Landscaping Projects Can Pay Off In The End
To some people landscaping seems like a thankless task and a drain on their time and resources. But proper landscaping is actually a good investment.
In a research project done by the Gallup Organization, home buyers felt that landscaping adds an average of 14.87 percent to the selling price of a home.
In a separate survey, 95 percent of the members of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers said that landscaping adds to the value of the real estate and 99 percent agreed that proper landscaping enhances the “sale appeal” of the property independently of the sales price.
According to Money magazine, a well-done landscaping project can have a recovery value of 100-200 percent. This compares to a bathroom remodel recovery value of 80-120 percent and a kitchen overhaul recovery value of 75-125 percent.
Digitally challenged
More than one-third of those responding to a Harris online poll for RCA and Radio Shack said they were phobic about new digital home entertainment systems. Sixty percent said they had simply stopped trying to keep up with the latest technology. And one respondent pleaded for manufacturers to slow down, saying, “There is too much stuff to consider. Give us time to enjoy our new stuff before you introduce something else! I just took my VCR out of the box and something new comes along.”
The nose knows
Tobacco smoke and pet odors are the most offensive odors in other people’s homes, according to a survey by Research Products Corp. Food odors finished a distant third, followed by other odors such as mold, mildew, garbage and perfume.
“Many homeowners are turning to fresh air exchangers to continuously replace stale household air with fresh air. A fresh air exchanger saves energy costs over an ordinary exhaust fan because it heats or cools incoming air, and it doesn’t present the potential security risk of open windows. It also eliminates the dirt and noise that open windows allow,” says Bruce Darkow, product manager for Aprilaire Fresh Air Exchangers.
Acquired space
Do you have space underneath your deck that you would like to use for storing yard tools and materials, but hesitate because you don’t want the area to look cluttered and unattractive? Here’s a solution that even your pickiest neighbors won’t mind. Install lattice walls under the deck.
You may want to use one-piece molded lattice made of plastic for this project. The lattice won’t rot and won’t require painting. Lattice typically comes in 4-foot-by-8-foot sheets. If you really want to get creative, plant a colorful climbing vine such as clematis or a climbing rose and let it grow up the lattice work.