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Simple landscaping strategies that can transform your home Lennar Sac from page 1 several cities across the market, from Elk Grove to Plumas Lake, with prices that start from the $500,000s. For homebuyers in search of homes that can accommodate mul- tigenerational families, Lennar's Next Gen — The Home Within A Home design offers just that. Complete with an attached private suite that features its own entrance, living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette — these homes offer the ideal space for aging parents, older children or as the ultimate guest suite. Lennar's line of Heritage communi- ties was created with active adults in mind. Exclusively available for those age 55 and older, these communities offer single-story homes for sale complete with Thoughtful Design fea- tures to accommodate their lifestyles, as well as on-site amenities and resort-style recreation. Lennar's signature Everything's Included program also pro- vides additional value in every single home they build, with a high level of upgrades and features as standard. Items such as stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, upgraded cabinetry, integrated home automation and whole-home connectiv- ity all are included at no extra cost. Models are open daily, with virtual tours online, self-guided tours and Lennar-guided tours available. To learn more or schedule your visit, go to www.lennar. com/sacramento or call an internet sales consul- tant at (916) 304-9711 today. Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's lead- ing builders of quality homes for all genera- tions. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Ser- vices segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing ser- vices primarily for buy- ers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commer- cial real estate prop- erties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality mul- tifamily rental prop- erties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and stra- tegic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit lennar.com. Content provided by Lennar Sacramento BY METRO The interior of a home may be where homeowners and their families spend the majority of their time, and there's no denying that a well-planned in- terior goes a long way toward making a house a home. However, the exterior of a home, in- cluding its landscaping, can serve as a source of pride and catch the eye of prospective buyers when the home hits the market. It's easy to walk past a home with an eye-catching exterior and assume the home- owner has a green thumb or has spent lots of time and money working on the land- scaping. Though that may be true, often- times it's the simplest strategies that make all the difference. Homeowners can keep these strategies in mind as they look to transform the exterior of their homes. Dress up the walkway A longer walkway can give guests a strong first impression of a home and won't break the bank. Create new planting beds and add bright plants and flow- ers along each side of the walkway. If it's necessary and within budget, lengthen the walkway to create the feel of a more grandiose entryway. Make things more symmetrical A messy landscape can give a poor first impression, even if the area features some beautiful plants. In such instances, a little effort to make things more symmetrical, with equal parts grass and vegetation, can create a cleaner, more inviting look. Mulch flower and tree beds Mulch is a relatively inexpensive but effec- tive way to add aesthetic appeal to a landscape. Freshly mulched beds beneath trees and flow- ers create a clean and organized look, and the mulch also serves a practical purpose, as it reduces weed growth and helps the soil retain moisture so plants stay healthy and look better throughout the warmer months when rainfall may not be steady or significant. Plant shade trees Shade trees can be especially useful when selling a home. The shade provided by trees can shield grass from blistering summer sun, potentially helping it stay green. A lush green lawn appeals to buyers and gives the impres- sion the home has been well maintained. In ad- dition, shade trees can be used to create the look of a backyard oasis. A well-placed bench be- neath a large shade tree can entice buyers who want a relaxing spot to enjoy warm summer days outdoors without getting sunburned. Consider maintenance The more exotic an exterior landscape is, the more maintenance it's likely to require. Lawn and garden en- thusiasts may not be turned off by landscape features that require steady maintenance, but homeowners who don't have much time for such work should keep things simple. A poorly maintained landscape, even if it includes exotic plants and elaborate designs, will adversely affect curb appeal. Another feather in the cap of low-maintenance land- scape features is that they could prove more appealing to prospec- tive buyers, who may view elaborate, exotic landscaping as a lot of extra work they won't want to do. Some simple land- scaping strategies can help homeowners transform their home exteriors without re- quiring a significant investment of time or money. The varied styles of front doors BY METRO A grand entryway simply wouldn't be complete without an impressive front door. A front door can dazzle guests and create a homeowner's desired ambience before any- one even steps inside, which only under- scores how important the choice of door style can be. When shopping around for a new front door for their homes, homeowners can con- sider the many popular styles as they seek to choose one that fits an existing scheme or use a new front door as a springboard to a rede- signed home interior. Farmhouse Farmhouse doors are not all one and the same. Traditional farm- house doors provide a rustic look that's be- come popular in home decor over the past de- cade or so. Modern farmhouse doors are a little less rustic because they in- corporate more contem- porary elements into their design. Each op- tion is ideal for home- owners who aspire to create a farmhouse vibe in their home interiors and exteriors. Modern Modern front doors tend to boast a bold look and many are made up of large glass panels. Some home- owners prefer modern front doors because the glass in them allows lots of natural light into their home's inte- rior. The added light in the entryway appeals to homeowners who want to brighten up these spaces, which tend to be dark in homes with more traditional doors. Traditional Traditional front doors may be the most recognizable to today's homeowners. Often solid wood but some- times enhanced with glass, traditional doors may feature subtle, yet ornate designs. Traditional front doors might feel out of place in modern or rustic homes, so they're generally best suited to homes with owners who prefer more tradi- tional decor inside their homes. Custom It's important that homeowners recognize they need not pigeon- hole themselves into a particular design style for their front doors. Custom front doors may be costly, but many door manufacturers or contractors customize front doors. Custom doors may suit homeowners with unique ideas about decor, and some can even mimic other popu- lar styles while still featuring subtle dif- ferences. For example, homeowners can re- quest an arched double door that, while unique, features many of the same qualities that characterize traditional doors, including ornate designs. A front door can greatly influence the first impression people get of a home. That makes it worth home- owners' time and effort to explore the many dif- ferent front door styles now available. H2 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section