Is Your Yard Turning Buyers Away?

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 22 June 2016 06:31

When people pull up to your home, your yard is one of the first things they notice. Does your yard complement your home’s style? Or, does it detract from the value of your property?

Factors That Make a Yard a Drawback

Could your yard be the reason people don’t want to see your home? Is overgrowth to blame for lowball offers? Here’s how you can tell. Examine your yard and see if any of these warning signs are at work:

  • Lack of maintenance: An overgrown lawn and unruly bushes are more than unattractive. To potential buyers, they’re also a clear-cut sign that a home is not being cared for properly, which is a pretty good indicator of what to expect inside. Leave your yard a mess, and you can unintentionally tell buyers that your home’s a dud. That’s why keeping up with lawn maintenance matters.
  • Too much maintenance: Believe it or not, the reverse problem is also a turnoff. If your mid-range home’s yard, for example, has thousands of dollars of plants and features filling it, buyers see it as another responsibility they’d have to take on with your home. While in a luxury estate, this might be fine — just an extra landscaping check to write — with more average-priced properties, it could be a liability.
  • Big trees: That historic tree in the front yard is more than a source of shade; it’s also an accident waiting to happen, at least to people who are considering buying your home. Take a look at your property from an insurance standpoint: What’s adding liability? What could crash in the next storm?
  • No thought: When you look at your empty yard and vacant landscaping beds, you might see a blank palate waiting for the buyer’s ideas; the buyer, on the other hand, might have a hard time envisioning what could come. By not using your yard to accentuate your home, you miss an opportunity to sell it to prospects.

 

Improvements That Can Make a Difference

To turn the exterior of your property into a selling point rather than a disadvantage, consider these landscaping improvements that can make a big difference: 

  •  Clean up. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, care for the flowers, and give a little TLC to your yard. This not only improves its appearance, but also it communicates to buyers that your property has been cared for well (and thus is a smart choice for them to pick).
  •  Add attractive, low-maintenance plants. You don’t need to invest in enormous amounts of flowers and plants to spruce up an empty yard, but a few strategic additions can make a major difference. Talk to your real estate agent or a staging professional about what options would make the biggest boost for your yard.
  • Add cozy touches. Communicate the message that your house is a home by adding little friendly touches here and there. From a welcoming front mat to an attractive umbrella over the patio, outdoor additions can go a long way toward boosting curb appeal.
  • Fix potential problems. Even if a tree hasn’t caused an accident yet, if it’s close to the house, it’s a problem. Clear out trees that are too close to your home, while also fixing anything that needs repairs. Take a look at your walkways, shade structures, steps, etc. If there are any broken or rickety features, take the time now to replace them.

When it comes to selling your home, anything you can do to boost its appeal is an asset. Make your yard a strong selling point by following the strategies listed above — and make your home more marketable to buyers!

 

About the author:

Jeff Caldwell is Brand Manager at Superior Shade. The company provides shade structures for protection from the sun and harmful UV rays, offering a multitude of customizable options to fit your needs and your outdoor space.

 

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.

Joomla! Debug Console

Session

Profile Information

Memory Usage

Database Queries