Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

Foremost Insurance | by Marrio Roberts Jr. | Front Yard | Home Insurance | Self-Quoting Portal

Have you been thinking about updating your front yard landscaping? There are many reasons to invest in this space, including increasing your home value, improving safety, and reduction of utility costs. If you’ve been thinking about taking on this home project – what better time than now?

The Foremost® Insurance creative team created a list of things you can do to give your home some extra curb appeal:

Add path lighting to the front yard.

When placed correctly, lights can make your home stand out and become the most memorable one on your street. They also help guests navigate your property safely at night. You can consider various types of lighting for your garden or pathway such as spotlights, flood lights, step lights, garden lights and more.

Build a decorative fence.

If your home doesn’t already have a decorative fence, and if they aren’t banned in your neighborhood, this can be a great addition to your front yard. Not only does this feature add curb appeal, it also serves as a protective boundary.

Customize your walkway.

Many people overlook their walkway when thinking of front yard ideas. However, your walkway is just as much a part of your home as the kitchen. Different things you can do to customize your walkway are adding stepping stones, brick, pavers, lava rocks, or mulch on the sides with some decorative shrubs.

Improve the front yard lawn.

If your grass is brown or patchy in some places, it may be time for some TLC on your lawn. This can be as simple as planting some new seeds and watering regularly, or you may need to call a service to treat any underlying causes that may be to blame. A lawn is the first thing someone will notice when pulling up to your home, so it’s well worth it!

Install landscaping rocks.

You can also spruce up your front yard landscaping with rocks. The best part about adding rocks is that they are low maintenance – you just set them out in your space and forget about it. You can use rocks in a variety of ways, including placing them around plants or putting them along your walkway to your front door.

Install a front yard water feature.

This one is probably a little less common, but we think that’s what makes it a great idea! Adding a waterfall or a fountain will make your front yard stand out from the rest. One of the great things about this is that there are many budget-friendly options that are $200 or less, so be sure to shop around. Some outdoor cascading fountains cost less than $75, or if you’re able to spend more, there are rock waterfalls out there that are $200 or less.

Make a flower bed.

Flower beds are simple and effective. While flowers require a bit more maintenance than some of the other things on this list, they can be well worth the effort. You can plant eye-catching, low-maintenance flowers such as black-eyed susans, hydrangeas, daffodils or a rose bush.

Plant a garden.

Another recommendation that requires maintenance is an herb or vegetable garden. Planting your own garden allows you to save money on groceries, reduce plastic waste, and get some easy outdoor exercise. In addition to these health benefits, a garden can also add an element of beauty to your front yard.

Trim overgrown trees and shrubs.

Overgrown trees and shrubs can make your landscaping look unkept and disorganized. Trimming these can create a neater look and feel and improve the overall health of your trees and shrubs. By removing dead or diseased branches, you allow space for the sunlight to permeate the plant and leave room for new branches to grow.


More Shield Insurance Agency Blog Articles

Read More
The Top 2023 Bathroom Trends, According to Designers

The Top 2023 Bathroom Trends, According to Designers

Ultimate relaxation and personal style are high in demand.

Better Homes & Gardens | By Kristina McGuirk | January 4, 2023 | Bathroom Trends | Shield Insurance

Bathroom design in 2023 will continue to build on themes emerging since 2020, including clean lines, easy-maintenance materials, and heavy doses of natural colors. At the same time, an underlying current is shifting our view of bathrooms from task-focused spaces to rooms designed for comfort.

According to Jean-Jacques L’Henaff, a design expert with LIXIL Global Design, the bathroom has transformed into a space focused on health, wellness, and relaxation. At the same time, larger home design trends are influencing aesthetic styles. As a result, personalization is driving a lot of the design choices, encouraging homeowners to create comfortable rooms with custom bathing experiences.

1. Fabulous Walk-in Showers

It seems that everyone agrees 2023 is the year of the shower. Pinterest Predicts identified an “elevated shower routine” among its top trends for the year. Similarly, 2023 Design Trends research by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and 2022 Bathroom Trends research from Houzz both report continued and increasing popularity in shower upgrades. This includes expanding shower sizes—two-person showers are preferred, according to the NKBA–as well as shower seats, multiple showerheads, and zero-entry showers for ageless accessibility

But walk-in showers don’t just have a functional focus: Michele Youell, an NKBA member and designer behind Natural Domain Interiors, points to design elements like sources of natural light, accent lighting, and visually stunning wall tiles that create an eye-catching shower when paired with the popular glass shower enclosure.

