Photo Credits: Jane Albertson
Want to Sell Your Home Quickly? Improve It!
by Tina Martin of Ideaspired.com
The goal is to sell your home quickly and at a profit, but in a competitive market, you might just find that this is easier said than done. It’s a good idea, therefore, to do all you can for your home to rise above the competition. But while home improvements can single-handedly make this happen, they need to be done right. So let’s dive into why home improvements matter and how to choose the best improvements for your property.
Why It’s Time For Home Improvements
Home improvements are always a great idea, not only when selling your home. Knowing the potential benefits you can look forward to with the right projects will surely keep you motivated.
● It’s been said that the right home improvements can boost happiness at home.
● Certain projects can also increase your home’s appraisal value, giving you a more tangible ROI.
● Before you start breaking ground, it’s a good idea to determine which upgrades will offer you the most value.
Home Improvements You Can DIY
Contrary to popular belief, value-adding home improvements need not break the bank and can be simple enough to do on your own.
● There’s no shortage of affordable home improvement projects that you can DIY with maximum impact.
● Beautify your property and boost curb appeal with plants and flowers from Capitol Wholesale Nursery, who offer retail services for DIY customers.
● Upgrading your interiors can be as easy as decluttering your home room by room.
● A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any home, and you can easily learn how to paint for a flawless finish.
● If you want a bit of a challenge, you can even try your hand at creating beautiful shelves and storage spaces for your home.
Bring In The Pros For These Home Improvements
Of course, some home improvement projects need more TLC than you might have the time or skills for, so turn to the pros to give these projects the love they deserve.
● You should never DIY renovations like roof work, structural changes, or any other important components that require a license or apprenticeships.
● Some other value-adding projects are best left to the pros, too, like bathroom and kitchen remodels.
● When hiring contractors to do your home improvements, make sure to choose ones with verifiable experience and reviews.
● Licensed contractors can source your plants from Capitol Wholesale Nursery at wholesale prices (find CWN’s wholesale registration form here).
Suffice it to say, your home improvement efforts will significantly contribute to how quickly your home sells and how profitable it will be. So do your improvements right and not in half measures, and you’ll be handing over your keys to a worthy buyer in no time.
Looking to increase your curb appeal before selling your home? Capitol Wholesale Nursery offers the best selection of plants in the Bay Area! (408) 239-0589
Benefits of Autumn Planting
By CWN Staff
Fall is the best time to plant in California, blessed as we are with mild enough weather for a year-round garden. With proper preparation, Autumn’s cooler temps and shorter days set the stage for a flourishing Fall-Winter yield.
With the rainy season approaching, with less of the scorching Summer heat to stress plants (and your gardeners), this is an ideal time to establish plants in anticipation of Winter’s natural watering. Longer days and cooler temperatures means less moisture loss for your plants; while the soil still retains some warmth from Summer, encouraging root growth and hardiness throughout the Autumn and Winter seasons.
Whether you’re looking to plant vegetables, spruce up your waning Summer landscape, or start a flower garden, take some time to consider what you would like to grow and what your soil is looking like this time of year.
Winter vegetables are a joy to grow in California. Mild weather plants such as beets, chard, and lettuces are extremely nutritious and often require minimal care. While it may be too late to start certain plants from seed (look up lists of planting schedules for your area), it is the perfect time to transplant nursery-grown seedlings into your garden beds.
Autumn is also a great time to plant most trees and shrubs (tropical varieties and citrus are notable exceptions). Planting now ensures they have a head start on those planted in Spring, resulting in greater growth after the first year.
Finally, it’s natural seeding time for California natives, so it’s a perfect time to grow natives from seed. Autumn is a natural growth cycle for California natives; plus, fall-planted natives are less susceptible to Summer-specific threats such as root rot. Drought tolerant plants also love Fall planting.
What to Plant in Autumn
Beets, carrots, sweet peas, calendulas – all flourish in Autumnal California conditions.
Specific varieties for Fall planting include:
· Almost all perennial flowers - perennials have a head start when planted in the fall.
· All California natives, from seed
· Vegetables: artichoke, onion, celery, beets, endive, peas, broccoli, fava beans, radish, brussels sprouts, garlic, rhubarb, cabbage, kale, carrots, spinach, kohlrabi, swiss chard, cauliflower, leaf lettuce, turnips
· Cool season grasses
· Most shrubs, trees, ground cover and vines EXCEPT tropical or citrus
· Hardy herbs such as parsley, thyme, oregano
Fall Garden Tips and Tricks
Soil preparation: You may find it useful to prepare your soil for your Autumn planting. After removing spent Summer crops, check the soil for health. If your soil needs a boost, dig about a foot down into the soil to be planted and add in organic matter or compost, and fertilizer if using, and turn over.
Composting: Dig up and compost any Summer plants that are spent or done producing. Make sure when adding to your compost pile that your plants do not exhibit any sign of disease (exclude any diseased plants from your compost pile).
Flowers: When choosing flowers for your year-round garden, consider year-round bloomers such as those featured in this month’s newsletter. For native gardens, consider California goldenrod, Coyote mint, and Coyote brush.
Whatever you choose, with proper preparation, Autumn will surely favor a bountiful garden and lively, colorful landscape.