Protect Community Roots & Make Property Values Grow

By Amanda Gray

The Coachella Valley is prime real estate for potential buyers, but if a community’s curbside appearance isn’t under control boards could be missing out on attracting quality owners. A beautifully manicured HOA tends to be more appealing to homeowners and with proper enforcement of community guidelines, boards can maintain and boost property values. A community’s most valuable asset is common area landscape; it is the key to driving property values. How does your community measure up? Make sure to observe these landscaping best practices when evaluating your community’s curb appeal:

ENTRANCES & FOCAL POINTS - Entrances and focal point areas establish first impressions, but is the community leaving positive and lasting ones? Make sure these areas are:

• Clean and free of debris

• Fresh with seasonal color and varying textures

• Clearly signed and properly lit

• Appealing to the eye. Consider things from a driver’s perspective, how do things appear? Remember you only get one chance at a first impression.

COMMON AREAS - Common areas are crucial to establishing the quality of life intended for owners and tend to be the biggest draw for prospective residents. These areas should be anything but common; they should be a bright spot in the community. Ask yourself these questions when sizing up the community:

• Are there inviting places for people to congregate?

• Are the common areas clean, attractive, and appealing?

• Are pathways and trail areas free of debris and weeds?

• Are the common area trash bins and doggie stations regularly maintained?

TURF CARE- Seasonal maintenance of your community turf is critical to achieving that healthy, green look all year round. Here are some basic practices to follow:

• Soil test to reveal any nutrient deficiencies

• Regularly dethatch and overseed your turf to achieve ideal growth during hot and cool seasons

• Evaluate irrigation systems for costly flaws and maximum coverage

• Utilize results from the soil test to implement a fertility and aeration program to develop healthy and dense turf

COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES - Don’t overlook the importance of keeping community boundaries clean and well-maintained. Shortcuts in areas that can’t be seen often introduce the following risks:

• Overgrown and neglected areas result in a build-up of plant material weakening infrastructure such as walls or fencing

• Excessive growth areas are a draw for pests and vermin, masks an array of irrigation issues, and provides great cover for the homeless and potential for crime to occur.

ARBOR CARE - Trees are a community’s number one landscape asset. While they are hearty, they also need to be carefully watched and assessed to ensure they stay rooted in your community for years to come.

Unfortunately, tree maintenance is often postponed due to budgeting shortcuts without considering the long-term consequences. Be sure to work closely with an Arborist to develop a 3-year tree care plan and follow these important steps:

• Assess tree health regularly checking for disease, pests, and other deficiencies.

• Trim trees annually or bi-annually to avoid overgrowth or proximity growth towards powerlines.

• Make sure tree wells are free of tree suckers, weeds, and trash.

• Seek the expert help of a certified Arborist who will observe ISA standards when developing a maintenance plan for community trees.

PLANNING & PARTNERSHIP - Cultivating strong relationships between the board, community management and the landscape business partner is paramount to creating a successful landscape maintenance program. Here are some recommendations to achieving a successful partnership:

• Allow the landscaper to have a voice in the boardroom; they are the most qualified to speak to issues and/or answer questions and address concerns.

• Assign ONE board contact to work with and provide direction to the landscaper.

• Talk candidly about the board’s community goals and work with the community manager and landscaper to develop a plan to achieve them.

• Trust the manager to work with the landscaper to ensure all specifications are met.

These best practices will help boards develop landscape plans to successfully maintain and enhance property values. Make sure to observe these tips and take an active role protecting community roots and helping property values grow!

Amanda Gray has over 20 years of consultative sales and marketing experience. She leads the Sales & Marketing efforts for O’Connell Landscape Maintenance. She is an Educated Business partner and has been consulting with Common Interest Developments for eight years. O’Connell Landscape Maintenance is a family company specializing in beautifying HOA landscapes for over 48 years. For questions about your community or to receive a complimentary inspection contact Amanda at (949)322-1755 or email her at agray@oclm.com.