Curb Appeal

The first thing a potential buyer will see is your yard. If they are seeing an un-kept yard with overgrown flower beds and debris littering the walkway, they may dismiss your house without ever going inside. Not having curb appeal gives the impression that if the exterior isn't cared for, the interior of the house is likely to be the same. It can also give the impression that the yard and property are just too much to maintain, another turn off for potential buyers.

Yard Staging

The goal of Home Staging is to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere where the buyer can envision themselves living. You need to create that feeling of longing in the buyer in order to attract the offers.

Yard Staging is similar to Home Staging in that you need to de-clutter, clean, de-personalize, repair and finally, Showcase the exterior (highlighting your yard's best features).

A few items you will need to address:

• Walkways need to be clear;
• Exterior of the house washed, windows spotless;
• All toys, tools, lawn furniture picked up and stored;
• Grass clipped, flower beds weeded, trees trimmed;
• Paint and repair decks, stairs, fences, exterior of the home etc.;
• Plant colourful flowers near the house or hang a basket or place flower pots near the front door;
• In the colder months a wreath on the front door gives a welcoming feel, but keep it stylish and tasteful;
• In the back yard, patio or deck area set up a table and chairs and perhaps a BBQ. (Make sure the BBQ and any lawn furniture you use is clean and in good repair).

A service to consider when marketing your home is a Yard Maintenance and Staging Service. Using a weekly yard maintenance service will ensure that your yard always looks it best with minimum effort on your part.

Before	After

The above photos are courtesy of Lord of the Grass Yard Care. This is great example of their professional Yard Staging Service.

Curbs and Walkways

In addition to the clean up and general repairs that need to be done you might also want to consider replacing old and damaged walkways or curbing.

Advantages of decorative curbing are yard beautification as well as minimizing the yard maintenance required to maintain a professional finish of your landscaping beds. Curbing requires minimum grass trimming, as you can mow right up to the curb, keeping your workload to a minimum throughout the summer.

Before	After

The above photos are courtesy of Nice Curbs. These Before and After pictures are good examples of what improving your yard's features can do for your overall curb appeal.

Taking the time to Stage your yard as well as your home ensures your home will Sell Faster and For More Money!

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Home Staging Tips