumn days and cool evenings help new plants settle in and prepare for winter. When Spring comes, the roots will be established and they’ll be ready to grow. Don’t forget that this is also the best time to refurbish your lawn.

If your house is already on the market and you need results in a hurry, it’s not impossible, but first you need a plan. Simple changes, like the redesign of a planting bed, have tremendous impact and can be done quickly. Make liberal use of seasonal color to attract autumn buyers. Coordinate foliage and flower colors with the colors of your house and the other plants in your garden.

Smart Selling Tip:
Early autumn is the ideal time to develop a curb appeal strategy for your landscaping to increase the value of your house and create better pictures. Start by talking with a design professional and a plant expert.