Selling Your Home - Your Yard; The Crown Jewel

Selling your home – The Crown Jewel

April 29, 2016 By The Bunny Terry Group

Making your yard The Crown Jewel of your home!

We have all driven by “that” yard on a lazy Sunday afternoon, oohing and ahhing at the beautifully manicured lawn or bright flowers planted in just the right place. Like you, potential home buyers form their first impression of a home from its curb appeal. Yet often the outdoor landscaping is either overlooked or underwhelming. Ideally, the yard should be the crown jewel of the home. In fact, a well-landscaped outdoor space can increase the value of your home by up to 10%. Remember, it’s the first thing potential buyers lay their eyes on when they walk up to the front door and the last thing they see as they drive away.

Here are 5 great tips for getting your yard in tip-top shape as you prepare your home for the market!

1. Plant instant color.

nmyard1 Color draws the eye, and colorful flowers in your flower beds or outdoor containers are the perfect way to add a fresh look to your home. No matter the season, there are always plants or flowers of color available; from the petite pansies to ornamental cabbages, colorful foliage is an inexpensive way to add value to your home.

2. Touch up the ground cover.

Nothing spruces up a place like new ground cover. Applying a fresh layer of mulch to your flower beds, or bulking up your pebble or gravel cover helps to clean up the grounds and to show that care has been taken. What’s more, mulch and gravel are relatively cheap and easy to apply.

3. Don’t neglect those trees and shrubs.

Regardless of the time of year, it’s a good idea to tackle any overlooked pruning chores because nothing says neglect like a bunch of dead branches. The idea is to show how well not only your house but also your garden has been maintained. It’s okay to prune deciduous trees and shrubs any time of the year.

4. Clean up, Clean up, Clean up.

Tidying up the clutter, be it old flower pots, trash, kid’s toys, or the dog’s favorite chew toy is paramount to a beautiful yard. This also includes water features, and hard surfaces. Water features exude peace and tranquility unless they are covered in algae and smell like a swamp. Get rid of any visible algae, remove leaves, and clean filters so that the water is crystal clear. If water features are neglected, they can easily be an instant turnoff. Power-washing hard surfaces that have accumulated dirt is also an excellent idea. Consider buying or renting a power washer to clean paved surfaces. With very little time or effort, you can make grungy, grimy surfaces look brand-spanking new. Power washers also do a great job of cleaning fences, as well as brick and vinyl siding.

5. Fix those drips.

If there are any problems with an irrigation system, fix them. Irrigation system repairs can be expensive, and you don’t want to lay the cost of those repairs on the buyer. Provide information about your irrigation schedule, especially if you have an automatic system. Include instructions as to how the system operates and recommend the same watering schedule that’s worked for you. Also do not neglect to repair faucet leaks. These are not only a nuisance, but also cost the homeowner money and waste a natural resource.

Follow these 5 steps to a beautiful yard; and when your house hits the market, the yard will be the home’s Crown Jewel and the Crown Jewel of the neighborhood. nmyard2