Beyond Curb Appeal

This week Steve and I were live at the Rhode Island Convention center for the 2012 Flower Show. You can never underestimate the power of curb appeal when marketing homes, and landscaping can make or break it.   But even more than merely curb appeal; good landscaping really adds value to a home.   A University of Florida study showed that with all other things being equal, a home with better landscaping will usually sell quicker and for more money. People will never even see the granite and the stainless if they do not get a good first impression. The American Society of Landscape Architects recommends investing 10% of the home’s value in landscaping.  Outdoor rooms, terraces, and  decks  are high-return investments. Mark Butler from Clarke Farms in Wakefield stopped by to give a little insight on working with a professional.     If you have a budget in mind, Mark will come out to your property and advise you as to what to do to get the most return for your money.   It isn’t necessary to spend $100,000, and there are lots of simple things that you can do that don’t cost much at all, like mulching and edging your flower beds.  Some trends that he has been seeing are monochromatic themes using variations of a single color; he is also seeing a lot of edible landscaping like blueberry bushes. Then we spoke with URI Master Gardener Victoria Hittinger.   The URI Master Gardener designation is earned only after training in various aspects of plant science and completing an internship of 50 hours of volunteer work as part of the Master Gardener program of the Cooperative Extension Education Center.  They are hosting a symposium March 3, 2012, 8:15AM - 4:00pm  at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences at the Kingston Campus.   Food, Flowers & Family is a special day designed for those who want to learn more about home gardening. The symposium is open to all and will be especially helpful to first-time gardeners. This Week’s Real Estate Insight: No matter how nice the inside is, if the outside of your home isn't inviting, you're going to lose buyers before they ever set foot in your home. Well placed trees and shrubs can help to reduce heating and cooling costs.   And while trends in decorating   may come and go, and mechanical systems get old and break down,   quality landscaping will only grow more robust as the years go by.