Articles Tagged "Curb Appeal"

Looking for an easy, affordable way to improve your garden and reduce your waste output? Create your own backyard compost pile!

Composting is the natural process of recycling garden, yard, and kitchen waste into fertile garden soil. When you add compost material to your soil, you improve its health, help it retain moisture, and provide protection against disease and pests. 

Our real estate agents know that a property with attractive landscaping appeals to prospective buyers. Here are some tips to follow for optimal backyard composting. 

1. Select the Right Area for Your Compost Bin
   For the best results, your compost pile needs to be located in a suitable environment. Look for a spot that's dry and shady but has access to a water source. If your home is lacking in outside space, it's possible to set up a small compost bin inside your home. 

2. Know What to Add to Your Compost Pile
   Every compost pile should have water, browns, and greens. These ingredients are all necessary to produce nutrient-rich compost. Browns include yard and garden waste, like twigs, dead leaves, and branches. Greens consist of grass clippings, fruit and vegetable waste, and old coffee grounds. Your compost pile needs an equal amount of browns and greens. Water keeps the compost pile moist so that it breaks down more rapidly. 

3. Understand What NOT to Add to Your Compost Pile
   A few items should not be composted. These items may harm plants or produce an odor that attracts insects. When you put your home on the market, it's essential to confirm that your compost pile is odor-free so that it doesn't deter homebuyers. Never add plants with disease or pests to your compost pile, as both disease and pests can be transmitted to other plants when you add the compost to your garden. Avoid adding fats, meats, bones, and dairy products, as all these items will make your compost pile smell and attract rodents and insects. Any yard or garden waste that's been treated with chemical pesticides should stay out of your compost pile. Pesticides can kill the organisms necessary to break down organic material. 

4. Cover Your Compost Pile
   It can take between a couple of months and a couple of years for organic materials to turn into compost. Hasten the process by covering your compost pile. Covering your compost helps it retain moisture that assists with the degradation of your food and yard waste. You can opt for a compost bin with a lid or use a tarp to cover your compost pile. 

5. Be Picky with How You Layer Your Compost
   Always put a layer of browns as the top layer on your compost pile. This will minimize any odors associated with your compost, and it helps the materials retain moisture. A brown top layer also decreases the number of pests and insects attracted to your compost pile. When you add new waste to your compost pile, alternate brown and green layers, check that the brown layers are two to three times thicker than your green layers.

A compost pile is a great way to supply your garden with nutrients. Ready to add your home to the list of Raleigh homes for sale? Contact us today to get started!

When potential buyers arrive to tour a prospective home, the outside creates an impression within minutes. Our real estate agents know that picturesque landscaping can even raise the total value of your home. Don't wait until summer to get started on your landscaping projects. Instead, check out a few things you can do now to start the planning process.

1. Decide What Furniture, Garden Decor, and Deck Items You Want
   Take a moment to envision your ideal outdoor spaces. What do they consist of? What items do you have, and what pieces are you lacking? Make a list of the items you'll need to complete your projects. Then, browse your preferred retailers to find pieces you like, noting the price and anticipated delivery times. This will ensure that you find options that suit your budget, and you can cater your ordering date according to the item's availability.

2. Start Your Seedling Indoors
   If your landscaping plans involve adding new plants and flowers or growing your own vegetable garden, consider starting your own seedlings inside and transplanting them during the spring or summer months. Not only do you have control over the growing conditions, but it's typically cheaper to grow your own seedlings rather than purchasing them. You also have a wide variety of plant species to choose from, allowing you to find the best option for your landscaping, climate, and vision for your home's exterior. 

3. Make a Plan for Spatial Limitations
   Even Raleigh homes for sale with limited outdoor space can have gorgeous outside spaces. Now is the ideal time to come up with a plan for maximizing the space that you have. Maybe you've always dreamed of a lush garden, but you're out of yard space. One solution is to add a vertical garden that takes up a small amount of your yard's square footage. Or, you might add window planter boxes. Perhaps you envision a roomy outdoor space where you can cook, eat, and relax with your family. If your current deck is too small, you might plan an expansion or decide to split your outside spaces into your front and back yards. 

4. Research Smart Technology for Your Gardens
   If you worry that you'll forget to water your garden or just prefer to automate the process, now's the time to research and set up smart technology to make the task as simple as possible. You can invest in a smart irrigation system that adjusts its water output based on the weather and current soil conditions. Your plans might involve expanding your outdoor entertaining space. Add smart speakers and lighting so that you can quickly set the tone for your evening. 

5. Craft a Plan of Attack for Pests
   Pests, like mosquitos, flies, and rabbits, keep you from getting optimal enjoyment from your home's outdoor areas. Decide how you want to tackle these pests. You may prefer to add vegetation that will deter the pesky creatures. For example, citronella, catnip, and marigold plants repel mosquitos. Thorny bushes help keep deer away. You can also check that you've removed any items in your yard (like standing water or decaying vegetation) that pests find attractive. Or, it may be better to enact a physical better to keep animals and neighboring pets out of your yard and garden. 

Want to check out homes with more space for landscaping projects? Contact us today to get started!

Is it summer yet? Maybe not quite, but it's finally starting to feel like it, and our real estate agents are more than ready. The warmer weather has us thinking about sitting outside at night, looking up at the stars while a crackling campfire blazes. 

