Los Altos' Big Yards a Temptation to Get Creative

Last week, I was invited to a client’s home to see its new landscape. This couple decided to give their front and back yards a total makeover a few months ago. And they couldn’t wait to show me their transformation as soon as the project is done.

Their primary goal was to improve the functionalities of the yard for their two young children. But they also hope that the project would improve the home value and its marketability when it’s time to sell.

Landscaping is a very important part of a home. It is especially so in our communities where most homes sit on a 10,000-plus square-foot lots, making the outdoor space almost as important as the indoor’s. A charming backyard enhances the appeal—as well as the value—of a home. By the same token, an ugly yard could easily turn potential buyers away.

Re-landscaping is a complex and expensive project. More is not necessary better. Careful planning is required for a successful landscape makeover. Here are some of my tips.

Deciding what features to include

In redesigning your backyard, the first question to ask is how would you like to enjoy the outdoor space?

Are you big on entertaining? Do you have young children in your family? Do you envision your family spending a lot of time in the backyard? All these would help determine the features to include.

Besides your family’s needs, you should also consider what other homebuyers like or don’t like. After all, you want to make sure that you’re getting the return to investment that you deserve.

For instance, a nice patio with a barbeque area is pretty much a standard requirement nowadays, regardless if the homeowners like to entertain, or not. Families with young children usually want some space for kids’ activities. It could either be a play structure, or just an area to play soccer, basketball or anything else.

A swimming pool is another common feature in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, though it is not necessarily a popular one nowadays. If you want to build a new one, be sure you understand the amount of work involved in maintaining a pool, and be prepared that it may or may not add to the home value when it’s time to sell.

Have resale value in mind

When this young couple was working on the landscape design, one question they kept asking me was the impact the changes would have on the marketability of their home. Though the primary objective was to make the outdoor space more kid-friendly; they wouldn’t want to do anything that may alienate future homebuyers.

If you are trying to include some uncommon features in your plan, think twice and be sure to seek some professional advice in advance. For instance, some people might like to put in , which, most likely, will not be appreciated by non-golfers.

Try to include multiple features in your design. For example, if you really want a putting green, avoid converting the whole backyard into a golfers-only playground. The same advice goes to swimming pool. Have you been to homes where the only thing you see in the yard is a pool? And some of those are only a few feet away from the patio door. Things like that would be big negatives when it’s time to sell.

Don’t overspend

It is advisable to have at least a ballpark budget on your mind before talking to your landscaper. Landscaping can be a very expensive project. While a nice, backyard does add to the home value, you don’t want to overspend. Think about how much you have to spend and compare that to the value of your home, and you will know if that makes sense or not.

Monitor your budget closely

As a rule of thumb, always prepare some cushion in your budget. Similar to home remodeling, people always find themselves paying more than the original plan at the end. In the case of my clients, they ended up paying almost 60 percent over the original estimate! They obviously didn’t watch their budget closely during the process.

Many of us are attracted to Los Altos and Los Altos Hills by their generous lot size, which allows us to extend our living space to the outdoors. If you’re thinking of redoing your yard in spring, you should start doing your homework soon. Landscaping is a major investment that warrants a thorough planning so that you know you’re spending money in a wise way.

Winnie Yip Fong, a Los Altos resident and a local realtor, writes a monthly column to provide advice and her insights into the local real estate market. Email her to winniefong.realestate@gmail.com for any suggestions or comments. Or follow her on www.twitter.com/SVHomes for more real estate updates.