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<\/a>1. Make sure your house remains visible and beautiful from the street<\/h2>\nThe more greenery you have around your house the better, because plants are known noise reducers<\/a> and mature trees in a well-landscaped yard can increase your home value by 7% to 19%<\/a>. However, when you landscape to block traffic and noise, don\u2019t do so to the point that you obscure the view of the house from the street.<\/p>\n \u201cBuyers need to see the house because they use curb appeal to give a quick yes or quick no on a property,\u201d advises Tim Keady of the top performing Tim and Darcy Keady<\/a> father\/daughter real estate team based in Denver, Colorado. \u201cIf they can’t see the house, it’s always a quick \u2018no.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n In fact, living on a busy road translates to a ton of free advertising for your house. Imagine every person who passes by as a potential buyer, and add a few eye-catching colors<\/a> to your flower beds, window boxes, and planters.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say you don\u2019t have any (or enough) established bushes and trees and would like to add some landscaping before you put your home on the market. Rather than plant anything permanent, you can imitate the size and height of various plants (which help pad noise and add visual interest) by planting new foliage in containers.<\/p>\n A few evergreen conifers or Japanese maples<\/a> in sturdy containers add a temporary barrier without you having to spend money on landscaping that you can\u2019t take with you when you move.<\/p>\n Pro tip: Play around with your arrangement before actually planting your foliage in the pots. Containers filled with soil and plants get mighty heavy, making them much harder to move\u2014and you may even do damage to your lawn dragging them around.<\/p>\n Busy streets aren\u2019t just overwhelmed with heavy vehicle traffic, many have their share of excessive foot traffic, too, which can be murder on a front lawn.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s pups doing their business or neighbors who cut across your yard\u2014sometimes it\u2019s just tricky to keep grass alive. If you don\u2019t have time to regrow your tattered front lawn before listing your house, it might be wise to install a synthetic lawn<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had one listing this year that was a rental house, and they had fake grass because it’s in a nice neighborhood where you’re expected to have pretty grass,\u201d recalls Tim Keady.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was Fall, and with the leaves falling on it, you couldn’t even tell the grass was fake.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Fake grass may be an attractive solution to a dead front lawn, but it\u2019s not a cheap one. Artificial turf installation costs anywhere from $1,250 to $6,250<\/a> depending on the size of your yard, and the quality of the turf you select.<\/p>\n Spend that amount of money on a house you\u2019re selling may just be worth it. Fake grass is a major expense up front, however after installation the grass is maintenance free for 15 to 25 years<\/a>. While you won\u2019t be around to reap that benefit, buyers may pay more for a yard they won\u2019t have to pay to water or trim.<\/p>\n If your yard backs up to a busy road, your best options for a fence<\/a> that blocks noise are either a thick masonry wall or, if you care more about looks, a thick, tall, and gapless wooden fence.<\/p>\n As far as your front yard goes, ideally you should still be able to see the house from the road, limiting your ability to construct a higher fence barrier.<\/p>\n A low barrier between your house and the busy street, though it won\u2019t create an impervious sound blocker, at least adds a sense of privacy and discourages lawn traffic. Better yet if the fence connects to the house<\/a> as a way to contain young children or pets.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen shorter ones on the cute little houses downtown that have a little gate across the pathway to the front door,\u201d remarks Darcy Keady. \u201cThis is a great idea to deter loiterers, which can be a problem on some busy streets.\u201d<\/p>\n In most areas, three feet is the standard height<\/a> for front yard fences and common material selections include picket, brick, wrought iron, split rail, stone, and stucco. (Check with your homeowners association or consult a legal professional before installing your front yard fence, as you may need to obey local laws and follow regulations<\/a> when selecting your fence height and style.)<\/p>\n Fencing typically runs between $13 to $50 per linear foot<\/a>, and how much the project will cost you depends on the size of your front yard and the type of fencing you select.