The exterior of a home plays a big part in displaying the amount of care the owner puts into the property. It is also responsible for the first impression a potential resident receives. With the right landscaping, you will generally be able to increase the value and the price of your rentals. It will also help attract interested potential tenants and make them feel at home.

However, when poorly done, landscaping can be a source of losses and create an uncomfortable home environment. For this reason, it’s a good idea to hire a landscaping contractor to make sure your property’s yard looks great. A skilled landscaper knows how to get results that will last, which is ideal for a rental property. However, if you want to do it on your own, we put together a list of do’s and don’ts to help you out.

The Do’s of Landscaping

Keep it simple
An overly complicated yard can make it very expensive and difficult to maintain. Things such as water features and overly large flowerbeds can look beautiful when well taken care of, but when neglected, they degrade the overall look of the property and can be very time consuming to clean up.

Select Plants or Shrubs That Are Native To The Birmingham Area
Look for flora that is native to your area to be planted in your yard. Local and native plants will not only save you money but also preserve biodiversity. Native plants generally do not require extra watering, pesticides, or extra fertilizer. They are better for the environment and usually are also fairly low maintenance since they thrive in their natural habitat.

The Don’ts of Landscaping

Don’t over-pave your yard
Paving your front yard might seem nice because it requires little to no maintenance, but it’s really not that great in the long run. Large areas of pavement or too many paver stones can increase the runoff into the gutters and into plants. In fact, a lot of cities discourage homeowners from overdoing the paving but instead plant shrubs.

Don’t forget about the long-term
It’s important to keep in mind that plants grow over time, so plan to landscape accordingly. Leave space between trees and bushes and don’t pack them in together too tight.

Conclusion
It might be a challenge to find the best kind of landscaping for your yard. As a property owner looking to spruce up your home and increase its value, you want to strike a balance between making your yard look attractive and the amount of investment you want to put in in terms of maintenance.

Would you like to save time and increase profits? Let Specialized Property Management in Birmingham manage your rental properties to help you enjoy more free time and better results! Contact us online, or call for a free quote (205) 417-1475