Coatesville, PA on Apr 23, 2012

Have any ideas on how my sellers can change their terraced backyard from awful to awesome?

All buyers have rejected the spectacular house because of the steep but terraced back yard. There is a walkout door from the basement about 20 feet from the first wall. They are willing to finish the patio and put in some landscaping but how to divert the attention from the edge and show that it is still useable space...thats the issue.

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two stone retaining walls with a five foot drop to next level, just grass mowed now
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upper deck off kitchen looks out over roofs of homes behind.
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basement walkout to patio area under the deck above. Patio area is not finished at all.

50 Comments Displaying 25 of 50 comments | See Previous

Paula A Placerville, CA

It looks as if they have a nice view out there so you wouldn't want to block it in any way. I'd use stone pavers matching the wall meandering through the second level. Add some planters with dwarf fruit or short foliage, and a fountain or two with steps at the ends offering easy access to both lower levels. Their budget, HOA and/or County rules would determine what you consider at the bottom. I presume HOA because I don't see any fences.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 1
James T Virginia Beach, VA

and dont forget you can put a pool in when you have to backfill!

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Ruthie Mae P Coatesville, PA

There is a wonderful children's play lot directly across the street from this home and the basement is a finished children's playroom. Most of the buyers so far are mentioning the no back yard for barbeque and wouldn't want their children to fall over the walls. So it needs to be made Private, Safe, Interesting, and Shady. And yes, buyers would probably wish to have stairs built down to the lower level. The allowance idea has been a steady offering but buyers don't have vision of what ...»
could be done with $5000 or buyers don't want to buy a home they still need to put more money into.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

If they are doing this to sell the house, I advise against doing too much. As a remodelor I see a lot of people spend of improvements to sell, then the next owner redoes the same items to suit themselves. So do things to suggest ideas. colorful plats in pots that you can move around. Place them along the edge to simulate a fence. Use one or two in pots to make a long hanging ivy over the edge of the upper balcony to break things up. Steps could be good if done right to fit in with the ...»
existing retaining stonework and not clash with it.
When I look at that home I see a too large, too plain box, so there is more going on in buyers minds than just that slope out back, tho a house that large calls to people with kids, and kids need a place to play - large flatter back yard

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 1
Meri C Winnemucca, NV

Add some COLOR to the back of the house. Won't take much. Throw some petunias in some hanging baskets. Would be helpful to actually see what the back looks like from the door that's opening onto the backyard. If the owners are serious about doing some landscaping, they should put in easy to grow shrubs like hollyhocks and purple coneflowers...that will freshen and brighten up the yard. No one likes to think they're stuck with landscaping to be done, although, they'll likely want to do ...»
their own eventually anyway. The owners could plant some hydrangas or snowball bushes around the back, against the wall, and then use the Hollyhocks to fill in "gap" areas. Also, a tree or two might help. Will eventually provide nice shade and a place to hang a tire swing and even possibly a tree-fort. A low growing shrub like creeping phlox could bet tucked in among the purple coneflower foliage.
Be careful of what kind of water-scape used if they go that way as it could be a liability to neighborhood kids and animals.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 1
Ruthie Mae P Coatesville, PA

Yes, whatever they do it is just to sell the house - thus staging. I have tried to google ideas of homes that have sloped and terraced yards but so far the buyers haven't been able to see beyond steep and unuseable. So, sounds like some $2000 or so might be invested but not much more. Just enough for someone to catch the idea and get excited about having a "different" and more interesting back yard that they could continue to develop as they live there.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

Just do the plants then - strategically. Good steps would cost more than the two grand, and cheap poorly done ones would drive more buyers away

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Mike L Yamhill, OR

Some taller light canopied shade trees on the lowest level like single stem Heritage birch would soften the hard vertical lines and lessen the drop-off from the home.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Sandra R Breinigsville, PA

Hi Ruth, I do some landscaping for people in the area (Allentown,Quakertown)Maybe we could get some ideas together that would help all of us.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 1
Mari-John B

Wall Trellis with climbing flowers or vines .. That would give them a little more privacy.. Then asst. plants all on the middle level along with the trellis.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 3
Leona P Antes Fort, PA

I could see a set of steps at each end of the first retaining wall, maybe even a trellis over top of them. Down below at next level I would make a walk through garden, with paths taking you through a mini park, with a bench, water fall. Trees and shrubs that are not too tall. A nice patio in the middle part of the top yard,at the wall, with seating to view the garden/park below.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 1
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

I am somewhat astonished that you can build terracing like that without adding a fence to prevent falls. I think the sellers need to take the "worry factor" away, either through planted hedges, or an addition to the hardscape.

