Few things are more frustrating than a messy front yard. In addition to disrupting your curb appeal, overgrown, messy landscaping can also harbor pests and make it look like you don't care about your property. Fortunately, tidying up your yard doesn't have to be difficult. I have spent years learning more about landscaping, and this blog is all about how to become a landscaping enthusiast. Check out these articles about fun topics like planting flowers, perfecting pruned trees, and decorating your yard with whimsical additions. After you know more about landscaping, your yard might become the talk of the town.
As a landlord, you want to do everything you can to attract the types of good quality renters that you want. If you want a pool of stable, long-term renting families, it's key to consider what you can do to make your rental home more attractive to them. And, certainly, you can do many things inside the house to help your odds, including providing a good kitchen and having sufficient bedrooms and bathrooms. But, you can also make some changes to your landscaping in order to appeal to good families. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Play Area
A designated play area will make the area more fun for kids while still helping keep the yard in good condition and ready for guests. Create a border for your play area using wood rails, a low and solid vinyl fence, or a protective row of small shrubs -- all of which will help keep the play in its proper place. Under the play area, you can use traditional sand, rubber mulch, or a specialty playground flooring material. Depending on your budget and the size of the play area, you can include things like a swing set, hopscotch numbered pavers, or yard games (like beanbag throws or croquet).
Hardy Grass
While it may seem like having kids as tenants means you should limit the grass and install more low-maintenance hardscape, you may not want to go too far. Kids can get hurt if there's too much unforgiving hardscaping. A good, high quality grass that's also drought-tolerant is a good compromise between ensuring a beautiful and soft area for the family to run and play while not having to spend lots of time caring for it. Look for local varieties with native grasses or a special blend made just for this purpose.
Lounges
Don't forget the parents when planning the backyard landscape design. If you have a play area, be sure that you place some seating for parents and friends with a good view of the kids having fun. You could opt for a chic built-in lounge area with outdoor-friendly pillows and fun hanging lamps or you could go more low-budget with a few simple Adirondack chairs and a table or two. Encourage outdoor use by the whole family by adding a simple fire pit and possibly covering the space with a low-maintenance pergola.
Safety
Paying attention to backyard safety is important to families, so make it important to your landscape design. If you have a pool or spa, be sure that the wiring is well-protected, there's a proper cover, and that it has good fencing (find more pool safety tips at the Consumer Product Safety Commission). Cover basement egress windows to prevent falls. Make sure the yard's perimeter fence is in good condition. And add some outdoor storage spaces for toys, yard equipment, and other potential hazards. Showing tenants that you value the safety of their families will help convince them you're a responsive landlord, too.
Adding any one -- or all -- of these features into your property's backyard design will undoubtedly help you gain good quality renters who will enjoy your rental house for years to come.
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