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DFW Real Estate Articles: 2008
Light Landscaping to Sell
© by Mike Stevenson
In this article, I'm going to offer some landscaping tips from a "lighter" point of view. So, please don't be be taken back by my tongue-in-cheek comments... no offense is intended.
How can one improve the chances of a fast sale when marketing a home? Answer: If the home is priced correctly, a boost in interest can be achieved by some modest "yard work".
I've seen it many times... a house with great potential that NO BUYER is ever going to ask their Realtor® to show them! Yes, that's an exaggeration, but I'm trying to make a point. When you drive down a typical residential street -- homes of similar size, age and style -- you'll notice two kinds of homes that really stand out:
- The very attractive home and yard.
- The very trashy home and yard.
Sorry if that's a little blunt. Now... you want YOUR home to stand out when it's up for sale, but you want it to be the "Number 1" kind of place don't you? Let's look at some easy ways
to make your home stand out from the crowd and get it SOLD!
Where's the House?
Most people love pretty trees in the yard. Depending on the neighborhood, trees may abound throughout the yard, or more commonly, there's one or maybe two. In either case, what we're selling is the house... not the trees. Now, there are neighborhoods where the 'norm' is huge trees everywhere. But, sometimes you can drive past homes that are hidden in "the woods" of their own front yard. So, trim the trees as needed in order to let the house be the focal point. The same thing applies to the shrubs -- don't let them hide so much of that beautiful brick and stone that noone can tell what color the house is, much less see the windows. Sometimes, there are matching shrubs on each side of the house. If that's the case, they should "match". Trim them so they're about the same size and shape; when in doubt, make them smaller. The final point here is that potential buyers should have a nice view of your home with the greenery complimenting it -- not hiding it. They also shouldn't have to "watch out" for tree limbs or step around over-grown bushes as they walk from the car up to the front door.
Some Color Please
Green is beautiful -- especially for summer grass. If your lawn is tending toward the yellowish side of green, try tossing some fertilizer on it -- then -- soak it with water for a few days. It only takes about five days to really green-up the yard... and after about a week, you can see the areas that didn't get enough fertilizer. Do them over and add a little to the whole yard again if needed. A thick green lawn adds a lot to the look of your home. When you mow (or have it mowed), be sure the walkway and driveway edging is cut nicely too. And get rid of the grass that's growing in the little spaces where the concrete is joined together.
In addition to green, we want some other colors. For a very modest investment, we can plant some flowers or colored-leaf plants to make the house look happy and inviting! This makes a BIG difference in its appearance from the street. If you're in the Feng Shui mood, place a few large rocks into the mix where they'll been seen by people who pass by on the sidewalk or come up to the front door. Make those prospective buyers WANT to see more of this beautiful home before someone else grabs it!
Check the Details
Unless your neighborhood has community mailboxes, you should take a look at your mailbox to make sure it says good things about the home. It needs to stand up straight and be in good repair! Touch-up the paint if needed... and while you're out there... take a look at curb in front of the house. Is your house number painted on the curb? That's great if the paint looks new and the numbers are crisp and readable. If otherwise, either fix-it-up nicely, or get out the wire brush and remove it. Fine details like this can make potential buyers want to see your home.
With only a weekend's worth of time and a good credit card, you can change your house from "just another one" -- to a -- 'Lean, Mean, Buyer-Catching Machine'. Remember that there are buyers out there who are already interested in your neighborhood... now, let's make sure that they're also interested in your house!
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