Last Updated on September 9, 2022 by HortonTeam
Did you know the outside of the home is one of the most important factors when it comes to selling? Check out these landscaping tips to see what updates you can make to add value to your home.
1. Make Lawn Care a Top Priority
When it comes to landscaping, the first thing most people think of is to add flowers, mulch, and other plants around their home. While those additions are good landscaping tips, a more overlooked feature is the lawn. The grass may not sound like the sexiest part of your home, but it’s still a major component when it comes to creating a good first impression—after all, it does cover the majority of the property’s surface.
Now is the time to begin working on your lawn before the summer heat sets in. A simple cut once or twice a week will create a manicured look that will stand out from your neighbors’ yards. At this point in the year, you shouldn’t have to water your lawn, but you may want to add an irrigation system if it still hasn’t been sold in the next few months.
There’s not much worse looking than having patches of dead grass all over the yard. Unless you’re willing to spend some time and money, chances are that you won’t be replanting any grass seed before the summer hits. However, if you do have to replant seed to cover up any bare patches, make sure you pick grass that will match the rest of your lawn. This type of home maintenance is pretty easy, and it’s a great way to start your home showings on the right foot.
Feel like you don’t have the energy or time to keep up with your lawn? Find tip #5 below.
2. Add Landscaping Features like Flowers or Plants
Now it’s time for the meat and potatoes—what list of landscaping tips would be complete without a paragraph mentioning foliage? There is an almost endless selection of flowers, trees, shrubs, and other plants available for purchase at your local flower shops, chain hardware stores, or even online. With that being the case, part of your selection criteria comes down to your personal preference (yay!) along with making sure you pick out items that will compliment your home.
This is where it gets a bit trickier; it can be difficult matching the style of your home to a specific plant or flower. Focus on the color and shape of the item you’re interested in. If the combination of the flower or tree with your home doesn’t fit, it will probably stick out like a sore thumb, which can actually take away value from your home.
The color scheme is important and shouldn’t be too hard to pair nicely with your home. Even if your home is white brick or vinyl, some pops of color can go a long way—just be sure not to overdo it.
Studying the shape of the plant will be more challenging, but there are many online guides that will help.
While some pairings will be more subtle, major mismatches will probably stand out to you. For example, you would never add palm trees to the property of your colonial-style home.
If you need more guidance in choosing a landscaping plan, let us know and we can get you in touch with one of our professional landscapers.
3. Tidy Up Current Landscaping and Accessories
If you think you’re going to have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on improving your curb appeal, there’s good news: you (probably) don’t! Just like with mowing and maintaining your grass, a little tidying up and regular care will go a long way in adding value to your home.
Some of the first tasks you can start with are trimming any pre-planted vegetation like trees, bushes, or shrubs. It’s easy to neglect these plants and let them grow wildly, which usually leads to monstrous greens that can overtake parts of your lawn or home. You don’t need to go full-on Edward Scissorhands, but bi-weekly or monthly trimming can vastly improve the appearance of the outside of your home.
Hedge trimmers and shears are relatively inexpensive, and you shouldn’t have a problem cutting through anything if your tools have been sharpened recently. The only other maintenance chore you may consider is “edging” your lawn. This process entails trimming the edge of your grass so that it butts up against the edge of your driveway or sidewalk with no overhang. Edging your lawn presents a clean and crisp border that will help make the overall appearance of your lawn stand out from your neighbors’.
For finishing touches, be sure to touch up mulch, power wash dirty surfaces, and clean up any cobwebs, dirt from melted snow, or any other seasonal remains.
4. Add Staging Elements to Your Back Yard
If you’ve ever watched HGTV, you’ve probably heard that home staging is an important factor in showcasing your home for sale. Your yard should be no different! There are a plethora of items and accessories you can purchase or construct that will make your yard pop, and you’ll find no shortage of guides online for optimal placement and style. Consider lawn ornaments, bird feeders, or patio furniture as common additions. Avoid anything that looks comical, gaudy, or is in any way over the top—please leave your garden gnome collection locked away! While you may want to focus most of your efforts on your lawn or sidewalk, don’t forget about the other standout features of your yard like porches and gazebos. These spaces crave accessories such as chairs, pillows, or even lighting (go solar-powered for bonus points!). When thinking about how to improve the appearance of your yard, you have to think of the entire exterior of the home and property as a single selling point. Whatever approach you decide to take, make sure you don’t overdo it. Just like the interior of your home, your yard will suffer if it is oversaturated with accessories and staging items.
5. Consider Hiring Professionals
Let’s face it: everyone is busy, and landscaping is probably one of the last things you want to do after a long day of work. If this sounds like you, you may consider hiring a professional to improve the appearance of your home’s landscaping.
Just like working with a real estate agent, you may be apprehensive about handing over so much money in exchange for these services. However, think about it like this: paying a professional to handle your property will not only result in the ability to sell your home at a higher value, but it will also free up more of your time—then you can use that time on things that are more important to you.
Aside from the reclaimed time and the enhanced quality of your lawn care, another benefit of hiring a professional landscaping team is they will also know which plants will grow and flourish within the climate where your home resides.
A good landscaper will also have an eye for which vegetation will be more aesthetically pleasing, meaning potential buyers will fall in love with your home prior to stepping inside.
These professionals may even share some of their best landscaping tips with you! Different companies offer different prices and services. You can reach out to our team if you need help picking the right landscaping business—we know several local professionals!
The exterior and landscape is arguably the most important feature of your home—it provides the first impression to potential buyers. Whether you decide to spruce up the yard yourself or hire a team of professionals to get the job done, make sure you execute your plan soon before the main home buying season is over. Are you looking for even more landscaping tips to increase the value of your home? Send us a message or call our team at 812-518-0411 so we can assess your home and see what steps will benefit you the most.
