Rehabbing In Winter - What do you do about landscaping if you're done/ready to sell like in mid-winter?

I am going to be doing rehab flips starting in a few weeks in the New England. What do you do you if you're project is all done say in February, ready to sell and market HOWEVER the landscaping still needs to be done? Obviously you're not laying sod, redoing shrubs etc in the dead of winter, yet maybe you have a sale in hand in Feb,? Do you give the buyer a landscaping a certain credit amount in the sale and let them do it later in the Spring?

I don't think you want to make a deal that you'll come back in May in for the landscape while they own the place. You want to move on. You then have to answer to the new owner's as to what they want until they are happy etc (rather than had you done it on your own before a sale without the interference, or say from others).

So what do you do in this case?

Thanks,
Steven

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:32AM

Marc Freislinger

Real Estate Investor

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Nov 16 '09, 08:22 PM

I haven't had one where all the grass was dead (though that's expected in winter isn't it?). What I have done, is laid out the flower beds and put in rich colored mulch to make them look nice, and you can still get all the trimming of bushes and trees and such done. Colored or white gravel can look nice as a border to driveways and sidewalks. You can throw seed and straw down too if you want it to look like a lawn will sprout up first thing in the spring.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:32AM by Marc Freislinger

Larry Moore

Real Estate Investor · Belvidere, Illinois

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Nov 17 '09, 12:30 AM

I think you will have to play it by ear depending on different factors. As Marc suggested, you can spruce it up as much as possible, but depending on weather conditions, it may be a waiste of resources. I sold a house last December that had a good foot of snow covering the property. The yard wasn't bad, but if it had been summer I would have put in flowers, etc, to improve it. They were getting a great deal on the house, so the yard wasn't a factor in their decision. Depending on the price range of the homes (under $100K in the above example) and the discount they are getting, a somewhat not so great yard may be a sweat equity factor for the new buyer. If the yard is really bad and covered under snow so they won't know until spring, you may want to give them a credit for new sod, etc., just so you feel good about the deal. For more expensive homes, you may have to provide the credit as they will expect the property to be in top shape at that price point. Unfortunately, in snow states, there isn't always much you can do to rehab the outside of the home when the weather really sucks!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:32AM

P NW

· OR

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Nov 17 '09, 01:51 AM

I wouldn't offer a landscaping credit unless they ask for one.

Remove all weeds, mow whatever grass is there so it looks trim. Prune the bushes and trees just enough to make them look neat. If your area is really cold and you prune them all the way before spring, there will be some die-back.

I'd remove any plants that are simply horrible and located in the wrong location. Professional landscaping is rare and plants are often in the wrong location, just plopped in higgledy pigglety. Even professional landscapers occasionally do really dumb plantings.

Bark or mulch the flower beds only if they are in a good location and likely to stay there.

Unlike many flippers, I start the landscaping as soon as I buy. Often water on the lawns while you are rehabbing will be enough to salvage the lawns. Depending upon the time of year, gardens can be laid out, bulbs or shrubs planted, and it can get established while someone is there every day to water it.

I prefer not to finish rehab and then have to go back to the house once (or even twice) a day to water the new plantings.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:33AM

P NW

· OR

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Nov 17 '09, 01:58 AM

By the way, it's Nov right now. This is fall bulb planting season, even in my location where it's been 20 degrees F for the past two weeks. Buy a bag of 100 King Alfred daffodil bulbs (should be under $10) and place them along the bordes of the flower beds. In spring, the new owners will be delighted as bright yellow flowers come up first thing in the spring.

It's time to plant tulips, too, but they are more expensive and must be massed to have a good effect. So stick with the daffodils uless you have a very small flower bed in a prominant place. If so, really pack the tulips in there.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:33AM

Steven Marks

Developer · Encino, California

53 posts
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Nov 17 '09, 02:00 AM

Originally posted by Larry Moore

I think you will have to play it by ear depending on different factors. As Marc suggested, you can spruce it up as much as possible, but depending on weather conditions, it may be a waiste of resources. I sold a house last December that had a good foot of snow covering the property. The yard wasn't bad, but if it had been summer I would have put in flowers, etc, to improve it. They were getting a great deal on the house, so the yard wasn't a factor in their decision. Depending on the price range of the homes (under $100K in the above example) and the discount they are getting, a somewhat not so great yard may be a sweat equity factor for the new buyer. If the yard is really bad and covered under snow so they won't know until spring, you may want to give them a credit for new sod, etc., just so you feel good about the deal. For more expensive homes, you may have to provide the credit as they will expect the property to be in top shape at that price point. Unfortunately, in snow states, there isn't always much you can do to rehab the outside of the home when the weather really sucks!

Thanks, that's what I kind of figured. In a way I'd rather give someone a credit and let them do it so I wouldn;t have to bother in the first place regardless of season. Maybe when I go to sell there will be 10 feet of snow on the ground and let mother nature contribute her own 'curb appeal.'

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:33AM

Steven Marks

Developer · Encino, California

53 posts
1 award
52 influence

Nov 17 '09, 02:03 AM

Originally posted by Marc Freislinger

I haven't had one where all the grass was dead (though that's expected in winter isn't it?). What I have done, is laid out the flower beds and put in rich colored mulch to make them look nice, and you can still get all the trimming of bushes and trees and such done. Colored or white gravel can look nice as a border to driveways and sidewalks. You can throw seed and straw down too if you want it to look like a lawn will sprout up first thing in the spring.

Not a bad idea RE: gravel/stone. Thanks.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:33AM

Steven Marks

Developer · Encino, California

53 posts
1 award
52 influence

Nov 17 '09, 02:09 AM

Originally posted by P NW

I wouldn't offer a landscaping credit unless they ask for one.

Remove all weeds, mow whatever grass is there so it looks trim. Prune the bushes and trees just enough to make them look neat. If your area is really cold and you prune them all the way before spring, there will be some die-back.

I'd remove any plants that are simply horrible and located in the wrong location. .... Bark or mulch the flower beds only if they are in a good location and likely to stay there.

Rhis is probably the as much as I'd do given winter. Part of my thinking is just either give a credit or just don't bring it the issue esp. if there is snow on the ground . Out of sight out of mind!

Thanks!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:33AM