The Outdoor Walk-Through
If you are in the process of finding a new home, you have probably spent plenty of time researching the things to look out for when inspecting a house. Unfortunately there tends to be less advice available concerning an equally important step: inspecting the lawn or garden that comes with your new home. If you purchase a home without investigating the outdoors part of the property, you could end up dealing with a dead tree, sickly looking flower beds, or other lawn blights.
Trees
A dead tree can be costly and time consuming to remove. If a property you may buy includes trees, check them for these signs of good health:
- Check the length between current buds and the scars left by last year's. This will give you an idea of how much the tree has grown in the last year.
- Test branches by gently scraping or bending them. Living branches will be green underneath the bark and will bend instead of breaking.
- Check the leaves. They should be roughly uniform in color and shape. Leaves that are wilted, poorly formed, or yellowing out of season can be signs of a disease or other problem.
Lawns and Shrubs
It is a sad fact of gardening that the healthiest lawns are at the highest risk for insect infestation. Keep an eye out for warning signs like:
- Grass with brown and/or flattened spots
- Holes in leaves
- Branches that look healthy but have no leaves
Contact an Austin Realtor
To learn more about Austin homes, contact the Carvajal Group at 512-419-7770.
