Donna Littlefield, Associate Real Estate Broker in Western New York

Reasons to Have a Garden on Your Property

Home Improvement

Reasons to Have a Garden on Your Property

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Garden Have you seen the prices for fruits and vegetables go up, up, up over the years? Take a trip to Tops, Wegmans, or any other grocery store in Western New York, and you might get sticker shock when you see what they’re charging for basic foods we all should be eating more of…

Why not plant a garden on your property this year? First of all, think of the money you’ll save when you can harvest your own mini-crops of things like tomatoes and cucumbers and beans. Plus, you’ll be eating healthier than most people, with fresh foods literally from your garden to your kitchen table– no middleman.

Gardening can be a relaxing thing to do in order to get your mind off your day job. Forget the emails, reports and sales figures. Instead, concentrate on digging your hands in the dirt, tilling the soil, planting seeds, and nurturing plants as they grow. You can become a horticulturalist, and it’ll give you something to talk about with like-minded gardeners. After all, people who grow things love to share thoughts, tips and advice with one another.

Gardens make your property look more appealing. If fruits and vegetables aren’t your thing, consider planting a flower garden. Anytime you see a home with pretty flowers surrounding it, you know someone lives there who cares for them and tends to them so that they look nice for all who see them. It’s a matter of personal pride, and anything that can be done to beautify a neighborhood is a good thing.

Finally, in this world we live in where young and old alike seem glued to computer screens, starting and maintaining a garden is a way to get away from computers and handheld smart phones. There’s a satisfaction in gardening as you and yours get to see what you’ve created. Spending time outdoors in the fresh air– getting closer to nature than a computer screen allows– is an important aspect of life we shouldn’t avoid. Gardening can bring people together; it’s good for the soul!

 

Which Home Improvement Projects Add Value to Your Home?

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Home ImprovementIf you’re thinking about selling your home, what are some home improvement projects that can be done to add value to it so you’ll get a higher price for the property when it sells?

First, consider the exterior of the home. How does it look? People judge a home by the way it looks. Even before stepping inside or seeing pictures of the interior, a person can get a good idea whether or not they want to even consider a home based on its outward appearance. Therefore, exterior work like new siding or replacing windows can add value to a home. If the exterior needs repairs and/or a paint job, do whatever it takes so it looks its best when presented to potential buyers.

Next, consider some home improvements inside that will impress buyers. There are two rooms to seriously consider remodeling: the kitchen and the bathroom(s). These rooms matter the most. It may be time to update and replace all the fixtures, cabinetry and flooring so they look up-to-date.

Also, if you have the time and money to add on to your home, having more square footage and/or more bedrooms can easily increase the home’s value. Consider converting an attic space into a bedroom. Finished basements can also help sell a house.

Finally, something as simple and relatively affordable as replacing your garage door can help increase the value of a home. Over time, doors become old, with dents, discolorations, dirt build-up and other stuff that make them look worn. A brand new garage door is better than a beat-up old one.

If you’re considering selling a home in Wheatfield, Pendleton or Amherst, contact Donna Littlefield at 716-578-1788. She’s more than willing to look over your home and give you advice on what needs updating or changing in order to maximize your value.