Get Ready for Spring GARDENING - and have a Show Off Yard All Year!

February 06, 2024

Nothing sells a house like curb appeal - so if you are thinking about moving anytime in the next few years, it’s time to start thinking GARDEN! Thanks to Better Homes and Gardens for this great checklist!

As your garden starts waking up in spring, it's time to start planting, pruning, and prepping for the growing season ahead.Just as you give your house a good spring cleaning to freshen it up after a long winter, you can take a similar approach to getting your garden in shape for the warmer months. Tackle all your outdoor tasks like a pro with this spring gardening checklist. It's divided into early, middle, and late spring tasks to help you pace yourself as you get your flowerbeds, trees, shrubs, and other garden areas ready for the growing season. That way, you'll be sure to hit each area of your landscape before summer arrives.

Early Spring

Though the official first day of spring is in March, gardeners often go by the weather to decide that spring has started. Think of early spring as the time when temperatures begin trending upward and stay consistently above freezing if you live in a cold climate. In temperate regions, most plants are just about to break dormancy but haven't started actively growing yet.

1. Clean up flowerbeds.

Clear away dead leaves or any other winter debris from the soil surfaces where you're planning to plant annual flowers and vegetables. Remove protective winter mulch from around perennials and ornamental grasses (hedge trimmers make it easy to give grass clumps a clean, even look), and cut back last year's dried foliage. To protect yourself from cuts and scrapes, remember to wear gardening gloves, especially when working with plants with prickly leaves.

2. Divide your perennials.

A good time to divide many perennials is just before spring growth begins. Dividing perennials is a budget-friendly way to add more plants to your garden, or to share extras with friends. It also aids in keeping your existing perennials healthy. After a few years, if your plants grow in a large clump, the middle can thin out, leaving a bare spot. Dividing the clump will encourage new growth.

3. Add mulch around perennials.

One of the easiest ways to make your yard look polished is to add a fresh layer of mulch around the garden beds. This also helps the soil retain moisture and keeps down weeds. It often takes more mulch than you imagine to cover a bed, so it's a good idea to buy a little more than you think you'll need. Spread the mulch evenly with your gloved hands or use a rake, being careful not to layer it on too thickly or too close to your plants, which can cause diseases. Keeping the mulch level also helps it stay in place during heavy rains or wind. If you have downspouts that tend to wash away mulch, one fix is to replace it with river rocks.

4. Prune trees and shrubs.

If you didn't prune in winter, now is the time to trim your fruit trees. Prune before the buds begin to break into bloom, or you'll stress the tree and get a tiny crop (or possibly none). It's also a good time to prune evergreen trees and shrubs.

5. Perform basic maintenance on your hardscaping.

Check stonework for frost heaves, particularly in paths and edging. Check the general condition of your deck or patio and make any needed repairs. Clean off outdoor furniture so it's ready when you are for relaxing after a busy day in the garden.

6. Plant vegetables.

Hardy, cool-season vegetables, like potatoes, artichokes, peas, and some lettuces, germinate best in cool soil, so plant them in early spring, once the soil has thawed. They should be ready to harvest by early summer.

Mid Spring

Halfway through the season, you should start to see your spring landscape take shape, as more and more bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and trees start growing, possibly even blooming. With most of the cleanup completed, you can get started adding new plants.

1. Clean bird feeders.

Some people like to take down their bird feeders in spring and store them away until fall. If you want to leave them up year-round, now's a good time to empty and wash them out. Then fill your feeders with fresh seed.

2. Make notes as you watch the spring show.

Some of your spring bulbs should be starting to flower. Enjoy the blooms, and take note of any empty spots where you'll want to plant bulbs later in the fall.

3. Plant new perennials and cold-hardy annuals.

Freshly planted perennials need a little time to get settled and grow new roots before hot summer weather hits. For some quick garden color, add a few cool-season annuals, like pansies or snapdragons. They also work well in containers, where they'll brighten your front porch.

4. Add new trees and shrubs.

Plant as soon as the ground is no longer frozen. The earlier you can do this, the better, so your trees and shrubs have enough time to grow new roots before temperatures start getting hot.

5. Apply fresh mulch.

Once you're finished planting, add a fresh layer of mulch around all your new plants. If you mulch now, before weeds have a chance to sprout, you'll have next-to-no weeding come summer.

