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Just ask Chuck Mitton
of Cherry Hills Village, Colo. He and wife Jean went
to town on the nondescript backyard of their ranch home a few years
ago. A tangled mass of overgrown plants became a three-level
wonderland, complete with ponds, waterfalls, dwarf conifer trees and
fresh flower beds with roses and azaleas. Oh, and don't forget the
new "hardscapes," such as a winding brick walkway, a
backyard hot tub, and a barbecue pit and dining area, where the
couple eat "almost every day" during warm weather.
"If you're going to do some landscaping, I'd say to quite a
bit," suggest the semi retired bookkeeper and investor, who
spent $60,000 o his additions. "Then you can enjoy yourself -
and the value of your home will go up too."
The Proof: When
Mitton refinanced in 2001, the originally $250,000 home was
reappraised at $750,000 - roughly $150,000 to $200,000 of which he
attributes to the landscaping. "Landscapes take time to
mature," says the 59- year old, "but I'd say people might
be able to make 200 percent of whatever they put in."
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