Wednesday, May 7, 2003

Don't curb your home's appeal

Invest in landscaping to raise the resale value

While trying to sell your home, you may find prospective buyers aren't getting past the front door to appreciate your exceptional interior design. The problem? Your home may lack "curb appeal."

Curb appeal is the allure or attraction to a home from the exterior. Many factors contribute to a winning curb appeal, such as fresh paint, manicured shrubs and trees, and the lack of clutter. However, one of the most effective ways to enhance your home's curb appeal and increase the resale value is through landscaping.

In fact, a recent "SmartMoney" article stated that landscaping could add up to 15 percent to a home's value. National Association of Realtors President-Elect Walt McDonald of Riverside, Calif., was quoted in the article as saying, "When people ask me how they can get strong interest in their property, I always tell them to fix up their landscaping."

Dave Middleton, of Coldwell Banker Burnett in Stillwater, Minn., agrees. "First impressions go a long way and landscaping is part of the first impression," Middleton said. "Average returns can be upward of 100 to 200 percent if you invest $1,000 in landscaping, you can get double back."

Choosing to do nothing or allowing shrubs to become overgrown, which blocks out natural sunlight and obstructs the exterior of the home, can negatively affect the price of a home. Take the example of Minneapolis resident Rich Goldsmith, who bought his home two years ago. After spending about $2,000 on landscaping projects, he added approximately $10,000 to his home's value, according to his appraiser. This means Goldsmith will get back about five times more than his investment.

"I really wanted to do some landscaping that would update the look and appeal of my house," Goldsmith said. "It didn't take a lot of work, it looks great and now I have the added benefit of an increased resale value."

Robert Allan Gravier, landscape expert and president of Allan Block Corporation, a national manufacturer of stackable garden and landscape blocks, said, "Over the last few years we've recognized an increased demand for our landscaping products because of the value they add to the home." Gravier offered a few landscaping ideas to upgrade a home's curb appeal:

Attractive entryways. A stairway leading from the driveway or street to your front door will welcome visitors to your home in style. A staggered or curved stairway edged by a short garden wall adds character to your yard. Accomplish this look by replacing worn-out stairways with concrete block such as Allan Block, which features a variety of styles and colors.

Raised planting beds. Border the front of your home with planting beds along the foundation. These beds can enhance drainage and add an architectural element to the landscape.

Terraces. Tame steep slopes and hard-to-maintain areas with terraced walls.

Allan Block has more advice to offer homeowners considering enhancing their outdoor living experience. For additional information, send an e-mail to info@allanblock.com, leave a message at (952) 346-6696, write to ATTN: Allan Block Info Center, 5300 Edina Industrial Blvd., Suite 100, Edina, MN 55439 or visit the Web site at www.allanblock.com.

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