Homeowners are always looking for ways to add value to their home – whether they’re planning to sell in the near future or not. But, there are actually a lot of things that can unintentionally decrease the value of your home. Here are 8 things you might be doing wrong in your yard that could be lowering your home’s value.
You’re Not Mowing the Lawn Regularly Enough
Maintaining your yard isn’t just necessary for aesthetic reasons – it can also increase the value of your home if done right.
It’s important to regularly mow your lawn for a few reasons. The grass will maintain its healthy green hue, weeds will be kept at bay, and pests won’t have the chance to take up residence on your property.
Not only that, regularly maintained lawns are safer for children and pets to play on since the grass won’t become tall enough to hide or conceal anything dangerous or hazardous. Make sure you’re not missing out on this important part of yard care just because you think it’s tedious and time-consuming.
If you’re unsure of how to take care of your lawn, consulting with a landscape architect or seeking advice from turf installation experts can help you get on the right track and maintain a beautiful yard for years to come.
You’re Not Planting Flowers or Trees
Believe it or not, things more subtle than planting flowers and trees can actually have a significant impact on the value of your home.
Not using the latest materials for outdoor walkways, for example, can be a major detractor from the curb appeal of your residence. Additionally, not doing regular maintenance such gutter cleaning can further diminish your property’s value.
Paying attention to these seemingly minor details could make a big difference when you eventually decide to sell your home down the road.
You’re Not Watering Your Plants Properly
Many things you’re likely doing wrong in your yard could be decreasing your home’s value, but one of the most common things is not properly watering your plants. If you let them dry out too much, it can stunt their growth and they won’t thrive, leading to a patchy yard lacking any impressive greenery.
For flowers and non-native plants especially, they need an optimal balance of water and sunlight to do their best – otherwise they start to look droopy, discolored, and will lack their typical high blossom count or lushness.
Give them the right amount of attention and water that fits their needs and your yard might just become the envy of the neighborhood.
You Have Too Much Clutter in Your Yard
If you’re guilty of having too much clutter, from children’s toys to old furniture and knick-knacks, then now is the time to do something about it. All of this adds up to a truly disorganized or crowded yard that detracts from the overall appeal of your home.
Not only does this hurt your curb appeal and make it hard for potential buyers to see what could be done with your yard, it also makes it harder for your home to stand out and shine in today’s competitive housing market.
Make sure you keep things as neat and orderly as possible — even if things start to get cluttered again soon after — so that you can guarantee your biggest investment will pay off eventually.
You’re Not Keeping the Gutters Clean
Keeping your gutters clean is a highly important part of general maintenance to ensure the longevity and value of your home. If left unchecked, things like leaves and debris can clog drainage systems and attract things like pests or mold growth.
This not only drastically decreases the safety of your property, but all of these things combine to erode the market value of your house – all things that you should consider when deciding how much attention to pay to gutter cleaning.
You Don’t Have a Fence Around Your Property
Whether you’ve recently moved into a house without a fence or are considering skipping the investment when building a home, there are things you need to be aware of.
Having no fencing around your property is risky business and can lead to things being stolen, unwanted situations that can put you in legal trouble and may even detract from your home’s value. Property owners need to understand that not getting any fencing may cause things like an increase in animal waste on lawns, unruly children harming plants, and trespassing by strangers.
Investing in one could be the difference between creating wealth with your property or ending up paying too much money down the line due to things you are doing wrong now.
You’re planting the wrong plants in the wrong places
Homeowners often make the mistake of planting the wrong plants in the wrong places. Things like trees too close to the house, plants near doorways or walkways that have to constantly be trimmed and ivy that covers an entire wall can all effect a home’s value.
Knowing your environment, local soil composition and how much sunlight each area can get are important considerations before you plant. Even more factors should be taken into consideration like drought-resistant plants, careful choosing of indigenous plants for certain regions and other climate friendly solutions.
Doing so will increase not only curb appeal but also add more definitive value to a yard or garden and in turn to a home’s overall appraisal value.
You’re ignoring stains on your driveway or patio
These unsightly marks may seem like a minor detail in the grand scheme of things you’re doing wrong in your yard, but they can actually have a major impact on your home’s value. Not only are the stains an eyesore and make your yard look untidy; they can also damage surfaces if left untreated.
In extreme cases, these stains may require costly repairs to restore its beauty. Plus, potential buyers will be much less likely to view it as desirable if it appears there are underlying issues with the structure that need addressing. So don’t delay—take care of those pesky stains before they become even bigger headaches down the line.
Takeaways
While it’s important to take pride in your home and yard, there are some things you may be doing that are actually decreasing your home’s value. Be sure to avoid these 8 mistakes if you want to maintain or increase your property value. Have any other tips for keeping your yard looking its best?
