St. Louis Residential Landscaping Customers – Maximizing Home Values

Research shows that people own their homes longer than ever. There are several reasons for this, including economic factors and an aging population.

The average homeowner stays put for about 13 years today, and the St. Louis metro has one of the LONGEST ownership periods in the nation (almost 19 years!).

Many of these folks have become valued customers of Environmental Landscaping over the years, because homeowners who know they’ll be staying put for longer periods of time are willing to invest in an outdoor space they can truly enjoy. We also work with plenty of new homeowners, who want to make a property “their own” or purchased a brand-new lot – and are looking at mounds of dirt for a yard!

Another type of St. Louis residential landscaping client we talk with often are people getting ready to move from their current homes, which is the group we want to focus on today.

SELLING YOUR ST. LOUIS AREA HOME

Every home seller wants to get the best price they can of course, and there are different strategies to follow to increase the value of their property. Basic home staging tips and best practices should be your starting point. But you could be considering some home remodeling options too.

You may find some updates are required for code or safety reasons, or certain renovations may be necessary to compete with other homes for sale in the area.

However, you should know that most improvements done inside the home are lucky to return 60-80% of their cost when it’s time to sell. Some additions can even detract from the asking price when you sell! (swimming pools are a good example)

PRO TIP: The most cost-efficient update inside your home? It’s also one of the least expensive… fresh paint!

Potential buyers form an impression of your home the moment they step on your property based on its curb appeal.  When the yard is overgrown and messy or the paint on the house is chipping, you’re already starting down the wrong path! 

Yet often a home’s outdoor landscaping is overlooked or discounted in preparation for the sales process.  This can be a big mistake, since an attractive and well-maintained landscape can add 10% or more to the value of your home.

Ideally, give yourself about 4-6 weeks of time to clean up the yard before showing the house.  This should allow enough time to take care of the things you can handle on your own, and/or schedule a visit from a professional landscaper when needed for the more involved jobs.

You want to show buyers how well not only your house, but your garden has been maintained.

An actual home currently for sale – How much $$ is this property owner losing?

Here are some landscaping tips to spruce up your yard to help your home sell quickly…

Use Outdoor Containers

Container plants are a quick, easy way to instantly add color and interest to doorways, patios and decks where potential buyers enter and exit the home. Large tropicals are a good choice here, or inexpensive annuals which can really make your landscape pop.

Freshen Mulch

A new application of mulch is a simple way to quickly spruce up all of your landscaping, so apply a fresh layer in all your garden beds. The color enhances the contrast of the surrounding plants and makes everything look better. Mulch is also relatively cheap and easy to apply.

Prune and Shape Plants

Nothing shouts “neglect” like a bunch of dead branches! No matter what season of the year you’re selling, any unsightly or overgrown trees and shrubs should be trimmed. It’s okay to (selectively) prune deciduous trees and shrubs any time of the year. If you any plants that are barely “hanging on”, now is also a good time to remove them. And of course anything that has completely died needs to go!

You may also be intending to take certain plants to your new home, for either practical or sentimental reasons. Now is the best time to remove those; otherwise you may be obligated to inform the buyer which plants you plan on digging up.

Power Cleaning

Fences, brick and vinyl siding, decks, concrete patios and paved walkways – these surfaces can all get dirty and grimy over time. Water features and outdoor statuary often have visible algae growth. All of these items should be cleaned prior to showing your home, and the best way to do this is with a power washer.

If you don’t own or have access to a power washing machine, you can consider buying or renting one. However, for that extra cost you may want to avoid the hassle and hire a professional to stop by with the equipment!

Other general projects that can add the most value to your home include upscale garage doors, new siding or stone veneer, and patio and wood deck additions. Do you see a pattern here? The renovations which give you the most bang for your buck tend to be focused on the exterior of your home!

Give us a call at (636) 225-3848 or contact us online and we’d be happy to schedule a time to visit your property to give you our assessment of what steps you can take to maximize your home’s value!

We serve all residential and commercial property owners throughout Saint Louis city and county, St. Charles and St. Peters, Jefferson County and in Metro Illinois.

We look forward to talking with you soon,

Tory Catanzaro

Owner, Environmental Landscaping