Sprucing up outside can boost your value inside,
The value of your home climbs when quality is the first impression
There are many ways to increase the value of your home before you even open the front door. Here are three great tactics to boost the beauty of your outside space that, in turn, will pump up your home’s ultimate worth. Green strategy Landscaping has always been recognized as an easy way to add dollar signs to your property’s value. A simple lawn, no matter how well cared for, doesn’t really cut it.
You need trees, shrubs and flowers to really make the property sing. Their varying heights provide a three-dimensional interest for all four of our seasons that a flat stretch of grass can’t achieve.
In the spring and summer months, flowers give those pops of colour that bring a sense of joy to your house. Shrubs that conceal the foundation soften the look of your home. (You can also use the greenscape to hide the recycling and garbage bins that no one ever wants to look at but we all have to deal with.)
But before you begin the serious work of landscaping your property, be conscious of any trees that exist and check the city bylaws.
Trees and the city: Any tree more than 30 centimetres in diameter is protected by the city of Toronto — which means that you cannot build around it, dig near it or make any changes that will affect the root structure of the tree without approval from the city arborist.
Just because it’s on your property doesn’t allow you to do as you wish. Get more details about size and restrictions online at the city’s forestry and recreation page — visit toronto.ca and search for “Tree Protection Policy.”
Annuals versus perennials: Flow- ering perennials will bloom year after year, exactly as they did the year before.
Annuals, on the other hand — such as geraniums, petunias or marigolds — mean yearly planting but give you the opportunity to change the colour palette. They also allow you to change the shape and textures of the flowers that bloom.
DIY or not? There is always value in having a professional create the shape and feel of your home landscape.
Knowing what plants will work best for your tastes and your soil, as well as the sun and wind exposure your home gets, is all part of their service. You could do it yourself, however, and save the cost of a landscape designer — provided you have the time, tools and a strong back.
Plan to spend approximately $15 a square foot, including the supplies and installation, for simple gardens. Bricks and blocks Interlock sidewalks and driveways dramatically increase the perceived value of a home. The style and thought that goes into the brick or block design indicates the home has been well cared for — and is worth more.
Those are emotions people want to buy into. The result is dramatic, combined with the stucco exterior. This is a house you want to drive home to. It isn’t that expensive to do and the perceived value is well worth it.
Cost? Expect to pay between $15 and $25 a foot for interlock installation — simply, the equation for a single-car driveway at 10 feet wide by 14 feet long equals 140 x $25, or $3,500 for installation plus the cost of the bricks or stone blocks.
The stone can range from $5 to $20 per square, depending on the product and supplier. Add in that and you’ll end up with a bill around $4,500 for a typical interlock driveway, starting at the low end. Kitchen magic Since the dawn of the “stay-cation” years ago, the beauty of an outdoor kitchen — along with its added outdoor living function — has at- tracted potential homeowners. The more a buyer loves to cook and enjoy food, the more the outdoor kitchen appeals.
Not only is there the prospect of two kitchens in the new house, the outdoor kitchen also evokes a feeling of an instantly ready entertaining space.
Fisher Paykel provides grills, gas cooktops as well as fridges, storage and a beer tap. The built-in esthetic lends a sense of quality and stability, making it feel more like a long-term second kitchen in the home. As well, the glamour of the pieces immediately sets the tone for an upscale party. Glen Peloso appears every two weeks in New in Homes & Condos. He is principal designer of Peloso Alexander Interiors, national design editor of Canadian Home Trends magazine and a design expert on the Marilyn Denis Show on CTV. Contact him at pelosoalexander.com, follow on Twitter at @peloso1 or @glenandjamie, and on Facebook.