With summer fast approaching, House to Home Properties has a few tips for an OUTSIDE investment on your property:

*Home investment*

Research has shown landscaping can add 5 percent to 15 percent to a home’s value and when the house is resold, the owners recoup 100 percent to 200 percent of their investment. Considering that you only receive a 75-percent return on a bathroom remodel and that landscaping can be installed gradually, as your budget allows, landscaping is an easy to way to increase the value of your home.

*Create a plan*

Sketch out your house and yard, including your utility lines. Which areas have lots of light or lots of shade? Does your yard drain well after a rain? Mark lighting
and drainage patterns on your plan. Mark out various areas for sports, play, recreation and parking. List the plants you already have in your lawn, and
the plants you want to use. Price the plants you listed, but go home without buying any. Walk through your yard with your plan and price list. Discuss what you can afford
now and what will be planted later.

*Grow your investment*

When you purchase your plants, inspect the plant carefully. Don't
buy damaged plants. Keep the roots damp and shaded at all
times before planting. Follow the watering and fertilizing guidelines for your plants. Some
plants require specific pruning to promote growth and blooms.
And don’t forget that properly prepared soil and beds are as
vital as choosing the right plants. Consider the purchase of a tree an investment, just like stocks and bonds. Trees begin to appreciate in value the moment they are planted in your yard. Trees reduce the home temperature by as much as 9° F (attic temperatures are reduced 40° F) or a
savings of up to $273 per year in air conditioning.