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Letter to the editor

What's on the outside counts

Getting ready to sell? Attractive, distinctive landscaping can help a house move faster and at a higher price.

By Yvonne Swanson, Special to the Times
Published September 8, 2007

In today's troubled real estate market, it's not enough to have all the interior bells and whistles - updated kitchen and baths, wood and tile floors, fresh paint and carpeting and the like - if the outside doesn't look good, too.

That's what Steve and Lori Klingler of Tierra Verde are banking on. After making all the interior improvements to their nearly 3,000-square-foot home, they realized their waterfront lot needed equal attention. The back yard was mostly lawn, several mature palms and tropical plants, along with assorted plants here and there - definitely in need of a makeover.

"The way the market has changed, we want to make sure the yard is visually attractive," says Steve Klingler. "The key is that if it has to be sold, it's always ready." (Their home is not on the market.)

Steve, 52, retired early from a career in pharmaceutical sales. Lori, 50, is a part-time real estate agent and virtual-tour photographer in the real estate field.

There was no question that the Klinglers would tackle the work themselves. The do-it-yourself couple already handled most of the interior improvements. Now they'd get out the shovels, wheelbarrow and other tools and give their 23-year-old home real curb appeal.

Studies show that a nicely landscaped home will attract more buyers, a quicker sale and a higher sale price. And landscaping is one of the only home improvements that increases in value as it ages.

As if that's not enough reason to turn your home improvement dollars outdoors, a healthy landscape in synch with the environment can reduce home heating and cooling costs and water use substantially.

According to the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association in Orlando, landscaping can increase the resale value of a property by as much as 14 percent and shorten the time on market by as much as six weeks. Homes with poor landscaping can expect to sell for 8 to 10 percent below equivalent homes with good landscape appeal.

Lawn, trees, shrubs and flowering plants are important, but hardscape features, such as walkways, patios and decks, contribute to the bottom line as well. A study conducted by the University of Florida for the National Association of Realtors found that some exterior features positively affect real estate value, including an irrigation system, patio and in-ground swimming pool, says UF real estate professor G. Stacy Sirmans, Ph.D., who conducted the study. A home's proximity to water or water view also increases home value. Likewise, being close to a golf course helps by adding 8 percent to home value, Sirmans says.

Obviously you can't change your property's location, so how do you make the most of what you've got without spending a fortune?

Steve Klingler has the answer: "You can save a ton of money if you just use your head. My goal was to do the entire back yard and see how little I could do it for, and I impressed myself."

Thorough planning is the first and most crucial step to a successful do-it-yourself landscape project. You need to plan for your site's inherent elements, such as growing conditions and space limitations, taking into account how you plan to use your outdoor space and how much time and effort you want to spend on maintenance.

The Klinglers' waterfront property had its challenges: sandy soil, salt exposure and limited shade. They wanted more room for outdoor entertaining and dining. They wanted a more attractive yet low-maintenance landscape that would blend harmoniously with the coastal environment. They wanted the most bang for the buck. Here's how they did it.

Research: The Klinglers learned about plants suitable for coastal environments using free materials from the Pinellas County Extension Service, books on Florida gardening and Internet sites.

Measure: Using a 50-foot tape measure, Steve Klingler made measurements for planting beds, walkways, a patio and lawn, then plotted the layout on paper and calculated the number of plants and supplies needed.

Comparison shop: Klingler compared prices on plants and other supplies at discount garden centers and smaller nurseries, which often beat the big stores on price. Don't forget delivery fees, which can vary widely. Some retailers charge a flat rate per delivery. If your order won't fit in one truck, you could be charged multiple delivery fees. Klingler saved money on bulk supplies by using the retailer that could fit the load in one truck and by taking advantage of a monthlong promotion offering free delivery.

Order in bulk: Klingler ordered topsoil, mulch and crushed shell by the yard and had it delivered in bulk. Bagged soil and mulch are fine for small jobs, but you'll save money on most projects if you buy by the yard.

Use freebies: Klingler borrowed a rototiller and wheelbarrow from friends to save on rental and equipment costs. He also got free plants by transplanting several mature plants from a friend's yard.

Recycle: Instead of tossing established plants that didn't fit in the new landscape plan, Klingler transplanted them to new locations in the yard, where they are thriving. Even potted plants that were neglected found new purpose, including a ponytail palm. "We decided to liberate him from the pot and give him a new life," he jokes.

In total, the Klinglers spent about $2,000 on the backyard makeover. "It seems like we got a lot for the buck," he says. "I don't know what it would cost if a professional did this, but I assume it would be at least four times more. I figure it would have cost between $7,000 and $10,000."

Yvonne Swanson is a freelance writer in St. Petersburg and a master gardener for Pinellas County.

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Backyard budget
Here's what Steve and Lori Klingler of Tierra Verde spent on their backyard makeover:

$459.30: 15 yards of crushed shell for walkways and patio
$153.78: Six yards of cypress mulch for planting beds
$392.60: Two pallets of St. Augustine sod
$125: Four yards of topsoil
$203.09: Shrubbery and bedding plants
$664.52: Landscape timbers, concrete pavers for raised beds and other miscellaneous supplies
$22.10: Rental equipment (lawn roller to level new sod and topsoil)
Total: $2,020.39

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Landscaping tips
If you're planning to sell your home within the year, Money magazine recommends these low-cost improvements to your landscape:

- Edge garden beds at the grass line. Curving the edge of your flower beds can increase home value by 1 percent.
- Widen beds by 2 feet if foundation plants are overgrown to make them appear smaller.
- Start regular fertilizer treatments a year before listing the house. Use an inexpensive broadcast spreader to apply fertilizer.
- Plant shrubs that are at least 4 feet high.
- Plant colorful annuals that will flower throughout the current growing season.
- Photograph your home and grounds when they look their best. If your home is on the market at another season, you can show prospective buyers what's in store.

If you're making long-term improvements to the landscape:

- Prune overgrown shrubs.
- Replace plants that don't flower with more colorful selections.
- Buy smaller plants to save 50 percent or more. Space them based on their mature size.
- Create planting beds away from the home's foundation to make your home appear farther from the street.
- Create more backyard privacy with evergreen shrubs or trees at the rear of your property. Fencing is another option.

[Last modified September 7, 2007, 09:52:27]