<\/p>\n At $8 to $16 per foot<\/a>, wood fencing options like split rail or picket are typically less expensive than brick or stone\u2014but they\u2019re also less substantial.<\/p>\n Finally, plant hedges along your fencing to boost the sense of separation from the busy street and help with the noise. Just make sure to plant inside of your fencing, not outside, so your hedges don\u2019t become a dumping ground for litter.<\/p>\n On especially busy streets where traffic noise and trespassers are a major problem, short fences won\u2019t help much. If that\u2019s the case with your house, then a tall fence may be an option to salvage the usefulness in your front yard\u2014by creating a courtyard<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cCourtyards are terrific if they\u2019re common to the area. And if the house is totally obscured, you can install a brochure box outside for flyers that include photos that show what the courtyard looks like,\u201d says Tim Keady.<\/p>\n A courtyard will block out the busy street problem. Plus, it creates an additional outdoor living space that can become a selling point\u2014if your courtyard is properly designed and staged<\/a>. Picture a flagstone patio, comfy, cushioned seating, and maybe a small fire pit.<\/p>\n Front yard courtyards are de rigueur in some cities and neighborhoods, especially on townhomes and row houses with little to no backyards. If that\u2019s not the case in your area, then creating a courtyard out front is a risky move that could hurt your home sale.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you add a courtyard to the front of a house in a neighborhood where there\u2019s not a lot of courtyards, then it’s got to be marketed correctly,\u201d advises Tim Keady. \u201cBuyers need to understand that the courtyard you\u2019ve added is usable and offers more privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n If unpleasant street sounds are your biggest problem, then the delightful warbles of a water feature may just be the answer.<\/p>\n \u201cA small water feature near the entryway is a good idea,\u201d says Darcy Keady. \u201cIt helps mask the street noise while potential buyers are waiting for their agent to open the lockbox.\u201d<\/p>\n From ponds and waterfalls to reflecting pools to fountains, your water feature options<\/a> can get expansive. Installing a large, permanent water feature costs between $1,228 to $2,710<\/a>, depending on the type, size, and complexity of the project.<\/p>\n However, when your main purpose for adding one is to help sell your house, it\u2019s best to steer clear of these expensive, permanently installed water features.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all for portable water features,\u201d adds Tim Keady. \u201cPermanent water features are expensive and they won\u2019t please everybody. Some buyers will love it, while others won\u2019t like having a water feature that they need to maintain.\u201d<\/p>\n There are plenty of outdoor fountain options<\/a> that require nothing more than an outlet to plug in the pump and fresh water every few days. Easy-install, moveable fountains are a lot less expensive, too. You can find options to complement any exterior home style for as little as $100 to $300 or less<\/a>.<\/p>\n Improving your curb appeal to reduce the negative impact of your busy street location is definitely doable as a DIY project. However, reducing intrusive noise levels isn\u2019t quite as easy without a little expert help.<\/p>\n When all your efforts to diminish street noise fail, then it’s time to bring in a landscaper with experience in noise reduction landscaping<\/a>. (Yes, it\u2019s actually a thing!)<\/p>\n Noise reduction landscaping is an outdoor design strategy that incorporates multiple sound-dampening elements.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just sold a home on a busy street with a large, stacked brick wall that leveled out the front yard and was also effective as a noise reflector,\u201d recalls Tim Keady. \u201cThat house also had several large fir trees in one corner of the lot, which are effective in absorbing some of that street noise year-round.\u201d<\/p>\n The typical noise reduction landscaping plan includes a variety of plants and rough bark trees to absorb sound, plus fencing selected for its ability to deflect or reflect sound. It may even include pathway surfaces and\/or climbing vines to refract or dissipate sounds, along with a white noise element like a water feature selected for its loud splashes.<\/p>\n2. Go with cost-effective, container garden landscaping<\/h2>\n
<\/a>3. Use artificial turf to revive your damaged lawn<\/h2>\n
4. Install a front yard fence to create a visual barrier<\/h2>\n
<\/a>5. Consider the courtyard option<\/h2>\n
6. Mask distracting street noise with a water feature<\/h2>\n
<\/a>7. Invest in professional, noise-reducing landscaping<\/h2>\n
Landscaping for busy roads: Is there a simpler solution?<\/h3>\n