How do I build a strong, but less expensive retaining wall?
by
Deanne
We have had our house up for sale for over 11 mnths. Everyone loves the house, but thinks the backyard is too small. Our house backs up to a higher neighborhood, what can we do? We’ve already put a new roof, renovated our masterbathroom, put a new deck on, put a new railing on front porch, and came down 25,000 from our list price. We are losing money. What can we do? Thanks!
Suggested Project Book
The best thing to do is not have a lot of things in the backyard. And everything in the yard should be small so that it doesn't look stuffed and little. Have a small sitting area with comfy but not big chairs around a small firepit. Plant a few small shrubs and flowers around them. As for a retaining wall, none are really cheap. Railroad ties are probably the cheapest. If a retaining wall isn't necessary but you want something to hide the fact that your yard is lower than your neighbors, try some plain white vinyl fencing. It's light, bright and clean looking. Then a few small shrubs in the corners with a few small flowers around them would look nice. Here are some other tips for showing your home. Great curb appeal (bright flowers and grass cut and trimmed, shrubs trimmed, garden weeded) is very important. If it looks bad from the outside, a lot of people won't waste their time walking inside. That makes everyone think that the home was not taken care of and underlying issues could be present. Clean the exterior and the doors and windows. Make sure your front door looks welcoming, maybe a fresh coat of paint, if it's a painted one. A new welcome mat is nice. Remove all personal things (pictures, stuff hanging on the refrigerator, etc). Also remove any furniture and stuff in closets not needed and any other kind of clutter (put it storage if you have to). Organize everything left into an orderly fashion. If the walls are dark, paint them a light color (it makes the rooms look bigger and brighter). Other than some paint (neutral colors), it really isn't necessary to do any updates as the new owners may have different tastes and could possibly change it anyhow. Only fix what needs to be fixed (you don't want it to look like you didn't take care of the home). Keep everything clean so you're not running around before a showing, making sure windows are clean.. Make the beds when you get up. Before a showing, open all window coverings and let the sunshine in. Turn on all lights even on a bright sunny day, the more light, the better. Be careful burning candles, a scent you like may not smell so good to someone else . The smell of a strong scented candle could also trigger an asthma attack or appear to be covering something up. Flowers could also trigger allergies or asthma. The smell of clean or some freshly baked goods is much more enticing. And if necessary, spray an air neutralizer. When your home is being shown, remove all animals and put away their paraphernalia if at all possible. Good luck.
Gosh....Deanne, I feel your pain. A retaining wall can be a big job and expensive even if you do it yourself. You might want to get price quotes and make an allowance in the sale for a ballpark cost building one.
Deanne,
Wow!
Save your money... what is it about the yard that makes it look small?
The set up? The angle? Too many trees?