Special offer

Red Hook home sellers you have a leaf problem

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 10491201242

Yes that right, Red Hook home sellers and home owners you have a leaf problem and I can sympathize. The truth is we are all in the same boat.  All those beautiful fall foliage now cover your beautifully lawn and it is driving you crazy.

Fallen leaves in Red Hook NY

A showing is scheduled and you are wondering what the potential buyer will think about your yard.  Your real estate agent told you how important it was to have a well maintained yard;  something about curb appeal.  Well I am hear to tell you don't lose sleep over this, just look around at the other yards those home owners have the same problem.

However there comes a time when the mess will have to be cleaned up.  There are two ways of approaching this:

  • Pay someone to do the cleanup
  • Or you can rake, rake and rake

In my case I chose the latter, I rake for hours, days and sometime weeks.   Before I am even finished raking,  new leaves take the place of the ones I had already raked up.

What I try to do is to think of all the positive things about this chore, and this help me to get through this period. So here are the things I focus on:

  1. By raking I get to examine the condition of my lawn
  2. Raking leave provide me with needed exercise, since I hate going to a gym
  3. The leaves can cover my flower bed and provide insulation for my perennials through the winter.
  4. The decomposed leaves will be used as fertilizer to provide nutrients for plants in the spring.

Here is a visual tour I prepared that might  make you feel like you are not alone.

 

Jennifer Fivelsdal, Broker JFIVE Homes Realty LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com  and www.jfivehomes.com

Comments(15)

Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Jennifer, I'm one of those who waits until most of the leaves are off the trees before I rake!  I'll just have to do it again.  But then, my house isn't for sale!

Oct 28, 2008 12:57 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Jennifer -- I had to laugh when I read this post.  I have been blowing and raking for days on end.  My arms feel like they are going to fall off!  I captured some of the pictures so I can remember how much I enjoyed those leaves before they feel to the ground!  It always seems like a race against time -- getting up the leaves before the snow covers the ground!

Oct 28, 2008 12:59 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Jennifer - Although Fall is beautiful here in MASS losing all the leaves is a real downside. The clean up is a real pain in the neck!

Oct 28, 2008 01:35 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Joan I have the same issue.  I have raked and raked but right now it looks as if it was never done.  It is raining steadily which will make raking more of a task, yes I hate wet leaves.

Oct 28, 2008 01:45 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Pat - I have so much leaves I can't wait tell it all comes down, that would be so overwhelming.  You think this is one reason why some people wait for spring to put their house on the market?

Oct 28, 2008 01:48 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Bill no kidding it can be a real pain in the neck.  sometimes I get very soar because I am driven and spend far too many hours raking .

Oct 28, 2008 01:50 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jennifer the Fall foliage is beautiful, but once those leaves come down they are a real pain in the donkey to get up!!!!

Oct 28, 2008 11:53 AM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Jennifer - I rake my walkways and leave everything else. It's not worth tring to keep up. In a week or so I will call my landscaper and ask for a fall clean-up.  

Oct 28, 2008 12:59 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

George - This is true especially if october and November is rainy.  Can't believe some places in the area already had snow.

Carol - that's one way to go.

Oct 28, 2008 01:51 PM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Jennifer,
For those of us who have very few leaves, we think it is a small price to pay.  But then again, we don't have to do the work.  LOL!

Oct 29, 2008 01:04 AM
Sandy Fenton
Keller Williams NY Realty * Licensed Associate Broker - Mount Kisco, NY
ABR, ASP, CDPE, GRI -Westchester NY - Condos to Luxury Homes

Hi Jennifer - I have the best of both worlds - I get to enjoy the foliage and watch the leaves flying in the wind - but because I live in a townhouse complex, I don't have to do any of the work (not even to find someone to do it.)  LOL

Oct 29, 2008 01:57 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Cynthia - I wouldn't have it any other way.  I am addicted to the fall foliage although I know what comes next.

Oct 29, 2008 03:41 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Sandy - I  suppose that is something to look forward to, I think soon I will want to downsize.

Oct 29, 2008 03:42 PM
Jane Page Thompson
Aiken Properties - Aiken, SC

No sooner do you get the leaves up then the snow comes, Happy Fall Back!

Nov 02, 2008 02:21 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Jane - I am trying not to think about the snow yet......I know it will be here soon anyway.

Nov 02, 2008 09:24 PM