Interview with Chris Cipriano, Owner of Cipriano Landscape Design, in Ramsey, New Jersey

Following is an interview I had with Chris Cipriano of Cipriano Landscape Design. Chris does upscale landscape and pool design for his clients and is aware of what the hottest trends are today. Note that some of the suggestions—as in the first question—apply mainly to upscale, expensive homes. A custom fountain would look inappropriate on a small lot with a starter home.

1. What are the most popular features you install for your clients?
   

   Installing urns loaded with flowers and custom fountains are incredibly popular and a great way to increase your home's sales appeal. For those on the more creative side, installing an outdoor kitchen is a great way to differentiate your home and make it more unique to buyers. In terms of adding value, renovating an out of date swimming pool will provide favorable return on investment.
   

2. What are the most important features a homeowner can add to their property to add value?
   

   It is incredibly important to have a professionally tuned outdoor landscape. Creating a natural and comfortable outdoor setting by adding the right combination of shrubs, trees, flowers and natural stone is certain to add value and is an essential element to selling the home.
   

3. What are the biggest mistakes people do to detract value?
   

   The biggest mistake people make is ignoring the outdoors. Too often, homeowners who want to sell their homes focus all their time, energy and money on fixing up and staging the indoors of the house. A poor outdoor landscape will negatively influence potential buyers before they even enter the home, thus detracting from the home's value and appeal.
   

4. Describe the features that would give a home good "curb appeal."
   

   Curb appeal is essential. The view from the street is the first, last and most important impression on all potential buyers. If a home does not have curb appeal, potential buyers will drive right by without stopping to take a second look.
   

   If you want loads of curb appeal, great layering of plants, trees and flowers is essential. Use groups of the same plant types to create a natural look, and be sure to install an abundance of color. Color sells!
   

5. When on a budget, what elements on the property are the must-do's to sell a home?
   

   For those staging their outdoors on a budget, it is often just as important what they take away from their property as opposed to what they add. Make sure that all old equipment, tools and clutter are put away and that everything looks professional. Mow the lawn professionally and remove weeds and debris.
   

   Pressure wash porches, decks and the siding to create a clean look for the buyer. Spruce up the gardens by adding a variety of color and install a few hanging plants on the front porch. It is also affordable, and incredibly beneficial, to fix up the front walk or install a new pathway leading to the front door.
   

   Finally, install outdoor lighting that reveals your home's most favorable characteristics, even in the dark. Remember, most people go house shopping after work when it is dark out. If they can't see the home, they will pass it right by.
   

6. Describe a dream landscaped property.
   

   A dream landscaped property would have all the latest features: a custom pool and fountain, a nice porch or deck, an outdoor kitchen, an entertainment area and a great assortment of shrubs, stones, greens, trees and flowers. It will look well thought out and natural at the same time.
   

7. Do you see any changes with what people want over the past 5 years?
   

   
   

   Recently, homeowners have begun to look for more unique elements to add to their outdoors like kitchens, entertainment areas, cabanas, fountains and spas. With the down economy, more people are "staycationing" As a result, they try to create a vacation-like resort in their own backyards.
   

8. Are people spending the same, more or less (adjusted for inflation) than they were 5 years ago?
   

   
   

   In general, homeowners are looking for value and prioritizing spending on luxury landscaping as compared to five years ago.
   

   Due to the challenges in the real estate market, people are prioritizing curb appeal and spending more money on home staging services.
   

9. Is there anything else you would like to add?
   

When performed correctly, staging the outdoors will increase the value of your home and help it sell quicker on the open market.

Go to Chris's website: www.PlantNJ.com

Tips to Improve Your Property to Make it Sell

If you have a lawn, keep it well maintained. Once weeds, overgrown or dead bushes, trees and other eyesores have been eliminated, you can easily and inexpensively enhance your property to draw buyers.

Annual Flowers

Nothing beats annuals for the warm months, because they bloom continuously, adding vibrant color. You can buy them in flats, cell packs of 6 or 8, or when larger, individually.

If you are not familiar with annuals, read the description and care tags that come with the plant. The majority of annuals thrive in full sunlight, which is six or more hours of sunlight per day. The easiest annuals to grow in the shade are impatiens, which come in many different colors. The directions will tell you how far to space annuals and the size they grow. If you are in a hurry to make them look good, just space them closer together.

Annuals can be planted directly in the ground, in hanging planters, and in containers. If there is space for hanging planters, like on a porch, readymade ones are handily available.

If you have removed shrubs or other plants and have empty areas in your gardens, planting annuals will quickly and inexpensively fill the space—and with the added bonus of color.

A few large planters, filled with annuals, can make a huge difference in the appearance of your property.

Landscaping

• Add fresh mulch to your garden beds. Use natural cedar mulch, as the artificially colored red and black ones are a real turnoff to many people.
  
• Keep edging between transitional areas like grass and gardens or grass and stone pathways, neat and crisp.
  
• If you are feeling creative, you can add stones or rocks around trees and shrubs. Garden centers and masonry stores carry a variety of decorative rocks. If you choose to use rocks, select ones that are local, for a natural look. I use river rocks that come in shades of grey and are dredged from local rivers. Do the next owners a favor and put landscape fabric down first, to discourage weeds.
  
• If you are using rocks on areas that get walked on, use ones that are two inches or less for ease of movement. Larger rocks—two to three inches—are best around shrubs and trees. To keep rocks in place and give them a finished look and to help keep them in place, you can edge them with rocks that are about six inches or larger.
  
• Make certain that you have adequate outdoor lighting along walkways. If you don't, consider adding solar lights, as they are less expensive than hiring an electrician to install and they are eco-friendly.
  

Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor living spaces are becoming increasingly popular. A key element is some kind of patio or deck. If you don't already have one, consider adding a patio or deck to your property.

Decks are raised off the ground and are made with either wood or wood polymer composite. The composites are a mix of wood fiber and recycled plastic. Composite boards are more expensive than natural or pressure treated wood, but they last longer and require virtually no maintenance. The environmental advantage in using composite decking is that less wood is used in production, replacement time is less than what is needed for wood decks, and the recycled materials end up in the deck, not in landfills.

A patio is built directly on the ground. Patios are made from bricks, concrete, pavers, flagstone, slate or other natural rock, or even gravel and small rocks.

Depending on your budget and the value of your home, you may wish to install an outdoor kitchen, or simply add a built in barbeque grill. Both are currently very popular. Outdoor kitchens can be elaborate, complete with refrigerator/freezer, sink, counters, electricity, stove, oven and a bar.

If you do add a patio or deck, include a few pieces of outdoor furniture to help buyers visualize themselves enjoying their outdoor refuge. If you don't own any outdoor furniture, but want pieces for your next place, now would be the time to buy. Even a couple of chairs and a table adds ambience. If you are not interested in furniture for your next home, you can buy very inexpensive chairs and a table—or use any board set on something to resemble a table. Add a colorful tablecloth or sheet and you have created a terrific space for relaxation.