Category: Sprinkler Systems

Are Landscape Remodels Worth the Investment?

By Alicia Witt  |  5/27/22

Like many of us, spending more time at home has probably given you the sudden urge to change your surroundings. You’ve repainted the bedroom walls, hung up some new pictures, and rearranged your furniture one too many times. With summer weather here, and no more indoor space to spruce up, you’ve set your sights on larger grounds: your outdoor space.

Suddenly many great ideas are coming to you – the patio and poolside can use an upgrade and a firepit would be nice. And while you’re at it, why not add an outdoor kitchen since that’s most likely where you’ll be spending the majority of your time? All of these additions seem really tempting, up until you look up pricing. You’re probably starting to wonder: is remodeling a landscape really worth the investment? In this article, we’ll go over a few reasons why a landscape renovation is more than worth it. Let’s get started!

Why remodel your outdoor space?

Aside from the obvious and much-needed change of scenery, there are many great reasons to invest in renovating your landscape: 

Quality of Life

Creating a beautiful outdoor space can have a significant impact on your quality of life and mental wellbeing. According to a 2018 study conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 85% of homeowners reported a greater desire to be home after completing their project, 78% reported feeling an increased sense of enjoyment when at home, and 79% reported a major sense of accomplishment when thinking about their project. 

Other studies have also found that spending time outdoors surrounded by nature can reduce stress, decrease blood pressure and increase memory and attention. Simply put, a well-designed landscape remodel will bring you happiness, something that we can all use a little bit of and that is priceless!

Family Living

Are the kids growing up much faster than expected? Or maybe you couldn’t resist bringing home one more puppy. It happens to the best of us. Instead of shopping for a larger home to accommodate your growing brood, why not renovate your backyard for some extra living space? When going this route, you should start by defining the areas you’d like to see in your yard.

Do you want to keep your vegetable garden? Do you want to add a space for entertaining family and friends? Do you have or want a pool with a lounging space? Can you easily keep an eye on your kids and pets from your patio? Properly planning your backyard remodel will ensure that you maximize your space and create a living environment that can be enjoyed by all for years to come. 

Home Resale Value

Something often overlooked when performing any renovation is how it may increase the resale value of your home. Improving our living environment is nice, but wouldn’t it be great to also see a monetary return on investment?

As with most things in life, first impressions matter, and the façade of your home is no different. According to 99% of NAR members, your home’s curb appeal will have a large impact on attracting potential buyers. So, what does that mean? Think manicured lawn, blooming flower beds, gorgeous steps, and an eye-catching driveway. Additionally, a well-landscaped home can sell for up to 12% more than a home with no landscaping!

Which features should you invest in?

The features you choose to invest in will depend largely on the reason why you are remodeling your landscape in the first place. That said, certain features will increase your home’s value more than others. If that’s a deciding factor for you, we’ve compiled a list based on the NALP-NAR survey mentioned earlier:

Outdoor Kitchen

Barbecues are great, but a fully equipped and personalized outdoor kitchen is even better! If you enjoy hosting get-togethers in your backyard, this is a feature you definitely want to look into. From shelving to mini-fridges and even side burners, there is no reason for you to be running back and forth from the indoors to the outdoors. We offer a wide range of retaining walls, allowing you to build a feature that is 100% you. Should you decide to sell your house, your outdoor kitchen just might seal the deal, and you can expect to recover about 71% of the invested cost. 

Concrete Patio

What’s a backyard without a patio? Whether you’re looking for a spot to lounge while the kids play in the yard, a place for your outdoor dining table, or a space for friends and family to gather, a patio is a must. According to the NALP, walkways, and patios with contemporary, geometric patterns are a growing trend! And with our large selection of concrete pavers and patio slabs, designing your perfect patio is made easy. From traditional to modern and everything in between, you will certainly find a product to match the style of your dreams. 

 

Fire Feature

Nothing says summer more than gathering around a crisp, warm fire after a day of lounging in the pool. But when we think about a fire pit, the image of a cast-iron bowl often comes to mind. Luckily times are changing, and options are growing, making it oh so simple to create a feature that will match your home’s aesthetic. Have a modern design in mind? Why not add a more modern fire pit into the mix? Its ultra-sleek design will certainly make it the centerpiece of your yard. Prefer something a bit more rustic? No problem – we can custom-build your ideal fire feature. Regardless of the style you choose, real estate website Zillow reported that homes mentioning ‘’fire pit’’ in their listing sold on average 3.8 days faster, and for 2.8% more – That equates to $8,400 more on a $300,000 home! It also ranked number one in the American Society of Landscape Architects survey on the most popular outdoor design elements. Finally, whether you’re selling or not, you’ll have something to make your space enjoyable throughout the seasons. 

Curb Appeal

If you’re thinking of selling, now is a great time to spruce up your entrance! The façade of a house usually tells buyers what they can expect once they come in, and a poorly kept front yard can leave potential buyers wondering what else is wrong with your home. A simple way to refresh your lawn is by keeping the grass green, the flowers blooming and adding garden edging and planters to keep everything in place. If you really want to take it up a notch, now would be the time to redo your driveway and follow design trends by laying pavers in eye-catching and unique patterns! You’ll certainly boost your curb appeal and have passersby doing a double-take. 

Landscape Lighting

Often an afterthought when planning a landscape renovation is lighting. But if you’re investing so much in your home’s exterior, wouldn’t you want to enjoy the view even once the sun has set? Not only does lighting increase safety when walking around your property at night, but it can also set the mood for your outdoor space. To really get the bang for your buck, we suggest investing in high-quality lighting that can be set with a timer and is guaranteed to last for years! If you’re in the process of redoing your steps, driveway, or any hardscape project, think about including integrated lighting such as step lights or recessed lighting, and use them to highlight key features of your landscape design. Adding ‘’outdoor lighting’’ to your home’s listing can even speed up the sale by three days. Not 100% sold on the idea? Check out our gorgeous hardscape lighting ideas for inspiration. 

