By: Kathy Johnston
Submitted: 2010-08-29 18:10:19 | Word Count: 468
Your front yard is the very first thing a home buyer sees. Before they’ve stepped into your impressive hallway or marveled at your gleaming kitchen, they have made a judgment about your home. Staging your front yard is as important as staging the interior of your house for sale. To highlight any problem areas in your front yard, take a photo. Look critically at this photo, remembering that this is the initial image a buyer will see. Make a note of the worst features of your yard and tackle these first. Then note the best feature and consider ways to enhance it. Start improving your home’s curb appeal by trimming hedges and keeping the lawn freshly mowed. Lay fresh sod if the grass is looking worn or patchy.
Add mulch to your beds; this immediately neatens the appearance of your garden. Consider renting a pressure-washer to clean your driveway and any aging decking. Don’t ignore the facade of the house itself. Take a look at your windows. A fresh coat of paint on the window frames spruces up the whole house. Cut back any bushes or trees blocking your windows. This allows more light to enter. Remember to clean the window panes. This will make a difference both inside and outside the house. Note that buyers will also be taking a peek at your neighbor’s front yard. If eyesores cannot be removed, camouflaging them may be the best option. If you are preparing your home well in advance of selling, then you have time to plant fast growing shrubs or erect a new fence to disguise a neighbor’s unsightly garden. The front door is an essential area in which to improve curb appeal. Consider replacing a cheap-looking front door with a good quality one.
[ advertisement ]
A new door can increase the house sale price by at least double the cost of the door itself. If a new door is beyond your means, then a fresh coat of paint or new stain can improve the look, especially if you replace the door fittings as well. Remember your property should also have curb appeal in the evening. Beautiful front porch lights add nighttime charm. Make sure all your front yard lighting is working, particularly on walkways or the driveway. Leave lights on at night in case potential buyers drive past. Your house should look inviting at any time of day or night! Put as much effort into the outside of your house as you would the inside and you could increase the sale price and boost your prospects of a quick sale.