on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 0
Ruthie Mae P Coatesville, PA

Yes, we definitely will address that "worry" factor. There is nothing but hardscape right now so we need to soften with landscaping and divert the path from straight ahead. I am meeting with someone tonight to see how much we can do for $2000 for now and pass many of these ideas on to the new buyer to implement as they see fit.

on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 0
Ruthie Mae P Coatesville, PA

Leona, I can dream like you do, trellis's, secret gardens, serene park, ..those are things I love to do in my own yard. This isn't my home so I don't have the freedom of doing any of them here, but it is fun to think of what someone else could do with it!

on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 1
Joe S New York, NY

Let us know what they decide and share pictures of the outcome. It's great to see Hometalk in action.

on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 0
Ruthie Mae P Coatesville, PA

I will definitely take pictures and let you know if the attempts made were successful in getting an offer! Stay tuned! This is the fun part of being a Realtor.

on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 0
Erica Glasener Atlanta, GA

Lots of great ideas here. Is it possible to add a few trees? Even the suggestion that there could be shade appeals to me. Screening is important but it must be very hot in the summer with no shade. Here is a photo of a terraced garden that inspires me.
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on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 1
Leona G

Since the budget is 2k the first thing I would do is make it safe and this could be done in several ways. The idea to get rid of one layer is ok but then you have to worry about shift and building codes as to retaining wall height.
Would it be possible to bring a stair way from the upper level to the middle level by building the steps into the wall. If that could be done then you don't loose any space and you could ...»
incorporate railing into the upper wall and staircase. Have know idea what that would cost. Crepe Myrtles are great for summer and spring but add very little winter interest. Most of the plants that have been mentioned are deciduous and will loose their leaves. I would suggest something like Magnolia, evergreen and flowering, Hemlock for its texture, maybe a Japanese Red Maple again color and texture and you could still have the Crepe Myrtles for summer interest. They also now have dwarf Crepe Myrtles that you could intersperse with the others and of course azaleas and rhododendrons. I wish I could grow some of these plants but I am to far south. Good luck and let us know

on Apr 25, 2012 · Like 0
Virtually Staging Propert... Atlanta, GA

You want to make for a cozy and useful outdoor environment. I agree with the suggestions of tall trees perhaps to create a backdrop and a firepit we would highly suggest to create an outdoor living area where a family can have barbeques along with seating. The right landscaping will be key maybe having tall trees or bushes on left and right and shorter shrubs and flower bushes in middle to create a graduated look that is pleasing on the eye. Would love to see pictures of the outcome and hope you share with us!

on Apr 26, 2012 · Like 0
Ruthie Mae P Coatesville, PA

This home was found by a grateful buyer and family, who bought it as is and is going to settlement today!!! Sometimes we just need to wait for the right buyer to come along. Hopefully now, this new family will incorporate some of your great suggestions! I am giving them this column at sesttlement this morning at 9! Gotta run!!!

on Jun 08, 2012 · Like 1
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Great news, Ruthie Mae.

on Jun 09, 2012 · Like 0
Deborah K Sayre, PA

@ Meri, I was thinking the same thing. Color on each level of the retaining wall. Low lying plants on the bottom one so it does not hide the wall on the top.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 0
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

This "Plain Jane" look needs to be spruced up. Make the maximum use of that 20' from the basement door to the first cliff! Attach and tie back a canvas painting drop cloth for privacy on the post side under the deck. This will give a spa feeling. Then dress out the patio with furniture...be sure and make it colorful. Find used pieces and paint them (see photo attached showing redo on 20+ year old furniture). Get some large pots and fill them with lots of flowers with vines hanging ...»
over sides for effect. Then place some clumps of beautiful grasses like shown in photo above posted by Erica. On second tier, cover with mulch and place bird feeder, shephard poles with baskets of flowers, a few medium to large rocks with a cute frog or bird statue sitting on it. For about $1,000-1,500 you can make a stunning. You can pick up pots at garage sales and repaint them. Be sure to get that Rustoleum 2X paint...covers soooo well and dries quickly. Caladium come in many colors and do well in pots.

on Jun 30, 2012 · Like 0
Ruthie Mae P Coatesville, PA

Nice thoughts, Jeanette!

on Jun 30, 2012 · Like 0
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

Ruthie Mae, this just proves that there is a buyer for every home. To tell you the truth, I love that back yard and would prefer to buy it just like it is! Had I bought it, I would have screened the deck, put a roof under it over the patio, added a privacy fence atop the first terrace to make my own private oasis at the back of the house. The rest of the yard could have been a ball field for the kids!

on Jul 01, 2012 · Like 1

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