{"id":19333,"date":"2020-09-30T06:20:52","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T13:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=19333"},"modified":"2024-03-29T07:40:07","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T14:40:07","slug":"selling-a-house-with-a-sloped-backyard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/selling-a-house-with-a-sloped-backyard\/","title":{"rendered":"Selling a House with a Sloped Backyard: Help Buyers See the Beauty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rolling hills look majestic in photographs, but when it comes to your own property lot, most people would prefer a nice flat yard. Dramatic changes in elevation can make it difficult to maintain the grass or even create a safety hazard. So when you\u2019re selling a house with a sloped backyard, it\u2019s natural to stress over how buyers will perceive it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a house about a year ago with a sloped backyard, and I told the sellers that was going to be a challenge. When you walked outside, you had maybe a hundred yards, and then it went straight up,\u201d says Valerie Hunter-Kelly<\/a>, a single-family homes expert serving the Clarksville, Tennessee, area.<\/p>\n

Your sloped backyard might feel as imposing as a mountain, but a buyer with the right mindset can view it in a positive light. What if you could help them see the landscaping potential, the sledding hill, or that you\u2019ve addressed any and all drainage issues? We\u2019ve got tips for how to do that and more so that your sloped-yard doesn\u2019t get in the way of your sale.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (Madara Parma \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Consider the unique advantages of the slope<\/h2>\n

A sloped yard offers several advantages. Although a buyer who foresees putting a playset in the yard could disagree, others will look at that slope and imagine the exercise, among other possibilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a great workout for somebody being able to jog or run up and down and walk up and down that yard,\u201d Hunter-Kelly says.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s also had clients who love their slopes for the view and seasonal activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the weather gets crazy, one of the things they tell me is, \u2018We love our hilly backyard. It’s a great place for sledding.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack Zunino, a landscape architect since 1980 and owner of JW Zunino Landscape Architecture<\/a> in Las Vegas, Nevada, has built retaining walls, vegetable gardens, English box gardens, or flower gardens<\/a> for clients with sloped property.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t look at slopes as being a nuisance as much as we try to turn them into something that\u2019s an enhancement to your site,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Some clients like a \u201cconstant slope that rolls off into the distance,\u201d similar to a golf course, he says. Others enjoy tiered planters with railroad ties embedded to prevent erosion.<\/p>\n

One client had a yard that extended flat for about 20 feet and then sloped upward about 25 feet, which puzzled Zunino at first. But the client had envisioned just what he wanted: meandering stairs, a midway area with seating and a deck, and a Jacuzzi on top.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe turned it into a really cool project,\u201d Zunino says. \u201cThe Jacuzzi sits up high, so he has views over the whole neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Address drainage issues head on<\/h2>\n

Now that you know the potential of a sloped yard, let\u2019s gather some facts about your yard\u2019s topography.<\/p>\n

First, what\u2019s the grade? This isn\u2019t like a letter on a report card. Rather, the grade is how the land slopes for drainage. If you\u2019ve lived in your home during any precipitation, you already know if water rushes down the slope toward your home. (If not, then drainage isn\u2019t a problem.)<\/p>\n

To avoid water seeping into your home, the ground around your house should slope away in all directions, dropping at least two to three inches every ten feet<\/a>, according to The Toro Company, an outdoor environment, landscaping, and maintenance company since 1914.<\/p>\n

The U.S. General Services Administration recommends a 2% minimum slope, or a ratio of 3:1 for easy maintenance in planted areas.<\/p>\n

A drainage system such as a French drain at the bottom of the slope that pipes water to the street is one way to handle any drainage issue, Zunino says.<\/p>\n

You also could have the lawn regraded, which can be costly based on how steep the slope of your yard is. A lawn with steep downward turns or dramatic slopes requires more effort and money than one that needs a slight resurfacing. HomeAdvisor estimates that resloping a lawn costs anywhere from $400 to $5,000, with a national average of $1,925<\/a>, because of how slopes can vary.<\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019ve never had a drainage issue, Hunter-Kelly recommends getting a pre-listing home inspection to eliminate buyers\u2019 concerns about sitting water, flooding, or water damage. \u201cThat\u2019s a big thing we look at, whether it\u2019s a flat yard or a slope in our area,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

How steep is the slope?<\/h2>\n

Knowing how steep the slope is can help plan your landscaping. The steeper the grade, the more likely you\u2019ll need steps or tiered planters, for instance, to help visitors climb from bottom to top.<\/p>\n

A landscape architect or designer can help you measure this, or you can try your hand at it if you\u2019re comfortable with math, says Amy Fedele, a gardener whose blog, Pretty Purple Door<\/a>, has been featured in Country Living <\/i>magazine and other publications. You\u2019ll need plant stakes, nylon rope or twine, a line level, and measuring tape<\/a>.<\/p>\n