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Home Appraisal Tips & Advice
Home Renters Beware: The Foreclosure Crisis Affects You as WellAugust 11, 2008
Home foreclosures have created an overlooked victim: what happens when the home you rent goes into foreclosure? The vicious circle of declining home values and rising foreclosures.
July 11, 2008
Home values drop when foreclosures rise creating a vicious circle. Is there help in sight or a way to take advantage of a declining market? Home Selling Success: What You Need to Know
July 11, 2008
Yes, the home selling market has slowed in the past year; however, houses are still being purchased on a daily basis. What is the secret to successful home selling? Landscaping Can Add to Home Value
By Karen LawsonHome Worth Columnist
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Widespread concern over potential water shortages and rising utility costs are influencing how homeowners evaluate and select potential home improvement projects. Energy conserving appliances, insulation materials, and windows can help you save money over time. To realize additional savings, many homeowners are turning to landscaping that reduces water consumption and provides shade. Strategic placement of shade trees and other plants can help reduce energy costs and save water.
Add Home Value by Looking at the Big Picture
As the popularity of outdoor living space increases, landscaping takes on new significance in the overall appeal of your home. Landscaping adds to the ambience of a new deck or patio, while shade trees provide shelter and may also help reduce energy costs. Landscape architects and contractors can provide suggestions for selecting and placing trees, shrubs, and other plants for maximum conservation and aesthetic appeal. Environmentally friendly irrigation systems and water features can help reduce lawn care and add beauty to your home.
Alternatives to traditional turf grass such as rock and groundcover assist water conservation. An overall design program that includes landscaping and other outdoor improvements can add home value. Get a current home value estimate before you start planning your home improvement projects. Free home value estimate calculators are easily accessible online. Real estate professionals can provide tips for which improvements typically add the most home value in your area, and mortgage lenders can help you find suitable financing. Incorporating landscape planning and design helps add to the enjoyment of your home indoors and out.
About the Author
Karen Lawson is a freelance writer with extensive experience in mortgage banking. She holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.