Tree treasure

You should keep an eye out for homes that have attractive trees. Real estate agents say that mature trees can add $10,000 or more to the value of your house. In fact, it was the four 100-year-old pine and maple trees in the backyard that sold Mintz on her home. "They needed a bit of cleaning up so we trimmed them back a bit," says Mintz. "Now they give the backyard a great cottage feel." The moral? Look for homes with trees — and if your house doesn't have one, plant a sapling tomorrow.