When shopping for a home, most buyers focus on the home's interior. Maybe they take a peek at the home's porch or look at the overall curb appeal, but they spend little time wandering around the yard and landscaping itself. This could come back to bite you later if you discover the landscaping needs more maintenance than you expected or that the yard is not as livable as you'd like. Make sure you don't buy a home on land you don't love — check for these things when looking over the yard while house-hunting.

Does the land drain well?

If possible, you may want to visit the home after some rain and make sure there are no big puddles or low areas. If the yard does not drain well, your kids may not be able to play back there without getting too muddy and the grass will get torn up easily if people walk across it.

If you're not able to visit the home when it is wet outside, just keep a close eye out for signs that the land does flood. If there are spots where the grass is worn away or there are no ditches around the land, that could indicate that the yard does not drain well.

Do the plants need a lot of maintenance?

Unless you are the kind of person who likes spending time maintaining the plants, you'll want to make sure the plants in the yard don't require a ton of care and upkeep. If they are mostly native plants, then they won't need as much irrigation and care. On the other hand, if the old owners planted a lot of exotic plants, the landscaping may start to look messy and dead if you are not very careful to maintain the plants.

Are the fences secure?

If there are any fences on the property, make sure they are secure and in good condition. A fence does little good if it is deteriorating or the rails are coming detached from the posts. If there is a gate, make sure it latches. If the gate locks, make sure the homeowners have a key or that one can be easily made to fit.

If you spend time looking at the landscaping and yard when house-hunting, you will be more likely to find a home that truly suits your needs, inside and out. Talk to a real estate agency like the Tom and Barb Nash Group to learn more.

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