Cost-Effective Landscaping Tips for Duplex!?

Question

Hey Y’all! My partner and I bought a ranch style duplex last fall and are looking forward to adding value through DIY landscaping. We don’t really know where to go from here though- we’re two first time homeowners!

How would you landscape a property to minimize maintenance and cost, while maximizing the curb appeal?

Anything from which bushes/ plants to put in, mulch vs rocks, what preventative care we should be doing, maintenance, etc..

Thank you all SO MUCH for your input!

Alan Asriants · Answer

Fresh mulch, pavers for the walk way, a japanese maple tree. clean cut lawn. some night lighting for the walkway

Joseph Beilke · Answer

When I bought my first investment property I thought the same thing.  Give it curb appeal to help in getting the max possible rent.  The truth is most of what you're suggesting is will go un maintained.  Tenant for the most part will not take care of the bushes, weed the mulch beds or much less keep the yard in great condition.  It will just be money through in the wind.  The only way to keep your property looking great on the outside is pay a landscaper or come by and do it yourself.   Not to say there are not some tenant that will take on a green thumb and keep the place looking great, but they are few are far between.

What you need to think about is what can I do to reduce maintenance around my property and keep it in the best possible shape that has little to impact on my tenants while they are leasing.  Plus this will help in turn over time.

In my area of Florida, many home single and duplex are not built with gutters.  Rain water falls off the roof and over time you will get dirt and mud splash up on the walls.  I have gutters installed and then I DYI underground piping to move the water further away from the house.

I have leaf guard on the gutters too.

I fence in each side of  the duplex to provide privacy for each tenant, plus I allow large dogs with tenant paid insurance. This allow me to ask for higher rents.

I use rock over mulch and twice a year I use Ortho Ground Clear to keep weeds at bay. I also encourage the tenant to sprinkle PREEN on the beds a few time a year if weeds start to pop up. I have just drop a jug by at time and there are happy to do it.

Slow growing plants that are draught resistant for less upkeep.

I pressure wash the drive way with each turn over and do outside of  house once a year too.

One house I have get a lot of pine needles on the roof.  It's quick work with a blower to clear them off, they will premature age your roof if you don't.

All these thing will not get higher rents, but it will prevent higher repair and maintenance cost in the future.

Joseph Guzzardi Jr · Answer

Depends on what your budget is. For me, I actually just try to get rid of any landscaping/maintenance as much as possible, thus reducing my costs monthly. Utilize rocks/stone/black top and getting rid of grass and trimming trees to reduce leaves etc..  You can do this in phases too, especially if you are the one who is cutting the grass. From the add value, take a look at higher selling comps in your neighborhood and see what those properties had. This can get you an idea on what could work.

Miranda Obermiller · Answer

Thank you so much Joseph, this advice was was extremely helpful!

Cost-Effective Landscaping Tips for Duplex!?

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