Based on the outside appearance of a home, a potential buyer decides in the first 8 seconds whether or not they want to go inside.  Over the last couple of years, home staging has become very popular to assist in selling a home.  This effort has been proven to help the seller gain the highest possible price for their home in today's market. 

Furthermore, exterior staging sets the scene for immediate buyer interest in your property.  As you prepare your home for sale, great Curb Appeal may help you sell your home faster and get top dollar for it. 

Often real estate companies have Lawncare businesses who do work for them on a regular basis that can help with this effort.  If you employ a service already, you can ask for their advice and pay them to do the additional work.  Many homeowners are sentimental with their existing landscaping.  Some plants may be overgrown, uneven or in the dying stage.  A fresh eye will lend an unprejudiced view of what can be done to improve the exterior. 

Professional home stagers may also be able to work their magic on the outside as well as the inside.  Although not as experienced at doing the actual work, they could recommend some overall ways to “freshen up” or de-clutter the landscape.

If you are one of many FSBO’s out there (For Sale by Owner), you probably want to do much of the “marketing” of your home on your own.  Let’s talk about some ways to enhance the exterior of your property in general.

The buyer wants to dream about your house being their home, with all they desire.  Just as with the inside, they need to be able to visualize what it would look like with their possessions or favorite plants around.  That often means if you have lots of clutter, (i.e. overgrown plants) it will only get in the way of their vision.  On the other hand, if you do not have any landscaping, you might consider adding some things to enhance curb appeal.

Next let’s look at ways to tidy up overgrown plants around your exterior.  Step back and view the scenery as if it’s the first time you’ve seen it.  Imagine you are the prospective buyer and note what could easily seem unattractive.  Invite a friend to give constructive criticism as well.  You want the outside of the home to be complimented by plants, not covered by them.  Shrubs and trees should be neat & well trimmed. Some may even need to be removed.  Freshen up your mulch or other ground cover.  New mulch can really change the look of your beds for the better.

Do your ‘flowerbeds’ have edging?  Is it worn out or covered by grass?  Rock edging may need to be re-stacked, metal edging may need straightened and landscaping timbers may need replacing.  A little elbow grease and a small investment could make a big difference in the selling price of your house.

Subsequently, if you don’t have “landscaping” at all, you can still do a few things to ensure a tidy yard.  Keep the grass cut;  keep trash and leaves picked up.  Depending on the season, a few pots of blooming plants will add a fresh touch of color, especially around the front door. 

Also review the condition of the outside walls.  Do your shutters need painting or replaced?  Is your siding clean and in good condition?  If you do not have maintenance free siding, does it need a fresh coat of paint?  Is your brick or rock façade clean of mold or moss?  A little power washing may be the key to polishing up the exterior walls.

As the old saying goes ‘you may need to spend money to make money.’  These tips will help protect your investment and literally clear the way for potential buyers to ‘see’ the house in the best light.  Depending on if you do the work yourself or hire it done, a minimal investment could add $5,000 or more to your selling price.  Most of all, it adds interest and creates the most appeal to drive buyers inside.

Don’t forget to pay attention to the back yard as well.  Follow the above tips all around the house.    If you live in a family oriented neighborhood, new buyers may be looking for an area to raise their kids.  Back lawns are very important to these buyers.  They’ll need lots of space for kids to run and play.  Make sure fences are in good shape and pets are contained when the property is being shown.

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