So, is a landscape remodel really worth the investment?

In our opinion, a well-planned and thoughtfully designed landscape remodel is always worth the investment. Whether it be an improved quality of life and mental wellbeing, more space for family activities, or a higher resale value, renovating your outdoor space is sure to bring you long-lasting benefits. So, what are you waiting for?

 

Find out how much your project will cost and treat yourself to the landscape remodel of your dreams!

 

 

Serving Austin and its greater areas including Leander, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Marble Falls, Burnet, and Bertram

backyard putting green with text overlay Improve Your Golf Game From Home

Backyard Golf Course

Improve Your Golf Game from the Comfort of Home

With a custom putting green in your own backyard, you can improve your golf game whenever you’d like and enjoy hours of family fun. Our putting greens are completely customizable, so we can create the perfect putting green for any size, shape, terrain, or player level needed. We’ll design your artificial turf golf course precisely the way you like it, so you can bring your putting dreams to life.

NO YARD IS TOO BIG OR SMALL

Synthetic grass-putting greens are the perfect solution for awkwardly-shaped areas of your yard such as a hilled area or narrow side yard. Custom putting greens can be installed to fit any size, shape, or terrain you have to work with, so the design possibilities are virtually endless. We can incorporate features such as contours, bunkers, and tiers to create a realistic and professional putting experience, and our synthetic turf options always simulate the roll and feel of a professional course. Whether you’re a professional golfer or just looking for some family fun, you’ll love having a custom putting green in the comfort of your own home.

PRACTICE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE

If you want to turn your Austin backyard into a golfer’s oasis, call Best of Texas Landscapes for an artificial grass putting green installation. Our team of expert designers will work with you one-on-one in order to bring your imagination to life and create the custom putting green you’ve always dreamed of. Improve your short game from the comfort of your own home or create fun for the whole family with artificial grass putting green. To find out more about the options available or to receive a free installation estimate, give us a call today at (512) 260.1430.

You need to add a widget, row, or prebuilt layout before you’ll see anything here. 🙂

Landscape Design for Central Texas – Part 2 of 2

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1087″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now that you understand how to plan your space, let’s talk about what will complete it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

LANDSCAPING PLANTS

A great source for getting ideas regarding your space, and what will work best in your location, is to consult with local landscape designer. Finding a local professional who has extensive experience in your area will provide you with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding the plants that will inhabit your new space.

Select plants according to their ability to thrive in your specific space. Many home owners choose from native varieties, and are pleasantly surprised by the number of options that are easily overlooked. There are many plants that perform well in our area that are not native, however its generally good to consult with a landscape design professional before planting.

Native (indigenous) plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant and low-maintenance options because they have evolved over thousands of years in a particular region. They are suited to the geography, hydrology and climate of that area. However, even with native plants, it’s important to group them with plants that have similar needs in terms of sun, water and soil conditions.

Types of Plants to Consider:

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Shrubs
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Grass
Herbs[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Vines
Cactus
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HARDSCAPES

Typically, one of the most striking parts of your new space will be the hardscape. These are the walls, paths, patios and non-living elements in your outdoor space. Hardscapes make your space more functional and fill in bare spots to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

Again, this is a great time to speak with a landscape designer. Seeing past projects as well as having a walkthrough can help you as well as the designer come up with the perfect vision for your space and your budget. Think, paths of gravel or stone, patios or decks, rock walls (like a retaining wall or decorative element), arbors or pergolas.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Using native and drought-tolerant plants is always a great way to reduce your need for supplemental irrigation, but you still need an efficient way to irrigate. No matter how tolerant your plant selection is, they are going to need water. On average, 30 percent of your water bill will be dedicated to outdoor use.

There are many options regarding irrigation in your space from sprinkler and drip systems to grading and effective use of your property’s physical features and all points in between. For the best options for your area and the plants inhabiting your new space it pays to speak with a professional who can offset long-term irrigation bills with a modern, efficient irrigation system designed for water conservation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

LIGHTING

Improved technology has made landscape lighting one of the most popular outdoor living features among homeowners. Nothing makes your new space more inviting than custom lighting designed specifically for your property.

Types of lighting to consider are pathway, accent and security lighting. A good landscape designer will make sure all three of these lighting options are addressed in your space.

(American Society of Landscape Architects, found 96.2% of homeowners want outdoor lighting.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1532354309753{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

WHO TO HIRE

Hiring a Designer

It’s a good idea to shop until you find someone who will take the time to ask you questions about how you want to use your space, what your design style is, and can consult on how to landscape and irrigate your property. Hiring a professional who sees the grand vision as a whole, will help you design a space that looks good all year, because your landscape is a living work of art that has its own life-cycle.

Hiring Contractors

Additionally, you’ll need to hire a team to complete the design – to install plants, irrigation systems, and construct hardscapes.

Sounds like a lot of thought and preparation needs to go in to your new space! We encourage you not to start this journey on your own. Instead, reach out to Best of Texas Landscapes to get started and stay on the right track to create the perfect space for you and your family. We can help remove all the guess work from how long it will take, to how much it will cost, and how it will look from season to season and year to year.

The landscape design-build professionals at Best of Texas Landscapes work as a cohesive unit, combining the knowledge of design and horticulture with the hands-on skill of landscape contractors to complete your project on-time and on-budget. Adding substantial value to your property should the goal of every home owner and when you reach out to Best of Texas Landscapes you’ll be amazed at how easy it can be.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]