How important is the appearance of your front yard when planning to sell your home? The fact is, the view of your front yard is the first impression buyers and drive-by visitors may see, either giving them reason to continue past it or enticing them to want to see more.
If you live in a pre-designed home, where a homebuilder threw in the front yard landscaping to satisfy the city’s requirements with the bare minimum of sod, some small bushes near the house and a tree
or two, understand that in theory it was done to give you a start – not to remain plain in perpetuity. Drive through a custom home neighborhood where every minute detail was planned out and compare the diversity of landscape designs you see there to your own. Which is more appealing? And for which do you think potential buyers would be willing to pay more?
Landscape architects include every single area of a front yard in the design plan, from the road all the way to the front door. If you’re planning to do it yourself, however, take care to keep the design simple and avoid large amounts of vegetation.
Trees can provide a number of benefits to your front yard landscape design, but it’s important to select trees that are proportionate to your home and blend with the overall outdoor design. According to landscape experts, shrubs, boxwoods, topiaries, and smaller ornamentals are excellent for creating linear patterns in your front yard and can line sidewalks, driveways, or the exterior of the home, while large trees, like oak, olive or poplar trees, provide shade and can aid in cooling your home during the summer. Smaller trees, such as fruit and citrus varieties can offer an elegant appearance as well as a lovely waft of fragrance to would-be visitors.
Consult with your nursery as to what types of trees grow well in your climate and soil type. Deciduous trees and other types that shed leaves, nuts, or other debris should be located far from driveways, walkways and water features.
Use flowers for color, but put some thought into your selection. Flowers that are appropriate to your overall design theme use a color scheme that blends with your home.
Red, orange, and yellow hues attract attention while calmer shades of blue and green blend into the landscape and create a more subtle, relaxing atmosphere. When accenting walkways with flowers or to line the home’s perimeter, use curved designs to add interest, mixing perennials with seasonal varieties.
A lush, green lawn coupled with clean (or interesting) driveways, sidewalks, and pathways are great ways to achieve curb appeal. Selecting materials that are durable and weather resistant, like stone or concrete will reflect your landscape style while complementing the design of your home.
The most common driveways lead directly into a garage, but if your front yard can accommodate it (and your neighborhood restrictions don’t prohibit it), why not consider a turn-around area or even a circular driveway? These additions can add an elegant flair and are ideal for rustic, Mediterranean style landscapes providing an estate-like appearance.
And don’t forget the lovely sound of splashing water. Even the smallest of homes and driest of climates can boast a wall-mounted or free-standing fountain, lending the soothing sound that only water can provide. Water features and stand-alone fountains can be placed close to entry doors or atop a small concrete pad located outside your front window, welcoming guests and potential buyers.
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