2. Removing Oversize Tubs

“While modern standalone tubs have been trending for several years, I have clients requesting removal of their large unused built-in tubs and reclaiming that space,” says Youell. Instead, that area is being repurposed for other trending bath design elements, such as expanded showers or bathroom linen closets. Removing a tub can also open a floor plan to create a bath that feels less crowded and more serene.

3. Spa Bathroom Trends

There’s a shifting mindset when it comes to bathroom design: instead of seeing bathrooms as strictly task-focused, consider them as spaces in which to relax and take care of your body. “It can help heal a sore body when you have the flu, or it can even help with sore muscles from skiing,” says Lauren Schulte, NKBA member and owner and designer of Monarch Kitchen Design Studio.

Although showers are trending in favor of tubs generally, 2023 bathroom design is all about personalization, which means a rainfall shower for some, a soaking tub for others, or both. Steam showers are an increasingly popular solution, often including a bench or seating to encourage relaxation. “I am also designing with a lot of open shelves so clients can roll towels like you would see at a luxury spa and incorporate soft inviting colors to help it feel zen,” says Schulte.

Natural and dimmable lighting, and incorporating more greenery, are similar spa-inspired trends noted by Houzz. Altering the floor plan and creating separate spaces, like partitioning off the toilet for more privacy, is another way to get a spa-like bathing experience. 

4. Wood Vanity Bathroom Trends

Painted finishes, especially white, have been the dominant choice for bathroom vanities of all shapes and sizes for years. But in 2023, expect to see a lot more natural wood on bathroom vanities and cabinets. Both Houzz and the NKBA are seeing wood coming in close second to (if not surpassing) the once-domineering white vanities. Cane and wood-pattern inserts were also added to the NKBA’s vanity styles for the first time this year. This increasing appeal of wood complements the rapid rise of modern organic style and warm colors that we’ve seen in the last two years. 

Click here for more beautiful bathroom trends!


More great blogs from Shield Insurance Agency

Read More
13 Fall Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off Big in Winter

13 Fall Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off Big in Winter

Some are simple DIY tasks, others should be done by a professional

AARP.org | By Sheryl Jean | October 19, 2022 | Home Insurance | Home Improvement

As winter approaches, fall is the perfect time to prepare your home so you stay warm and dry in colder weather.​

A checklist of inspections and projects will ensure your home’s systems and appliances work properly, which may increase its energy efficiency and lower your utility bills. Think of it as an annual checkup for your home just like you see your family doctor regularly.​

“Staying on top of simple maintenance pays dividends in the long run,” says John Wessling, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. “Little things can make a huge difference … and prevent bigger problems. That window caulking now may prevent a $35,000 wall repair because water got behind the siding.”​

Lora Novak, an editor for the House Method website that provides home service recommendations and reviews, advises scheduling service sooner than later. It may take longer to get an appointment as many companies may be short of staff or parts due to supply chain issues, she adds.​

Here are 13 home improvement chores to focus on this fall:​

1. Fine-tune your furnace: Home Improvement

Novak says a furnace check is crucial so you don’t risk losing heat during winter. Change the air filter, which becomes dirty and inefficient over time. Hire a professional for a full maintenance check, which may include a furnace inspection, duct cleaning, and an airflow evaluation.​

A furnace inspection could cost less than $100, but a tuneup may cost more than $200. If you’ve got a tight budget, Wessling suggests getting a heating and cooling inspection every other year but only if you change the filter regularly yourself. Look for HVAC specialists through Air Conditioning Contractors of America and North American Technician Excellence.​

2. Clear gutters and downspouts: Home Improvement​

Even if you don’t have trees, leaves, pine needles, and other debris can clog gutters in the fall. That can cause ice dams or water to back up, potentially damaging the roof, siding, or trim. Clean out gutters and downspouts, and direct downspouts 2 to 4 feet away from the foundation, says Mark Graham, vice president of technical services for the National Roofing Contractors Association. DIY is possible, but if you don’t feel safe on a ladder, hire a professional. The average cost for a single-story house is about $160.​

3. Check seals and weatherstripping 

If you see gaps between exterior windows or door frames, you may need to re-caulk them or install new weatherstripping. Check that storm windows are secure. Cover screen doors with glass or replace them with storm doors for energy efficiency, says Wessling, who owns Wessling Home Inspection Services in St. Louis.​

