Can't Sell? Then Try These Affordable Remodels
PLANT AN ENGLISH GARDEN
Landscaping is perhaps the cheapest, most underrated way to improve a home's appeal. But instead of simply resodding a weed-infested yard, consider planting an English garden of flowers, trees, and stone (you'll find design ideas at www.englishgarden.co.uk.) Or, if you live in an arid climate, try ornamenting your yard with desert plants, which can reduce water consumption by 60 percent (examples at www.xeriscape.org). Do-it-yourselfers can usually install a medium-sized garden in a weekend or two, and the impact is almost as immediate. "For one thing, you won't have to mow the lawn the next weekend," Alfano says.
BUILD AN OUTDOOR DECK
Adding an outdoor deck is perhaps the most affordable way to expand your home's footprint, and it's an especially good idea if you need to keep up with the Joneses. "If everyone else in the neighborhood has one, it's probably a good investment to have one, too," Alfano says. Thanks to weatherproof composite materials that have largely replaced traditional redwood decking, the days of warped timbers and messy annual coats of sealant are long gone. That said, decks made from the most popular composites-like plastic-and-wood Trex-typically cost more than wood (about $14,000 for a 16-by-20-foot finished deck). By simply cutting back on square footage, you can easily stay under $10,000. "Just make sure it's bigger than your average stoop [about 6 by 8 feet]," says Alfano. "Then you at least have enough room for a barbecue and a couple of lounge chairs."
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