First impressions

Dallas climbs up list of top 10 cities with the best curb appeal

Nicely landscaped home on Willow Wood Lane in Dallas.

Courtesy photo

Dallas' growth over the years has brought a boom in residential development. There are beautiful homes to be found throughout the area, and Dallas homeowners are among the best in the country at maintaining their curb appeal — or at least the most committed.

So says Thumbtack's 2024 list of the top 10 cities with the best curb appeal in the country, which ranks Dallas No. 4. The study was based on an analysis of curb appeal projects from September 2023 to August 2024, which was ranked by project frequency.

Maintaining beauty doesn't come cheap. Thumbtack, a home services website, found that Dallasites should budget $3,576 for autumn outdoor projects such as gutter cleanings, sprinkler system winterization, tree trimming, and fertilizing the lawn.

The report also made suggestions for outdoor weatherization projects, which Dallasites should heed now that Texas winters are less predictable due to climate change, they say.

"To protect your home from rain, cold, and snow, we recommend sealing your deck, caulking gaps, and insulating doors and windows," the report's author wrote. "These steps help keep warm air in and moisture out, ensuring your home’s exterior is ready for winter."

Homeowners who want to make a big impression with their lawn next spring should start working on it this fall, they say. Projects like overseeding and aerating the yard, regular weeding, and pruning shrubs, trees, and perennials ahead of the winter months will help improve curb appeal for the next year, according to the report.

But if a homeowner prefers the trendy look of a less manicured (yet still green) yard, we're not here to judge. Leaving more room for greenery in the backyard can make a home look more lush.

What it all costs
Of course, service costs are a major factor when determining how much to budget for these projects. The national average cost estimate for tree trimming can ring up at $718, while pressure washing or shrub trimming can easily cost over $300.

"Some projects like leaf cleanup and fertilizing can be DIYed, but others like gutter cleaning and tree trimming should be left to the pros to avoid costly, and dangerous mistakes," the report said. "Bundling home projects like aerating, fertilizing, weeding, and overseeding with a lawn care professional can also help you save money as you plan ahead."

Curb appeal is said to be a major factor when buyers are considering a home, and as diligent as Dallas may be, it's surpassed by three cities who take it more seriously, including Austin which came in at No. 2, and Atlanta, which was No. 1.

On the other hand, Dallas did climb up a spot from its No. 5 position in 2023, beating out Washington, DC.

The top 10 cities with the best curb appeal are:

No. 1 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 2 – Austin, Texas
No. 3 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 4 – Dallas, Texas
No. 5 – Washington, D.C.
No. 6 – Denver, Colorado
No. 7 – Tampa, Florida
No. 8 – Orlando, Florida
No. 9 – Seattle, Washington
No. 10 – Raleigh, North Carolina

The full report can be found on thumbtack.com.

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Swedish Fish News

Popular Ikea furniture chain to open 4th Dallas store in Rockwall

IKEA

Ikea sign - instantly recognizable

Dallas-Fort Worth is getting a new Ikea store in Rockwall. Located at Stodghill Road and I-30, it'll be the third Ikea in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and is due to open in December 2025.

Ikea is the world's largest furniture retailer, founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, and known for its simple, modern approach to interior design at an affordable price, its ready-to-assemble furniture, and its amusement-park-like stores.

Ikea will be the anchor in a 65-plus acre mixed-use development with a location chosen for its accessibility not only to the east side of DFW but also to major highways that connect to faraway towns like Texarkana and Little Rock. Rockwall to Texarkana is 155 miles or a 2-hour-and-22-minute drive — surely doable if you're hot to get a great quality mattress at a good price or stock up on Swedish gummy red fish.

According to a release, the store represents Ikea's intention to become more accessible, affordable, and convenient for the many here in the U.S., even those who live in places like Casa View and Mesquite, and the store will offer a new way of reaching customers both in-store and digitally.

The store's footprint is 108,000 square feet — almost a third smaller than the existing locations in Frisco and Grand Prairie, which both span 293,000-plus square feet (although Grand Prairie is one story while Frisco is two-story). There's also a pickup-style store in Southlake that's 10,809 square feet.

“Our expansion goal is simple. We will be where people are, whenever and however they want to experience Ikea," says Ikea U.S. Ceo and Chief Sustainability Officer Javier Quiñones. “We have been testing different store formats to increase customer convenience, make home delivery more cost-efficient, and reach our customers where they live, work, and socialize. IKEA Rockwall represents a key milestone in this ongoing journey.”

Though smaller than the other area behemoths, Rockwall will nonetheless be serving Ikea's trademark meatballs at a new Swedish Deli concept, a Swedish cafe to enjoy meals onsite, and a Swedish Bistro for quick takeaway items that can be enjoyed in the outdoor seating area or at home.

The space will include multiple fully furnished room settings that showcase “local living” solutions reflecting the unique needs of the residents of the local community. Rockwall embroidered pillows, maybe?

Additionally, Ikea Rockwall’s design will include features for improved sustainability, specifically solar power, LEED certified construction, EV chargers, onsite recycling and native plant materials to reduce water consumption.

“We are strongly committed to the communities in which we operate. IKEA Rockwall provides an even more seamless omnichannel shopping experience throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and we look forward to welcoming residents and surrounding neighbors to this new Ikea experience,” says Ikea U.S. Area Market Manager Rob Parsons.

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