4. Repair roofs

For more of the story…


More great articles are featured by Shield Insurance Agency…

Read More
5 Home Renovation Projects For The Best ROI - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

5 Home Renovation Projects for the best ROI

5 Home Improvement Renovation Projects That May Have the Biggest Return on Investment

Conventional wisdom has long held that kitchens and baths sell homes. Those are also two of the more expensive areas to tackle for home renovation, but if you make sound design decisions and choose the right materials, you could end up making your home more appealing to potential buyers – and a more enjoyable place for you to live. And, if you’re handy, some of these ideas may even be great DIY (do-it-yourself) home projects.

A study from the National Association of Realtors confirms that kitchens and baths still top the list of interior home improvement projects that appeal most to potential buyers. The survey ranked the projects by the percentage of the remodel cost that would likely be recovered based on the home’s resale value after the remodel. These five home improvements can potentially provide the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to ROI.

Complete Kitchen Renovation

  • National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI®) cost estimate for the project: $68,000
  • REALTORS® estimated cost recovered: $40,000
  • Percent of value recovered from the project: 59%

The look and feel of a kitchen can serve as shorthand for how up-to-date the owners have kept a house. Potential buyers have been known to rule out homes based on kitchens alone. Stainless steel appliances and granite countertops continue to be on many buyers’ checklists, especially those who want to move right in and start entertaining.

The top reason for renovating a kitchen, cited by 24% of homeowners, was to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes, and materials. According to the Remodeling Impact Report, 10% of realtors said a completely renovated kitchen most recently helped them clinch a deal, resulting in a closed sale.

Kitchen Upgrade

  • NARI’s cost estimate for the project: $38,300
  • REALTORS® estimated cost recovered: $20,000
  • Percent of value recovered from the project: 52%

A less expensive alternative to completely gutting a kitchen is an upgrade to the current design. Replacing dated appliances, refinishing cabinets, and changing out tile backsplashes are some cost-effective updates that can still modernize a kitchen and make it more appealing to buyers.

While 12% of realtors suggest that sellers completely remodel their kitchens, 57% have suggested a kitchen upgrade. Twenty percent of realtors have said a kitchen upgrade most recently helped complete a deal. In addition to the resale value, kitchen improvements can also help you enjoy your time in your home, with better functionality and livability cited by 29% of respondents as the most important result of their remodel.

Travelers want to help you protect the things that matter to you. We offer a wide breadth of products so you can be covered at home and on the road.

Bathroom Renovation

  • NARI’s cost estimate for the project: $35,000
  • REALTORS® estimated cost recovered: $20,000
  • Percent of value recovered from the project: 57%

Bathrooms are another place where a home can show its age, and potential buyers may hesitate at the cost and work involved in remodeling an outdated bathroom after buying a home. Still, while 33% of realtors have suggested sellers complete a bathroom renovation before completing a sale, only 4% said the project most recently helped them complete a deal.

New Bathroom

  • NARI’s cost estimate for the project: $60,000
  • REALTORS® estimated cost recovered: $30,000
  • Percent of value recovered from the project: 50%

A remodeling decision often driven by function rather than a desire to modernize, adding a new bathroom is nearly as expensive as completely remodeling a kitchen, but with less of a “wow factor” for potential buyers. With only 5% of realtors suggesting that sellers add a bathroom and only 1% saying the project most recently helped clinch a deal for them, this may be one project that makes more sense for homeowners planning to be in their homes for several years.

New Master Suite/Owners’ Suite

  • NARI’s cost estimate for the project: $150,000
  • REALTORS® estimated cost recovered: $75,000
  • Percent of value recovered from the project: 50%

The costliest project on the list, a new master suite or owner’s suite, is another project that may have greater value to you while living in the home rather than in making it attractive to future buyers. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they have a greater desire to be home since completing the project. Only 3% of realtors have suggested that sellers complete an owner’s suite before attempting to sell, and less than 1% said the project most recently helped clinch a deal for them.

Still deciding where to focus your budget for home improvement? Make a list of the reasons you’re considering each project, and be sure to consider the impact on your home insurance, too. Want to attract future buyers and increase the value of your home? Kitchens and bathrooms remain a good place to start. If you plan to remain in your home for a number of years, you may want to update a bedroom, add a bathroom, convert a basement to a living area or tackle any other project that will add to your own appreciation of where you live.

Read More