Spring 2020 is already in the running for the longest season ever. And, seeing as none of us have anywhere to go, now is the perfect time to spring up your yard and your home’s value. Especially if you’re thinking of listing or selling soon.
Plus, with the nicer weather, working outdoors can go a long way to making the best of our current situation. A little vitamin D and some home improvements are sure to brighten some spirits. In other words, this might be just what the doctor ordered.
Landscaping
Hopefully the thought of landscaping isn’t intimidating – we know it can be sometimes. But, there’s a lot of work you can do to improve your yard’s landscaping that doesn’t require moving giant rocks. The best place to start with landscaping is the yard itself. Rake up those leaves. Aerate and overseed your lawn. If your grass isn’t as green as it could be, show it some love with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. If you already have shrubs, bushes or trees, you can clean and trim them up to improve their appearance. Also, mulching your garden beds and removing any weeds there or in your yard will have your yard looking top-notch in no time.
Once you’ve perfected your yard, you can start to tackle other landscaping projects like planting new trees or shrubs, and adding a walk-way. These projects require more time and effort but can be well worth it, potentially increasing your home’s value by up to 20%.
Clean Exterior
We don't often think about it, but just like our cars, our homes need a good wash now and then. Besides, everyone loves cleaning their gutters, right? Yeah, didn’t think so. If, in fact, you don’t enjoy cleaning gutters then we recommend starting there because it’s important and you’ll get it out of the way first. From there you can move onto cleaning the siding of your house, and your deck or patio. There are a variety of cleaning products you can use combined with a powerwash to make sure it’s a deep clean. And don’t forget your windows and screens because they’re easy to overlook. Even if you’re not about to sell your home, freshing up the exterior is a great way to find some joy during this time and remind yourself why you fell in love with your home in the first place.
Still Have Time? Don’t Forget the Small Stuff.
There are plenty of random things you can spruce up that are often overlooked, like cleaning and organizing your garage or shed. This is especially important if you are about to sell, because it’ll show potential buyers the full potential of those spaces in your home. If you have a fence, you’ll want to give it a good once-over too. Make sure it doesn’t appear dirty and repair any split or warped boards. We’d also encourage you to seal your driveway if you need it. And last, but certainly not least, if you have patio furniture, go ahead and give it a good scrubbing. And while you’re at it, make sure any outdoor lighting you have is in tip-top shape.
Or Maybe You Want to Tackle the Big Stuff
You may have been dreaming about adding a deck. Or making your backyard a relaxing retreat. Utilizing our cash out refinancing* could make your grandiose backyard dreams a reality. The deck and patio with built-in grill area, fire pit, and maybe even a water feature, could fit the budget with very little impact on your monthly payment. And depending on your interest rate when you bought your home, you may even end up saving enough money to hire a professional to do the backyard overhaul for you!
Enjoy Being Outside
As we said earlier, most of us don’t have anywhere to be at the moment. Nor should we, during this pandemic. But there are plenty of reasons to get outside and do some yard work or clean up your home’s exterior. If you’re about to sell your home, it’s a must. And if you’re just suffering from a little cabin fever, it’s a great excuse to escape outside, get some fresh air and accomplish something. We hope you find some inspiration here to go spring up your home’s yard but, even more so, we hope you’re staying safe, happy and healthy.
*Consult your Guardian Mortgage loan originator for details. Certain terms and restrictions apply. Program available only to qualified borrowers. Program subject to change without notice. Underwriting terms and conditions apply. Loan subject to credit review and approval.