The home buying process can be an overwhelming experience. Decisions made today can have ramifications for years, decades and possibly even generations down the road.
At the same time, you’ve likely spent the months leading up to move-in day thinking about all of the changes you are going to make to your newly acquired property. Changes that will make your house your home.
New homes offer a unique opportunity to build something from scratch, so it is important to add the right elements in the right order to make your dream a reality without overextending yourself or your budget.
Whether the property is truly a blank slate (a literal patch of dirt) or you’re just not a fan of the existing landscaping, this is a rare chance for you to reimagine a portion of the Earth in your own vision.
But before you start ordering expensive imported marble for your outdoor patio, let’s consider the fundamentals.
Here are three guiding principles to keep in mind when you are considering the landscaping potential of your new home.
1. Phasing it in can help make unwieldy projects more manageable.
It can be very satisfying when your vision comes together all at once, but when you factor in additional expenditures (mental, physical and financial) such as movers, new furniture, etc., it might make more sense to break the landscaping process into steps.
Real estate is a long-term investment, which means you have time to move at your own pace – whether it’s all at once or gradually over a few years.
If you do decide to move the project forward in phases, we recommend establishing a critical element of the project and starting there. Then, build-out the rest in phases over time.
This ensures that you can start enjoying the key elements of your landscaping project sooner while minimizing “gaps” and work in progress.
Coordinating with a landscape designer will make sure the individual pieces form a cohesive “whole” when completed and avoid building yourself into a corner along the way. Consulting with a professional from the beginning can also eliminate costs and redundancies down the road. Failing to plan ahead can result in having to undo portions of the initial phases to successfully implement subsequent phases down the line.
If “all-at-once” is too daunting, building out your project in manageable phases will ensure that it is visually appealing, on budget and meets the needs of you and your family.
2. Focus on the curb appeal of your new home.
Whether it’s the initial phase of a larger project or it’s the entirety of your landscaping ambitions, focusing on how the house is viewed from the street is a great place to start.
First, it contributes towards making your house a home. Your home. Focusing on your home’s curb appeal is an excellent way to add your personal signature to the property. Also, adding elements to the exterior of the house sends the message that the property (which may have sat empty for some time) is now a lived-in residence (which your neighbors will probably appreciate).
Second, emphasizing curb appeal out of the gate (so to speak) provides the biggest bang for your landscaping buck. It adds functionality and value to your new home while incorporating foundational design elements that can be further developed at a later time.
3. Consider how the space around your new home will be used.
Building out in phases and focusing on curb appeal will automatically make you give careful consideration to how the property will be utilized. This careful consideration will, in turn, help you to determine the next phase of the build out. This will further develop your property’s curb appeal, and give you insight into how the space is being used by family and guests so you can better implement the next phase of the project. And so on.
Build, enjoy, observe, and repeat. This cycle will ensure that you are introducing landscape design elements that truly meet your goals without wasting money on expensive construction and permanent structures that don’t meet your needs (even if they are pretty).
A Comprehensive Approach
Whether your property is a blank slate or an estate that has been passed down for generations, it is important to consult with landscape professionals who can consider your project from every angle and see it through from initial planting through the entire lifespan of the plants. As the authority in tree care, landscape design, plant health care, and construction, the experts at Cumberland Valley Tree Service – Landscaping draw on forty-plus years of experience to guide your project from concept through implementation and beyond.
Contact us today to discuss the design potential of your new home. The first step is important, and we can help you make the most of it.
