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Let's Talk About Trees

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Premier Realty 0578279

TreesThe May-Wall Team has been showing lots of homes lately to our buyers and we have noticed something that is just plain sad.  We have seen quite a number of homes between 10 to 20 years old that have no trees in the back yard.  None!  It would be understandable if the home was just a couple of years old since the costs involved in buying a home and furnishing it can be substantial.  But people have lived in these homes for a very long time.

So let’s talk about the value of trees.  Some aspects of trees are obvious.  They provide great shade in the hotter months when children want to play in the yard or you are having that ever popular backyard barbeque.  And they make a home feel much more relaxing because of their sheer beauty.  Flowering trees especially add color in the spring and summer and often emit a lovely fragrance.

But trees can also help cool the inside of the home.  If your home faces east/west, a tall tree in front of exterior windows can help to block some of the heat from the sun.  Coupled with a double pane window the rooms facing west can be more bearable in the afternoon or evening when the sun is beating down in the summer.

Trees can also act as a buffer to street noise if there is a busy street running behind your home. In fact any tall shrubs will help to alleviate some of the noise from passing cars.  Add a water feature and you are even further ahead of the game.

So if you are living in a home that is lacking in trees, consider planting at least a couple in the proper season.  Check with your local home and garden store to find out the perfect time for planting and then go for it.  Your future buyer will thank you.

Posted by

Monte Wall

Broker Associate - Keller Williams Premier Realty

Katy, Texas

(281) 777-0869

Monte@MonteWall.com

Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I agree personally about the benefit of having trees on your property (we have quite a few) but some home owners just don't want to deal with the work associated with trees - raking, animals, birds, etc that come with the trees.

Aug 13, 2014 10:44 PM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Joan, sounds like you live in a beautiful area.

Praful, you are right about the trees acting as a buffer against street noise.

Laura, very cute comment.  Made me smile.

Richard, you really do have some nice foliage in Maryland.  Was up there recently and it's very pretty.

Andrew, can't argue that point except to say that maintenance is important.

Amanda and Jared, the squirrels in my yard appreciate those trees when they are being chased by a herd of dachshunds.

Kat, all good points and may answer the question as to why some yards don't have any trees at all.

Aug 14, 2014 12:23 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Monte: I am with @Michael J. Perry on this one. What a thoughtful housewarming gift for a new owner. You don't have to pick it out; just give them a gift certificate for one.

Aug 14, 2014 12:37 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Yes to this post and point...I have strategically placed trees and decorative ones too...This is a must at some point

Aug 14, 2014 12:49 AM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Norman, what a great idea to give a gift certificate for a tree. Much easier to deliver. 

Richie, thank you for your comment. I agree it's a must. 

Aug 14, 2014 11:09 AM
Jeffrey Ditri
JAD Realty Group, LLC. - Manhattan, NY
New York City Residential Rental Specialist

Thank you for sharing. Not much of an issue here in NYC but will pass this info along to my friends in PA!

 

 

Aug 15, 2014 03:46 AM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Thank you Jeffrey.

Aug 15, 2014 08:22 AM
Brian & Melinda Stitzinger
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Frisco, TX
Our Mission is to Serve You

We live in a home that is now 12 years old.  One of the first things we did was add landscaping and several trees to our backyard.  We now have large beautiful shade trees. BTW--we live in north Texas and really need to be shaded during the summer heat.

Aug 15, 2014 11:28 PM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Sarah, I love the picture of your link. Looks like it's from a Hollywood movie. 

Brian, you are a very smart man. 

Aug 16, 2014 10:56 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Both your near-term future and your long-term future will thank you.

Washington DC has an aggressive street-tree planting schedule, and so, the city deals with the front (and hence all the benefits you state); but the homeowners get even more benefits from trees in the back.

I'm a big fan...let's keep planting.

Aug 16, 2014 03:18 PM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Thank you for your perspective Claude. Glad to hear that the planting is moving forward in DC. 

Aug 18, 2014 02:11 AM
Don Kolenda
Keller Williams Kauai - Lihue, HI
UNDER PROMISE AND OVER DELIVER

Trees and shrubs  add an accent to any yard. Totally agree with your blog since most buyers request treed yard your chance of resale increases with a minimal investment.

Aug 18, 2014 06:24 PM
Mark Brandon

I agree with you Monte regarding trees. Though they are sometimes messy and space consuming but a house/ home without trees are so empty. I like the fresh air that trees provides and most especially the ambiance.

 

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I am a regular contributor to Safe and Sound Property Inspections blog and other home improvement sites. I’m very family-oriented and loves being in the shed or help my mates with their houses.

 

You can catch me via Google+ or Twitter: @MarkBrandon01

Aug 18, 2014 07:51 PM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Don, I totally agree with you that they can have a positive affect on resale. 

Mark, they do indeed add ambience. Good description. 

Aug 19, 2014 12:44 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Monte- I came over after an introduction by Dick Greenberg!  I think this is the first post that I can remember about trees and the value they lend to our homes.  Very well done, and since I'm a native Houstonian, I am very happy to welcome you here.

Aug 21, 2014 11:29 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I came over thanks to Dick, too.  And I like this post. Trees have been a hot topic in our house lately.  We've got a really nasty tree in the yard that isn't growing so we've been looking for a replacement.

Aug 21, 2014 11:40 AM
David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Dick told me I had to come over and read your stufff and say hi. Since I always do as I am told... dont tell anyone but thats a lie, I decided to come say hi!

Nice post and congrats on the feature enjoy the rain!

Aug 21, 2014 12:50 PM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Kathy, Chris Ann, and David, thank you so much for the welcome messages and the comments to my blog. I truly appreciate your support. See you in the rain. 

Aug 21, 2014 01:10 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I'm also here from Dick's blog....nice to meet you Monte! 

Great post!  I love the idea in the comments to give trees as gifts!

Aug 23, 2014 04:52 AM
Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Thanks for stopping by Sharon. Looking forward to sharing ideas with you. 

Aug 23, 2014 11:49 AM