Most property owners are quite familiar with the term: curb appeal.  Initially the term was used exclusively as real estate jargon. It was generally defined as the first impression of the house from the street. In the new and resale home market, curb appeal encompassed everything the perspective buyer can see from the street that might make them want to take a closer look. Real estate professionals suggest that one can never have too much “curb appeal”. Internet real estate resources suggest curb appeal may increase property values by 15-20%.

Today, the term now enjoys widespread popularity on the Internet and cable TV home how-to programs such as Designed to Sell, House Doctor, and Flip This House. The term is now indexed with a more extensive definition in Wikipedia:  “Curb Appeal is the attractiveness of the exterior of a residential or commercial property. It was used extensively in the US during the housing boom of 2005 and continues to be used as an indicator of the initial appeal of a property to prospective buyers.”

But what are the essentials of curb appeal?  Certainly this has changed remarkably from the post WWII housing boom of tract houses with characteristic green shrub foundation plantings. Curb appeal also takes on a different definition geographically. With the diversity of properties in our Saratoga Region curb appeal may take into account urban, rural, and even lakeside appeal. Think focal point in your yard.  To what area do you wish to direct the eye?  Commonly the dwelling entrance serves as the property focal point.  But lakeside properties often do not have a specific entry.  Dockage areas may be the point of direction.  On rural roads you may not even see the front of the house until you travel down an long driveway. Whatever that focal, there are general principals that apply to any property.

First and foremost your property needs “year round interest”.  Selecting plant material that blooms at various times in the year is important.  But you will also need to consider the time outside our growing season. This can encompass a good 5 months in our area! Winter interest plant material may include plants bearing berries, evergreen plants with different leaf/needle shape and texture, as well as deciduous trees whose bark, trunk, branches offer color and texture.

When selecting your plant material keep in mind the maxim: “right plant-right space”.  There is nothing more distracting and unattractive to the eye then overgrown, misplaced shrubs and flowers. It is extremely important to consider plant growing patterns and needs such as maturity height, width, and sunlight requirements. The distinctive colors and blooms of plants depend upon degrees of sunlight. Therefore you will retain that beautiful bloom and coloring you loved at the nursery only with adherence to plant growing guidelines 

Secondly, your property needs solid, creative hardscaping, e.g. those elements outside plant material that add permanence to your property. Hardscaping can include such things as sidewalks, pathways, stone walls, patios, entry porches, decorative fencing, and lighting. As with plant material you need to think: “right hardscape-right place”.  Wall construction too high with plant material well below the top block, walls too high to view in or out of the property, and poorly positioned  rock accents in garden beds distract more than attract. In todays market the variety of manufactured and natural material for hardscaping offers the property owner endless opportunities!

The third and final general consideration for curb appeal is feature.  This is the fun, aesthetic, over the edge appeal component. It may include something as simple as rock accents, a water feature, statuary, or antique element. The most impressive is that of a water feature.  The new Aquascape® Design pondless waterfalls not only add an additional element of resale investment, they are a curbside point of interest!  Family Vision Care at the corner of Lake and East Avenues in Saratoga Springs has enjoyed significant attention over the last year with the installation of a pondless waterfall feature. Owner Susan Halstead remarks about the constant walk by and drive by stops marveling over this new feature.

Our unique and diverse region also implies the need to consider curb appeal for lake side properties.  I learned this concept quickly with my first job on Lake George.  The owner’s first priority was, “I want it to look nice when I and my guests drive up to the dock on our boats!”  This can be an extremely challenging endeavor with consideration for various property grades and lakeside plant material selection. But good functional design gets the job done with stunning results. 

Our region also offers the element of rural curbside appeal. Perhaps you are looking for property out on many of the beautiful back roads outside of Saratoga Springs.  The front of the house may not be readily seen roadside but a simple element is needed to draw the eye to the property attention.  Something a simple as rock/stone configurations and well designed plant material can give this “take a second look” appeal. When designing these simple elements, you must remain functional! Remember that snowplow that is a frequent visitor throughout the winter months! Some rural properties prefer to focus their “curb appeal” at driveway entry versus roadside. This offers interesting elements for appeal as the eye focus turns to point of arrival in the driveway. Your hardscaping must blend with plant material and give a welcoming feel.

Although the national cable programs look to define our curb appeal, we in this beautiful Saratoga Region, have
the distinct pleasure of defining our own. When selecting and investing in professionals to work with you to design your own unique curb appeal, make certain they are adequately trained and intimately familiar with the particulars of plants and hardscaping in our region.

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* SueAnn DuBois is a Master Gardener and partner to the husband-wife team of Chips Landscaping.
 Chip’s Landscaping designs, constructs, and maintains outdoor landscape and water garden features in Saratoga County.