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Posts Tagged ‘curb appeal’

Keep It Green

To keep your grass lush and green this summer make sure it gets plenty of water.  And since we all know that it isn’t going to rain consistently during the summer, here are some watering suggestions to keep that yard you have worked so hard to get.

1. Water deeply – Whether watering in the summer, spring or fall, make sure you give your yard plenty of water at one time.  This will ensure the water gets down deep in the soil and encourage the grass roots to grow deeper.
2. Space out your watering – Sine you will be giving your lawn a lot of water at once, spacing your watering out will encourage the roots grow down deep into the soil for water instead of staying superficial on the surface (where they will be more likely to burn from the summer’s sun.
3. Apply wetting agents – The trick golf courses use to keep their greens thick, healthy and green are wetting agents.  This should be done by a professional and can be costly, however.
4. Pre-condition the lawn – If a time of drought is expected, start preparing your lawn by spreading out your waterings further ahead of time, rather than suddenly ending the watering.
5. Avoid fertilizers – Applying fertilizers to your lawn during a season of drought is a BIG no-no.  This could actually do more harm to your lawn than you would expect.
6. Raise the mower height – By raising the cutting height on your mower, you will be encouraging root growth in your grasses. This will help the grass stay greener longer during a drought season.
7. Increase potassium – Before the drought season begins, try changing to a fertilizer containing a higher level of potassium.  Potassium is said to encourage root growth in your grass.
8. Decrease nitrogen – Try using fertilizer with less nitrogen prior to the drought season.  Nitrogen promotes blade growth of the grass.  During dry seasons, you want your focus to be on the roots.  So the use of nitrogen fertilizers should be during the spring or non-drought seasons.
9. Change grass types – Because drought is expected to happen in the Mid-West, you may want to consider having more Fescue type turf grasses in your yard.  These grasses maintain their green qualities longer during a drought than grasses such as Kentucky or rye.
10. Natural dormancy – Don’t worry if you grass has turned brown and dry during the drought season.  You have NOT killed your grass…….most likely.   Many grasses will actually go into a dormant stage when the water levels get low.  They will revive again quickly when water levels rise in the soil. Your lawn is not actually being damaged by the drought season, it simply doesn’t look as nice.

As you can see there are things you can do to help keep your lawn greener, longer, during a drought period. Just remember, that if you can water, watering longer and less often will be better for your grass that small amounts every day.

How to create a sunken trampoline

Are your kids always screaming about how they want a trampoline?  Here is a way for them to get exactly what they want without you having to worry about them falling off and hurting themselves or having a circle of dead grass in your yard.  Plus, this will give you less to mow!

Something to note, make sure you decide exactly where you what the trampoline to be BEFORE you start the project.  It will be no fun taking it out and starting the process all over again.

So what do you do…?

• First, measure up – You can choose any size trampoline that you would like, but make sure that it won’t dominate your entire yard.  Also, when measuring, remember to leave at least another 50cm (19.685 inches) all around for the doughnut (don’t worry, we will talk about this later)
• Purchase your trampoline – these are easy enough to buy online.  What is worth looking at is shape and weight limits.  You might think the trampoline will be used by the kids, but you’d be wrong – adults are at least as likely to want a bounce (and in my experience, more likely to injure themselves, but that’s another story).  So, get one that will take up to 280 lbs.
• Choose the shape and color – Pick the shape that suits your yard. Also – don’t forget to order green padding at the side (khaki if they offer it), unless you don’t mind looking outside and seeing this bright blue circle in your backyard.
  
• Mark out the size of the trampoline – I have an old screwdriver I place through the end of my tape measure – stick this in the ground, hold a can of spray paint, and run round in a circle, spraying (just watch out for your shoes). If it’s a rectangle, try to use a builders square to make sure you are accurate, or simply place your trampoline upside down in the ground and mark round it.
• Get digging – OK, you can cheat and get in a man with a digger, but this is likely to get costly, so if you’re on a budget or need the exercise, do it yourself or ask all those buddies, who owe you a favor, to head over to your place.
• Topsoil good, subsoil bad – Remember, the first foot or so is likely to be topsoil and should be kept to one side.  Below this is subsoil – and if you can, I would suggest this is taken off site, or buried somewhere below topsoil.  You can see the difference quite easily as you dig down. If you’re digging it yourself, allow a weekend and consider getting in some help as it’s pretty hard work, especially when you get further down and the soil’s more compacted.
• Drainage - If you’ve got a high water table or bad drainage, I would suggest you make a mini sump in the central area by digging down an extra foot and filling with rubble or pea gavel.
• What depth? – I’ve seen advice which says; leave the trampoline sitting 2 inches above the ground to allow air to escape.  Personally, I don’t do this.  I’ve not found the air flow an issue unless it’s been raining which covers the micro-holes in the trampoline surface and stops effective bouncing, but this is rare.  Also, if you sink it flush to the ground, it stops things falling under the trampoline, negates a trip hazard and makes it easier to mow around.
• Use top soil to form a doughnut – Put a foot high, double sloped and flat-topped edge round the area which disguises the trampoline from a distance.  The children also love running down this onto the trampoline
• Turf or Sod the area – this helps make a neat finish and you can fold it over at the edges if you need to fill in any holes

And that’s it, except to say, sunken trampolines might be safer, but not so safe that you shouldn’t supervise very carefully.  However, they do make it easier for all ages to enjoy – you can join in with your children bottom-bouncing on the trampoline because we all know IT IS SO MUCH FUN!