Late Spring

In late spring, you can start cleaning up flowers that have already bloomed. It's also time to get planting in earnest to fill out your garden.

1. Deadhead flowering bulbs.

Remove spent blossoms from spring-flowering bulbs; this encourages the plants to store energy for next year rather than expend it to make seeds. Let the foliage die back on its own, and don't remove it until it's completely yellow or dried up.

2. Shop for summer annuals.

Pick out flats of your favorite summer annuals, like petunias, impatiens, and zinnias. Choose plants that aren't yet in bloom, because they'll be stronger.

3. Start warm-season vegetables.

While you're harvesting the radishes and lettuces you sowed early in the spring, you can transplant seedlings of warm-season crops, like tomatoes, peppers, and all sorts of herbs.

4. Plant summer-blooming bulbs.

While spring-blooming bulbs should be planted in the fall, summer-blooming bulbs, like dahlias and gladiolus, should be planted once there's no more threat of frost. Check your area's average last frost date for a general idea of when to plant these bulbs, then get them in the ground once the soil has warmed up.

Use this spring gardening checklist, and you'll have one of the best-looking yards on the block. While there are still a few maintenance chores you should do every season, once you power through these tasks early in the growing season, you'll have more time to kick back and enjoy your landscape throughout summer.

What Are the Real Reasons You Want To Move Right Now?

If you're considering selling your house right now, it's likely because something in your life has changed. And while things like mortgage rates play a big role in your decision, you don’t want that to overshadow why you thought about making a move in the first place.

It’s true mortgage rates are higher right now, and that has an impact on affordability. As a result, some homeowners are deciding they’ll wait to sell because they don’t want to move and have a higher mortgage rate on their next home.

But your lifestyle and your changing needs matter, too. As a recent article from Realtor.com says:

“No matter what interest rates and home prices do next, sometimes homeowners just have to move—due to a new job, new baby, divorce, death, or some other major life change.”

Here are a few of the most common reasons people choose to sell today. You may find any one of these resonates with you and may be reason enough to move, even today

Relocation

Some of the things that can motivate a move to a new area include changing jobs, a desire to be closer to friends and loved ones, wanting to live in your ideal location, or just looking for a change in scenery.

For example, if you just landed your dream job in another state, you may be thinking about selling your current home and moving for work.

Upgrading

Many homeowners decide to sell to move into a larger home. This is especially common when there’s a need for more room to entertain, a home office or gym, or additional bedrooms to accommodate a growing number of loved ones.

For example, if you’re living in a condo and your household is growing, it may be time to find a home that better fits those needs.

Downsizing

Homeowners may also decide to sell because someone’s moved out of the home recently and there’s now more space than needed. It could also be that they’ve recently retired or are ready for a change.

For example, you’ve just kicked off your retirement and you want to move somewhere warmer with less house to maintain. A different home may be better suited for your new lifestyle.

Change in Relationship Status

Divorce, separation, or marriage are other common reasons individuals sell.

For example, if you’ve recently separated, it may be difficult to still live under one roof. Selling and getting a place of your own may be a better option.

Health Concerns

If a homeowner faces mobility challenges or health issues that require specific living arrangements or modifications, they might sell their house to find one that works better for them.

For example, you may be looking to sell your house and use the proceeds to help pay for a unit in an assisted-living facility.

With higher mortgage rates and rising prices, there are some affordability challenges right now – but your needs and your lifestyle matter too. As a recent article from Bankrate says:

“Deciding whether it’s the right time to sell your home is a very personal choice. There are numerous important questions to consider, both financial and lifestyle-based, before putting your home on the market. . . . Your future plans and goals should be a significant part of the equation . . .”

Bottom Line

If you want to sell your house and find a new one that better fits your needs, give us a call, That way, you’ll have someone to guide you through the process and help you find a home that works for you.

5 Questions Sellers Have about the Market during the Coronavirus Outbreak Answered

There are so many questions and concerns amid the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. The real estate market has been especially hard hit and sellers are concerned. Real estate at its core is a people business. It relies on person-to-person interaction and the coronavirus necessarily limits this contact. As the market continues to adjust, home sellers will have questions and it’s important to acknowledge concerns and offer practical advice and concrete information to help sellers make the best decision for themselves and their families. 

