Does Your Home's Landscaping Make the Grade?

You have made the decision to sell your home. You have taken the advice that your friends have so lovingly given you. You washed all the windows. You steam cleaned the carpet. You repaired the door and fixed the broken window in the garage. What is left to do that can help sell your home and put dollars in your pocket? Curb appeal. You have probably heard that phrase, curb appeal, as often as location, location, location. Both are real estate buzz words. One you can't change, the other you can.

If you can get buyers interested in looking at your home, then you have potential buyers. How do you get them motivated to check out your home? Simple, by sprucing up your landscaping. By spending a few dollars and a couple hours of your time, you can make your home inviting to potential buyers.

Before you put your house up for sale take the following landscaping tips into consideration:

Tip #1 to make sure your landscaping makes the grade

Remove dead plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. You want your yard to be well maintained. Call some of your friends and family over to help you get rid of the dead landscaping materials in your yard. Start with the front yard and work your way to the backyard. Keep the grass mowed at the proper height.

Tip #2 to make sure your landscaping makes the grade

Now that you have a clean slate, start adding color and texture. You don't have to spend a lot of money. In the fall, add colorful mums to your landscaping areas. A few large mums can go a long way. You can either plant them in the ground or in large pots. In the spring or summer, plant seasonal flowers such as marigolds. Marigolds grow fast, they are colorful and don't require much work. Remove dead blooms often to help promote new growth.

Tip #3 to make sure your landscaping makes the grade

Don't have a green thumb? Never make the mistake of using artificial flowers in your yard. That is a sure turn-off for potential buyers. Go to your local garden center and tell the salesperson that you are a novice gardener. Ask for recommendations on the easiest and most inexpensive plants and flowers. They can provide you with the right information for your area of the country. Thet are experts in the field, make use of their knowledge.

Tip #4 to make sure your landscaping makes the grade

If your newspaper delivery person tosses your paper in the flower bed on a daily basis, make sure you pick it up every day. Don't let unnecessary items remain in your yard or on your front porch. If you need a new doormat, buy one. If you use your front porch as your smoking area, empty and wash the ashtrays. Don't forget Fido's leavings. You don't want a potential buyer to get their shoes "dirty". Keep the mess under control.

Tip #5 to make sure your landscaping makes the grade

Once you made the above changes, you need to look at your home as a potential buyer would. Step across the street and see what you home looks like for a buyer. If you are happy with the look of your home's curb appeal, make sure you keep it that way.

Now that you have made the necessary updates to your landscaping and improved your home's curb appeal, make sure to maintain the look. Water plants and flowers when necessary, remove dead flowers, clean up the yard and sit back and wait for the offers to pour in.

Remember, the first and last impression that buyers have of your home is your curb appeal. Keep those landscaping areas neat and colorful and let the potential buyers picture themselves living there. After all that work, does your home's landscaping make the grade?

Source:

Personal experience