Nestled in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley region of Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County is rife with natural wonders, including Raystown Lake - the largest lake entirely in Pennsylvania - and the broad back of Tussey Mountain, which provides a focal point for the scenic countryside. The continental climate ensures that you can enjoy the great outdoors for a large portion of the year, making it vital to curate a beautiful space to relax with friends and family.
Landscaping doesn’t just provide a restful view: it also boosts your home value and ensures you’ll get a great return on investment when you’re ready to move. In fact, the American Society of Landscape Architects estimates that quality landscaping can increase a home’s value by 15 to 20 percent upon sale, making it a priority for anyone looking to get a better offer on their property.
However, not all landscaping is made equal: firstly, you need to ensure you carefully assess landscape supplies for sale and identify good vendors with a track record of great customer service. You’ll also need to be intentional about the projects you undertake, because not every investment will afford you a better offer when you choose to hand over your keys. These are some of the most valuable landscape items to boost curb appeal, whether you’re selling your home or just want to bask in natural beauty.
Landscape Lighting
If you enjoy relaxing far into the night, then you recognize how valuable good lighting is in your outdoor spaces. Pretty solar-powered lanterns, permanent strings of fairy lights, and well-placed light fixtures help make a relaxing experience when you’re sipping cocktails after dinner during a house party, and they prevent unpleasant visitors, like rodents and skunks, from choosing to stop by.
Motion-sensor lighting outside of your home and in your garage is handy when your dog wakes up in the middle of the night needing the bathroom, but it also deters anyone who might consider breaking in to steal power tools or your car after hours. Huntingdon County, while very safe, still may have the occasional miscreant tempted by your beautiful garden, so it’s best to ensure your backyard remains comfortably illuminated even in the darkest night.
Xeriscaping
Unfortunately, Huntingdon County is not exempt from climate change: it’s expected that shifting seasons will endanger native plants, while flooding and heatwaves will cause property damage throughout the region. Xeriscaping is the use of drought-tolerant, hardy native plants that can withstand prolonged periods of heat while protecting the soil so that it can better absorb excess water during heavy rainstorms. Though more common in desert climates, thoughtful xeriscaping can also be of great benefit in temperate regions like Pennsylvania, as it will help reduce the need for irrigation during periods of drought, preserving water and preventing soil erosion.
Xeriscaping has become increasingly popular throughout the United States, and it’s a major selling point for climate-conscious buyers who want to be assured that they won’t need to drain their hoses every week to keep their lawns looking nice. These landscapes are also less labor-intensive, perfect for busy workers with little interest in gardening. While xeriscaping can be pricey, it’s well worth the effort: the return on investment is 10% to 15%, which is quite good for a home improvement project.
Routine Maintenance
As you prepare to sell your home, you must begin tending more carefully to your outdoor spaces, as this will vastly influence how potential buyers see your home. Untidy lawns, especially those where pests run rampant, will deter hopeful homeowners because they’ll recognize that it will take a great deal of work to get the property back up to their own standards.
Pruning trees, applying mulch, and keeping your lawn mowed provides a 104 percent return on investment; buyers see this as assurance that the home is in good condition and that they can focus on more enjoyable aspects of moving in, such as choosing paint colors and replacing fixtures that might not match their style.
Once you know that you’re ready to put your home on the market, schedule a consultation with a qualified landscaping company that can help install mulch and get your trees into good shape. This is especially important for any trees that may be close to the home because buyers want to be sure that a major rainstorm won’t take out a window or drop a heavy branch on the roof.
Thoughtful landscaping and careful selection of the most high-value improvement projects can help you sell your Huntingdon home in a finger-snap; in the meantime, it will provide an excellent oasis from the stresses of everyday life. Be sure to source any products you use from a good supplier and consult with local experts familiar with central PA’s climate, which will ensure the property’s garden blossoms long after you’ve signed over the deed to the home.

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