Experienced realtors – like those at Verve Realty – know how to help out clients during this time. We are providing virtual tours for all our listings, filmed and edited by professional videographers. Through use of these videos, potential buyers can view the property without ever coming through the door. This limits walk-thru traffic to those who are truly interested in the home.

Here are a few FAQ

1. Should I still try and sell my home? – Of course, there are many aspects to this question. First and foremost, the health concerns of the sellers’ family have to be taken into consideration. Unless absolutely necessary, the elderly and those with underlying health issues should not allow unnecessary people into their homes; including buyers and agents. 

If the household is essentially healthy and not considered high-risk, then this could be a great time to sell. Consider the advantages of lower inventory coupled with low-interest rates; as listings become rarer, the remaining inventory will get more attention which could create better offers. 

2. Is it safe to have people through my home? – This is certainly a concern, but there are practical steps you can take to ensure safer home showings. Your Verve Realty agent will know how to show your home in the safest possible way

3. What can I do to protect my family during showings? – To protect your home, family and visitors alike we take the following precautions as standards:   

·      Keep hand sanitizer at the front door to offer buyers and their agents when they enter the home. 

·      If there is a guest bathroom, keep disposable hand towels and soap for guests to use and make the request known to the showing agent. 

·      Offer disposable gloves for use with a receptacle for used gloves. 

·      Limit the showing days and hours so the home can properly clean between showings. 

·      Have cleaning wipes handy. Request agents to wipe surfaces, door handles, and banisters which are touched during the showing. 

·      And most importantly, offer virtual showings or host virtual open houses 

4. What happens if my buyer loses their job? – Most real estate contracts include a contingency for the buyer loan approval and funding. Now more than ever, it’s critical to keep that contingency in place. In the unfortunate event the buyer loses their job or can no longer qualify for the loan during the contingency deadline, the parties cancel typically cancel the contract. The Richmond Associate of Realtors has also developed some standard addendums that outline specific issues related to the COVID pandemic. We will provide those to you for review to make sure you are as protected as possible

5. Will I get a higher price if I wait to list my home? – The truth is no one knows. We don’t know how long or short the crisis will last and we don’t know how the financial market will weather the outbreak. While this is a question the seller will ultimately need to decide, the old adage about a “bird in the hand” is important to remember. 

Getting Outbid? 5 Strategies to Make Your Offer Stand Out and Get Accepted

Summer is traditionally a fairly busy time for buyers and sellers, but with the current pandemic in play – this summer has been crazy! Even in a more normal time, the current lower interest rates are giving more people the opportunity to make the dream of homeownership a reality. With these factors, and the lower inventory,  homebuyers are finding the competitive environment challenging. With multiple buyers competing for properties, even terrific offers are often being outbid. 

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make your offer more attractive to the sellers and increase the chances of getting the property. We strongly recommend discussing these with a seasoned agent (like those at Verve Realty) so you’ll understand the up and down sides of making taking advantage of these options!

• Have Full Pre-Approval – A step beyond pre-qualification, a pre-approval involves submitting your full application to underwriting. Your lender will collect all your financial data and submit for review. This is stronger than a pre-qualification; a pre-approval requires the buyer to provide the proof of their ability to qualify for the loan. 

• Increase the Earnest Money – Earnest money is the deposit held in escrow. While the contract will dictate how monies are disbursed in the event of a cancellation, increasing the amount offered can show the seller you’re serious. 

• Add an Escalation Clause – In a bidding war, it can be difficult to know what to offer because you want to outbid the competition without going too high. An escalation clause is one way to automatically outbid the others. The clause typically offers an amount—$1,000 for example—higher than any verifiable offer up to a specific amount. This can ensure yours is the highest offer. 

• Pay any Appraisal Shortage – When offering more than asking price, sellers become concerned about the appraisal coming in too low. If you are willing to pay over market value, include the amount of shortage you are willing to pay. 

• Remove Inspection Contingency – This option can be tricky, but if you are planning a large remodel or are willing to tackle any defects found, then you can make your offer stronger by accepting the home as-is. 

In this fast-moving, competitive real estate market, it’s important to make your offer stand out from the crowd. These strategies are great ways to demonstrate to the sellers that you’re serious about buying their home, increasing the chance of having your offer accepted.