Selling Your Home? Here are 9 Things to Do to Your Yard to Increase Value

If you are thinking of selling your home, you have probably given considerable thought to all of the things you need to do to get inside ready. But many people tend to ignore or give little weight to some very easy things you can do to the outside that instantly improve curb appeal, attract more buyers, and raise value. The great thing about these particular tasks is that most of them require no special skills or require much money to accomplish.

Here are 9 things you can do to your yard and surrounding areas that will immediately increase its “buyability.”

1. Cut back overgrown trees and shrubs that hide your house.

Even if they are just a little bit overgrown, trimming them can make a huge difference. People want to see the house, plus they want a home that looks like it’s been taken care of inside and out. That means keeping the plant life trimmed.

2. Keep the lawn mowed, shrubs trimmed, and walkways edged while your home is on the market.

A messy lawn, in particular, looks really bad to buyers. The yard is the first thing potential buyers see. If it looks like you’ve given up on it, then they may assume you’ve done the same inside too.

3. Rake leaves, weed flower beds, and pull out dead and dying plants.

Again, it gives the impression that you care and have taken the time to make things right.

4. Clean up trash in both the front and back yards.

This really should go without saying, but I know that some people don’t think about it. If you have trash lying in your yard or driveway, or if you have old cars, appliances, or other items lying around, get rid of them!

5. Put away as many toys as you can.

If you have small children who have riding toys and other small toys lying all over the yard, please pick them up when they are done playing with them each day. If you can’t put them in a storage shed or garage, then at least line them up neatly next to the house.

6. Repair the fence and take down signs such as “Beware of Dog.”

Warning signs give off a negative vibe and may scare potential buyers away. Broken fences may be easy to repair, but to a potential buyer they may only see dollar signs. Best to take care of it yourself so that they don’t use that as a potential reason to get a lower price on the home, or worse walk away entirely.

7. Keep walkways and driveways swept and weeded.

In the autumn especially, but pay attention year round, keep the leaves picked up as much as possible. In the spring and summer, pull those weeds. And in the winter, keep the front porch, steps, and walkway shoveled and clear. This is a safety issue as well as a curb-appeal issue. You certainly don’t want potential buyers falling and breaking a leg while on your property.

8. Replace your welcome mat.

This is such an easy thing to do, but also easy to forget. A fresh, clean, colorful welcome mat can really freshen up your entry area.

9. Add colorful potted flowers and plants around the front door and porch.

In the spring and summer, having pretty and colorful flowers can really make your house stand out. In the fall, consider having pumpkins or mums. In the winter, even some evergreen shrubs are a good idea.

When you are selling your home, you want to attract the most buyers and get the best price. The little details like these count almost as much as some of the bigger ones. Even if a buyer can’t put their finger on specifics, the feeling they get when they first drive by your home is very important. These simple fixes can really make a difference.