Curb Appeal on a Dime

I saw a house the other day that was a simple cape style with no dormers. Instead of the typical cape with a center door on the front, this door was on the side of the house. When you entered the yard, you saw the broad side of the house with two windows and nothing else. There were stairs on one side that brought you to the main (side) door and a small deck just before the door.

In front there were remnants of a flower garden but they were more weeds than flowers. Nothing much grew on that side of the house.

Here's what I suggested: 1. At the bottom of the stairs going to the door, put pots of chrysanthemums. Put more at the top of the stairs on the deck for a total of four. Claussens on Rte 2A in Colchester Village has great chrysthanemums every year.2. Edge the garden in front of the house and get hostas from neighbors -- everyone has hostas to share at this time of the year. Plant hostas in the front of the house and mulch the heck out of the area around the plants. Mulch anywhere they want to create more beds. 3. Then put window boxes under the two windows and fill them with annuals -- over plant because there isn't much time left before a frost so they won't grow.

Cost:
Chrysanthemums: About $60
Window Boxes: He can make out of scrap lumber so they are free
Flowers for window boxes: Go to Lowe's and buy annuals on sale: $15
Mulch: $50
Hostas: Free
Total: $125
What will the return be? This small investment could mean the difference of someone wanting to buy the house or not!

Easy to turn a plain Jane house into a fabulous house with a little money and imagination!