 | Randy Hayes
is the manager of Habitat's HomeMart located at Towne West in the old Office Depot location. Having been in the retail furniture business for 20 years, and having started both Home Accents and Cost Plus Furniture Warehouse, Randy jumped at the opportunity to further his career in the furniture industry while giving back to those in need. Habitat's HomeMart is a non-profit retail store with all profits going to building homes for Wichita Habitat Homes. Randy, an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, has two sons who he enjoys watching progress in their football careers in the Maize school district. You can reach Randy at (316) 943-6996 or email rrhayes@habhomemart.com |
Furniture
2005-04-01 10:50:00
Value-added landscaping
: Can landscaping really increase the value of my property? Does it have to be professionally done for the value to increase?
ANSWER: If you think about it, your property has value in a couple ways. First, there is the financial value; the money you paid when you bought your home, and will earn from it when you sell. Secondly, and maybe more important, is the value of the utility of your property, that is, how useful and functional your property is to you! The land your house is on represents a significant portion of your overall property value and investment, as well as the majority of the square foot space you have available to you fo use. So it's wise to use it efficiently and effectively.Proper landscape planning and installation can ensure that you do get the most out of your outdoor living space, from the time you move in, until the time you decide to sell. This can mean a new landscape or landscape renovation to reflect you and your family's needs as well as further landscape projects to keep up with the changing needs of your family as time passes. Remember, your property is only worth what you put into it, so it pays in more ways than one to keep it up.Take a long look at your outdoor space. How do you and your family best enjoy the space that you have to work with? If you're simply a "deck dweller" and your landscaping is an accessory to your deck area, container planting may be in your best interest. Many of the beautiful spring blooming plants thrive in containers, either hanging or sitting on and/or around your deck. Although professional landscaping is one route to the success of your property beautification, there are many projects that are easily completed in a weekend. Here are a couple of terms to use in your design journey: Softscape comprises the animate, horticultural elements of landscape design, i.e., plants. Softscape elements are complemented by hardscape design elements, such as stone walls, tile and brick walkways. Hardscape, or "hardscaping" consists of the inanimate elements of landscaping, especially any masonry work or woodwork. For instance, stone walls, concrete or brick patios, tile paths, wooden decks and wooden arbors would all be considered part of the hardscape. The trick to successful landscape planning is discovering the right amount of each of these elements. For example, building curved walkways softens the landscape by counteracting rigid lines (a rectangular house, a straight driveway, etc.). If the walkway cuts through an area with great visual interest (for instance, a variety of garden and flower beds, shrubs, trees, statuary, water garden, rock garden, etc.), building a curved walkway makes more sense than a straight, no-nonsense walkway. You'll want to meander through such an area, slowing down to fully appreciate its treasures. But don't go crazy and build all your walkways curved, indiscriminately. It depends on the function of the walkway. Paving stones can be used in any application that you see other products (such as concrete, asphalt, and gravel) being used for. In fact, paving stones have several benefits over these other surfacing products: they are very durable, and can be lifted and replaced, should the need arise. With other products, you have to remove and start again, a significant cost! Paving stones come in a variety of colors, making it easy to match existing color around the house and yard, and they should last over 30 years, which is much longer than alternative pavements under normal residential use.
