With spring in the air, realtors will tell you now is the time for homeowners to evaluate the condition of their homes, particularly if the goal is to list and sell it. Sure, it’s important to stage interiors and plan minor renovations, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. But according to a 2014 National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey, a home’s curb appeal can be the most valuable home improvement project, and can even reduce time a home is on the market.
“A home’s curb appeal is always critical, since it’s the first impression for potential buyers,” says NAR president Steve Brown. “Projects such as entry door, siding and window replacements can recoup homeowners more than 78 percent of costs upon resale.”
Ready to get your hands dirty? Peter Orszulak, an arborist with The Care of Trees in Stamford, offered some expert advice on what you can do now, plan for later, and leave for the experts this coming season.
CLEAN UP
Remove all broken branches and debris. Uproot dead and dying plants. Look for decay, holes in trunks, whether a tree is leaning more than the year before. “Broken branches and animal holes can indicate some dead wood,” says Orszulak.
PRUNE
Pruning gives structure and visual appeal. “Now is the time for dormant pruning of trees, and some shrub pruning of ice damage,” says Orszulak.
PLANT
Plant flowers, ornamental trees and shrubs that bloom at different times of the season, from daffodils to forsythia to rhododendrons, suggests Orszulak.
MULCH
Spread about two inches of mulch to give tree bases and beds a manicured look, but avoid “volcano mulching,” where so much is spread that it appears to rise around the trunk of a tree.