After all, summer is campfire season, and these DIY backyard fire pit ideas will ensure that you're ready to take advantage of those warm summer nights! Summer will be here before you know it, so why not go ahead and get started today?

Buy or DIY

A lot of homeowners debate between building their own fire pit and buying one. Sure, you could pick one up at your local Walmart or Home Depot, but there are a lot of advantages to going the DIY route:

• The design options are endless. The types of fire pit you can buy at a store are fairly limited. When you build a DIY fire pit, you can choose among countless styles and building materials. 
• You can save money. Sure, it's possible to sink a lot of cash into building an elaborate outdoor fire area, but a basic DIY fire pit can cost less than a store-bought model. 
• It's fun! There's nothing quite like the satisfaction you get from building something yourself! 

DIY Fire Pit Ideas

You have endless options when you build a DIY fire pit. The blank slate your backyard offers can be intimidating, but remember that there's no such thing as a "bad" fire pit design, as long as it's safe and functional! Make sure to do the following:

• Choose building materials. You can use anything from natural stones to man-made materials like bricks, concrete pavers, and blocks. Kiln-fired bricks will withstand heat better and last longer. 
• Integrate your landscaping. Take your surroundings into account so that your fire pit feels like an integral part of your landscaping. A stone "patio" surrounding the fire pit can help tie the whole yard together. 
• Avoid standing water. Water can accumulate inside your fire pit if it's in a low-lying site. Lining the bottom with sand or gravel can help. 
• Make it functional. Want to cook over your fire pit in addition to enjoying a crackling campfire? Include a cooking grate in the design. 

A Note on Fire Pit Safety

Once you've dreamed up the backyard fire pit you've always wanted, it's time to start building! And when you're done, you can gather your friends for a fun summertime hangout. But before you do any of that, keep a few safety tips in mind: 

• Build your fire pit on a level site. This is especially important if your fire pit is completely above-ground.
• Make sure the site you've chosen is at least 20 feet from your house, and at least 10 feet from trees, plants, fences, and other structures. 
• Don't operate a fire pit under any overhanging branches or trees. 
• Only burn firewood that's been seasoned at least six months. Avoid burning composite wood and other construction materials. 
• Have a bucket or garden hose handy while burning.
• Use a screen to keep sparks from escaping the fire pit, or surround it with a non-combustible ground covering like sand or gravel. 

Contact us today for more ideas. Our team has helped countless families find beautiful Raleigh homes for sale, and we're committed to helping you live life to the fullest in the Triangle this summer!

With Christmas and New Year's just around the corner, the last thing you may be thinking about is your upcoming spring home sale. And, yet, now is the time to keep those real estate plans top of mind.

Yes, the holiday season will be filled with hustle and bustle and people and presents, but it also offers the time to begin the home sale-prepping process. It really is the ideal time to make your home merry and bright, sellers.

Here's how to get ahead of the home-selling game during your winter break.

The Three "C's"

No, we aren't talking about candy canes, Claus, and cookies—it's all about clutter, cleanliness and curb appeal when prepping your home for buyers.

Clear Out Clutter

One of the biggest turnoffs to home buyers is a house filled with clutter. Get rid of it now.

Start sorting through closets and drawers to seek out the stuff you no longer want or need. Make two piles—take and toss—and get to work sorting the odds and ends you've collected throughout the years.  

Hone down your holiday décor as you take down your tree and start putting away garland and bows. Chances are you'll find boxes of bobbles and holiday trinkets you no longer display that can be donated.

Tackle your kids' toy pile. Make space for the presents that Santa will bring by donating some of the toys your children have outgrown. You'll appreciate the effort you put into clearing out the toy box when it's time to pack for the move to your next home.

Purge your attic, storage space, and garage. If you find boxes you never opened from your last move, you certainly don't need to take them to your new home. Give the items away or donate them to your local thrift store.

Less clutter will make your rooms look larger and give your home a more spacious feel.

Clean Up

Forget about waiting until spring to clean, do it this winter.

Home buyers will want to tour a home that sparkles and shines, and no, we aren't referring to the glitter that fell off your holiday décor.

Try to look at your home like an interested buyer would. Give special attention to your kitchen and bathrooms. If you would be disappointed to find dust-lined baseboards, moldy grout, and sticky, spotted cabinets, you can assume a prospective buyer would be too.

Have carpeted flooring? Consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner to remove old stains and pet scents to refresh your fibers. 

Wipe down mirrors and windows to let the light shine in and around your home.

Check out walls and doors to see what scuffs can be easily removed with soap and water and what may need to be repainted.

Cleaning now will give you a leg up on the home staging you'll do before you list your home to sell.

Consider Curb Appeal

You may not want to spend a lot of time outside now that the cold weather has set in, but you can still take a look at your home's curb appeal and make plans.

How do your gutters look? Are they lined with leaves and debris? It's probably time to have them cleared and cleaned.

Are your driveway and sidewalks mildewed and stained? Perhaps you should have them pressure washed on a warmer winter day.

What about your trees and plants? Do you need to have any dead limbs removed? Should you replace any diseased bushes or shrubs?

Has your siding faded over the past few years? Do your shutters and front door need a new coat of paint? Ask family and friends to recommend a few painters.

Think about your home's exterior and your landscaping now to determine what you will want to fix before a buyer pulls up to your curb—first impressions always matter, you know.