Is Xeriscaping A Good Idea For Re-sale?

Dave,

Our landscaping needs a complete overhaul! We were in the middle of drawing up plans to revamp our front and back yard when I ran across some ideas for xeriscaping online. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it in the first place! We would love the low maintenance aspect of it since my wife and I travel a lot. The only thing is we’re thinking of downsizing in a few years. Before we take the leap and jump all in on the idea, what’s your opinion on the style and furthermore if it will turn away buyers once we go to sell.

Love your column!

Cynthia & Bob, Grand Junction

---

Cynthia and Bob,

I think it’s a great idea!  Xeriscaping is quite popular and can be very attractive, especially in our “high desert” climate that easily lends itself to that style.  The one hesitation I might have revolves around what type of home you have?  If your home/neighborhood lend itself to families with younger children then I might lean toward xeriscaping in the front yard and having some grass/yard in the back.   I totally get the low/no maintenance attraction, but people with younger kids tend to want a grass back yard for them to have a play area and gravel does not make the most inviting play area for younger kids!  If you take these things into account I do not believe you will have any issues when it comes time to sell, in fact it might be a selling point to many buyers who crave the low/no maintenance yard as peoples time only becomes more valuable as we all get stretched even more thin!   Again, great idea and enjoy your new landscaping! 

Dave Kimbrough

The Kimbrough Team

Affordable Landscaping Tips with Big ROI

Dear Dave,

I have about $5,000 saved up to do some landscaping around my house this spring/summer. I'm trying to decide what my focus should be for my yard/house. I am only planning on staying in this house a couple more years, so I want to make improvements that add the most value. I would really appreciate your advice on the most important landscaping elements in a yard - front and back. They both need work - I just don’t know where to start or where to focus with my funds.

Thanks,
Bobby - Fruita, CO

---

Bobby,

The yard is one of the most overlooked elements of any home, when it comes to potential buyer appeal, so you are wise to pay it some attention and focus some of your resources on your yard. A study done by the University of Michigan showed that buyers valued a well landscaped home by 11.3% more than a home with poor landscaping. Another study done at Virginia Tech determined the value may increase by as much as 12.7% for a home with good landscaping vs. one with minimal or poorly designed landscaping. Here is one more number to ponder…you can expect a 150% return on your landscaping investment. That is what I would call good ROI (return on investment)! Regardless of what number is right and how much of your investment you can expect to get back one thing is very clear, all this data clearly points to the fact that your landscaping is VERY IMPORTANT!

“Regardless of what number is right and how much of your investment you can expect to get back one thing is very clear, all this data clearly points to the fact that your landscaping is VERY IMPORTANT!”

Let’s be honest, $5,000 is not an exorbitant sum of money to invest in your landscaping, but if done wisely can make a big impact on your home’s value and overall appeal and easily provide you with a great ROI! The old adage of, “go big or go home” needs to be in your rear view window, as we are going to be swinging for singles and doubles. Most of these things are not expensive, but will make a significant impact when done in conjunction with one another.

For your front and back yard we are going to mostly keep it simple. Step one is to make sure your yard and beds are weed free and create cleanly defined lines between your grass and beds. Cleanly defined lines make keeping your yard maintained much easier and are pleasing to the eye. With your budget let’s go with the metal edging to help create those boundaries and keep your costs down, but make sure when you do it to edge nicely along the grass for a clean line. Also remember to create a clean edge around your walk ways and sidewalks. Next, make sure to put down good weed barrier and add new rock to your beds to freshen it up. You may have to remove what is there to lay down new weed barrier, but it is likely you can recycle the medium you remove and just add new to it. Again, let’s go for the clean look, but go cost effective by using a small (1/2 – 3/4 inch) river rock or some type of mulch. This will look great and keep your costs down. Next, add some pops of color to your flower beds or by using potted planters around your front door and walk ways. Most homes lack good color in the yard and that is a mistake. Color is what makes the world go round and using it wisely can really help make your yard stand out. 

If you don’t have many/any trees, don’t be afraid to do a little budget splurging on slightly larger trees. I believe spending a bit more on a larger tree (15 gallon size) can help give your yard some dimension and you don’t have to wait as long to see some results. Trees can also be great to help hide or obscure something that you don’t want to see. They can be very good screens to create privacy. 

Lastly, try to keep aside $2,000 (of your allotted $5k) to create something special. Creating an outdoor living or entertaining area is the “wow” factor you need to really take it to the next level. It DOES NOT have to be expensive. It can be a small flagstone or paver patio with fire pit or small water feature. You could build a small raised party deck with some nice lighting that extends your patio and creates some back yard magic! Don’t be afraid to get creative and use resources like Pintrest or Houzz.com to find cool outdoor patio or entertaining area ideas. 

Have a blast with it and send me a picture of before and after! Hope this helps and it turns out great.

Dave Kimbrough
The Kimbrough Team

Have a question? Ask Dave!

Should We Xeriscape Our Yard?

Dave,

Our landscaping needs a complete overhaul! We were in the middle of drawing up plans to revamp our front and back yard when I ran across some ideas for xeriscaping online. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it in the first place! We would love the low maintenance aspect of it since my wife and I travel a lot. The only thing is we’re thinking of downsizing in a few years. Before we take the leap and jump all in on the idea, what’s your opinion on the style and furthermore if it will turn away buyers once we go to sell.

Love your column!

Cynthia & Bob, Grand Junction

---

Cynthia and Bob,

I think it’s a great idea! Xeriscaping is quite popular and can be very attractive, especially in our “high desert” climate that easily lends itself to that style. The one hesitation I might have revolves around what type of home you have? If your home/neighborhood lends itself to families with younger children then I might lean toward xeriscaping in the front yard and having some grass/yard in the back. I totally get the low/no maintenance attraction, but people with younger kids tend to want a grass back yard for them to have a play area and gravel does not make the most inviting play area for younger kids! 

“Xeriscaping is quite popular and can be very attractive, especially in our “high desert” climate that easily lends itself to that style.”

If you take these things into account I do not believe you will have any issues when it comes time to sell, in fact it might be a selling point to many buyers who crave the low/no maintenance yard as people's time only becomes more valuable as we all get stretched even more thin! Again, great idea and enjoy your new landscaping! 

Dave Kimbrough
The Kimbrough Team

Large or small trees for new landscaping?

Dear Dave,

I have been out shopping at the local nurseries trying to get some ideas on landscaping materials. My home is about seven years old and doesn’t have many established trees in the yard. There are different sizes of trees throughout the neighborhood. Due to price I want to know what you think is better to do - plant only a couple of large trees or plant about 3 times as many smaller trees? My wife has one opinion and I have another - I won’t tell you which so you can give your honest opinion!

Thanks-
Lee and Jenni, Fruita

---

Lee and Jenni,

Ok, this is an easy one for me and I will be honest! Go with the larger trees.  Planting saplings in the yard and waiting seven more years for them to become trees is for sure one of my pet peeves. We are currently planting some trees at my own home and my wife and I banter this issue back and forth virtually every day the tree planting topic comes up.

She says, in a few years they will mature out etc…and I say that I would prefer them to look somewhat mature now. I don’t want to wait years to enjoy them. I won’t tell you who will win at my house, but at your home I hope the bigger tree vote wins! In my opinion this is one instance where bigger really is better! :) Happy planting.

Dave