Five ways to say “welcome” for under $100

A door in an eye-catching red with attractive hardware and nice plants makes for a charming entry.  With spring having arrived, it’s a good time to put out the welcome mat with a little flair.  Your front door and porch area is an invitation to guests and it also says a lot about you.

Here are five ways to add personality to the porch for less than $100.

Paint adds pop

If there’s one thing that says spring, it’s color. Painting the front door is the easiest and least expensive way to add punch to your entry. But before running to the paint store for a gallon of fuchsia, take stock of your home’s existing color palette.

Dark colors draw more attention but extreme contrasts will detract from details, so it’s important to stay in the same color family. This doesn’t mean if your house is beige, you’re stuck with only browns.

Visit a paint store to see brochures of recommended palettes using your existing colors. Also, most paint companies offer color palettes and advice online.

A good quality exterior semi-gloss enamel costs about $15 a quart. Don’t forget to sand the door before painting, just enough to remove the enamel’s gloss finish, or the paint will eventually peel.

Pottery leads the way

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By: Karen Bataille

With spring in the air, the exterior of a home becomes even more important when putting your house on the market because buyers now will spend more time outside looking at your property and envisioning what their summer barbeques and family playtime will look like.

The addition of any amount of usable real estate to a property increases value. Customized decks and personalized outdoor living areas are a hot trend in home improvement upgrades, and a great-looking deck may entice more people to come see your home.

Building or updating an existing deck isn’t simply a great investment; it also provides opportunities to personalize your backyard and customize the look to your taste. And with many families staying home this summer to save money, why not think about creating the perfect location for entertaining?

Deck experts agree that multi-level decks are the most popular now. These are a series of decks connected by stairways or walkways, which are aesthetically pleasing and can be used for different purposes. One level can be used to catch the sun, one level can be positioned for shade and another can be set close to the house for entertaining and barbequing.

Wood decks have always been the most popular, but caring for them is tough. They will rot over time, are subject to insect infestation and require a great deal of maintenance to keep the wood from fading. Accordingly, people are embracing composite materials for their decks, which cost significantly more but will last longer with less maintenance.

For those homes that already have a deck, it’s important to make sure that it’s still in good shape and adds to the attractiveness of a property. You can change your deck’s appearance with interesting balusters to match other decorative accents on your house or in your yard and really add unique touches to make the deck a personal haven. Meanwhile, railings offer a good opportunity to pull in color and ornamental detail that complements the house.

By designing your deck with accents, lights and unique accessories, you can transform your backyard into an outdoor retreat one will never want to leave. Whether you’re catching up with friends over a grilled dinner in the evening or are curled up with a book in a lounge chair on a sunny afternoon, a deck is the perfect place to be.

Karen Bataille can be reached at 573.808.4480. Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Buyers are hit hard by first impressions, and sellers take advantage of this fact, aiming to amp up their curb appeal.

This is, after all, where they get the most bang for their buck. According to the latest Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that “nine of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects.” These exterior projects are outperforming their remodeling counterparts.

Interior projects should not be forgotten, however. These spaces earn returns on costs, as well. Many times interior updates can make you stand out from the competition in your area. It is simply that in today’s economy, “remodeling projects, particularly higher cost upscale projects, have been losing resale value in recent years because of weak economic conditions.” (NAR)

With curb appeal projects, however, a little money can go a long way. Topping the list? Steel entry doors are returning 102.1 percent of their cost upon resale.

What other projects are sellers tackling? While most projects don’t bring the profit returns of steel entry doors, sellers have some other great options for attracting buyers.

• Siding and window replacements – 70 or more percent of costs recouped
• Midrange garage door replacement – 83.9 percent of costs recouped
• Upscale fiber-cement siding replacement – 80 percent of cost recouped
• Wood deck additions – 72.8 percent of costs recouped

“It’s important to remember that the resale value of a particular improvement project depends on several factors,” says National Association of Realtors® President Ron Phipps. “Things such as the home’s overall condition, availability and condition of surrounding properties, location and the regional economic climate contribute to an estimated resale value.”

Yet, says Phipps, “Curb appeal remains king – it’s the first thing potential buyers notice when looking for a home, and it also demonstrates pride of ownership.”