Beautiful Landscape Improves Home Values

Charlottesville Garden Undergoes a Massive Transformation That Results in a Geometric Layout of Clipped Hedges 

 and a Terrace for Entertaining

WRITTEN BY CATRIONA TUDOR ERLER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATRIONA TUDOR ERLER

Green is the color of the garden created by Frank Byers and Jerry Northcutt. It’s a peaceful place where they can entertain graciously and where the geometry of shape and form creates a restful, visually pleasing composition. What looks so “right” today began eleven years ago as a blank slate. Dotted on the property around the newly built house were a few mature cedars, but otherwise the land was bare. “We started from the base,” says Byers. “We knew we wanted a large terrace for entertaining, but we had to wait several years for the fill dirt to settle.” 

 While they waited, they planted cherry trees around the perimeter of the planned terrace. The only suitable place for this patio was on the west side of the house. With that exposure, it would be particularly hot on summer afternoons and evenings when it was most likely to be used. The cherry trees were to provide much-needed shade for the patio-to-be. Planning ahead paid off: the young trees got a good start on their growth during the years before the brick terrace was laid, so they were ready for service when everything was in place.

 The terrace became the central hub of the design from which all else radiates. Gravel paths lead off opposite sides of the patio, one wrapping around the side of the house to the front driveway and parking court. The other forms a straight axis parallel to the house, drawing the eye down the length to a beautiful armillary raised on a plinth. Clipped boxwoods line both paths, which are backed by evenly spaced cherry trees.

Read the rest of the this wonderful transformation via the attached link!!!  Ideas are always great to have!

http://http://www.homebydesign.com/pages/article/HBD_APR_11_08/43859/index.html

Thoughts????

Prepping Your Home May Mean Repairs

Often our daily lives are very busy.  So busy we drive into the garage, closing the door behind us, and dart into the house to dinner or to our favorite chair in the living or family room to collapse. 

Secondly, it isn't uncommon for a minor problem with our home to not warrant our immediate attention.  Ever have a slow drip from the shower head that only bothers you because the dripping water is cold rather than warm???  Or notice a small tear in the carpet that the dog or the kids made that was sealed with masking tape "to ensure it doesn't get any worse"??

The lack of knowledge and the act of ignoring 'little' problems with the house are the two major reason REPAIRS are TYPICALLY REQUIRED.   Partially completed projects can be a 3rd reason that repairs are required.

If you think a repair is too minor to require repair, ask yourself "Would I buy this house if I saw that"  and secondarily "Would I pay the asking price if I knew the seller left "that" in that condition???

A Realtor is a great person to consult if you wish to know how the market will respond to your home's present condition.  Touring the home together, he/she can note repair items to address and provide names of competent contractors.   If you prefer to get your own contractors, http://www.servicemagic.com/ and http://www.askangie.com/  are great sites to check out.

A self trained handy man/woman???  Try http://www.ehow.com/ or any of the "For Dummies"series books for step by step directions on most repairs.

 TWO TRUTHS TO REMEMBER:

   1. The buyer believes any repair is more

            expensive than it really is

   2.  The buyer wonders if "this repair" that I see

            wasn't addressed what else is wrong with

             the house.

        Both points can be used by a Buyer to justify
  a low offer and cause a difficult negotiations for
  Buyer and Seller.

 What repair caused you concern in the last house you bought???