When you’re selling your home, you know it’s important to stage it properly – and it makes sense that you have to “stage” the outside, too.
We’re not saying you have to add lawn furniture or build a pond. We’re saying that lawn maintenance can have a big impact on what potential buyers think of your home. In some cases, that impression may even affect what they’re willing to pay for your home.
First Impressions: Curb Appeal
Curb appeal – the way your home looks from the street – is incredibly important. It can mean the difference between a potential buyer slowing down for a better look or cruising right past.
When potential buyers do stop by, they’re judging the way your yard looks and building a mental file on how likely it is that you’ve taken care of the home’s interior. A sloppy, unkempt yard sends all the wrong signals. It’s called the halo effect, and it means that one event (in this case, a sloppy yard) affects the way people view the rest of your property.
The way you care for your lawn may not have a huge impact on your home’s sale price, but it can certainly change the number of people who are interested in seeing it.
Lawn Maintenance When Your Home is on the Market
Naturally, you’ll need to mow the grass and prune back bushy overgrowth. You should also:
- Wash all windows and make them shine. Get rid of streaks by using ordinary white vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) and a squeegee. If you find streaks, use a coffee filter dipped in your vinegar solution to rub them away.
- Make sure your front door is in good repair. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint on a door really revitalizes a home.
- Refresh your patios and walkways. Whether you simply need to patch the concrete or reface a number of bricks (dab them with red paint and spray them with water before they’re dry and voilà; you have refinished bricks), make sure you handle it before you put your home on the market.
Are You Selling a Home in Lake City or the Surrounding Communities?
If you’re selling a home in Lake City or any of the surrounding communities, we can help. Call us at 386-243-0124 or contact us online.
While you’re here, you can learn how to sell your home faster, download our free home-selling eBook, or find out what your home is worth.
