It’s typical this time of year in New England to see several houses for sale in your neighborhood. During the months of June, July and August, this real estate market is in full swing, selling more homes than any other time of year. It’s no mystery why since we’re more than likely to be covered in snow during the winter, which is not a great sales pitch for future buyers. So if you are getting ready to buy a house in the Boston area, besides paying close attention to the condition of the roof and plumbing, make sure to inspect the grounds including lawn care, landscaping and most importantly – THE GARDEN!
You might think this is a small improvement you’ll have to make down the road, an issue that needs very little concern but I assure you it will save you time and money to investigate beforehand. Renovating garden beds is a bigger job than you suspect and will absolutely affect the value of your property down the road. I know… I know… you’d rather replace old furniture with new or perhaps blast out an outdated bathroom before getting your hands dirty in the backyard but the truth is-it’s the perfect place to start. With a few tips on how to get going, you can whip up your surrounding outdoor area with little headache or worry. Not a green thumb? No sweat! Follow these suggestions closely and you’ll be on your way to having an ideal spring and summer season both in and out of your new home.
Tips for New Homeowners Concerning Gardens, Lawn Care and Landscape:
- Take a look around and notice if there are a density of pine trees hovering over your lawn. If there are, it’s likely that you’ll have trouble keeping a nice green patch growing and will need professional care down the road. The reason is because the needles will drop, affecting the growth of healthy blades beneath so you might want to consider mulch or another attractive ground covering.
- Landscaping is a tricky area of renovation because it relies a lot on the past owners taste and whether it is congruent to your own. If they preferred large shrubs as opposed to flowering bushes like hydrangea, this might be an area where you’re going to have to invest some money. Also watch out for large rocks that might be difficult to remove if you’re interested in another layout for your yard. There are companies who will come out to lift and take them away but they are costly.
- Now for the area of grand discussion….THE GARDENS. You’re in good shape if the previous gardeners liked their perennials because lucky for you-they come back every year bigger and better than before. In this case, you’ll have to do an occasional weeding but for the most part, the hard work has been done for you. If you’re working with a blank slate, that’s also fortunate since you can design the area with anything you like. It’s your yard now, so go for it! If the new property has old framework like rotting raised beds or other accessories you don’t want, get someone who can help you lug the stuff away and start fresh. Try to salvage anything that might be reused, though because again, this can get costly.