Improve Your Garden and Curb Appeal Today with These Tips

First impressions are important. If you are trying to sell your home, the moment that a buyer steps out of their car, they are already determining whether they like the property or not. The money that you spend on landscaping is even more worth it when you consider that fact that you get about 7 percent more in returns than you do from other kinds of renovations. With a little work, you can increase the value of your home today!

When your home is on the market, you want potential buyers to sit up and take notice of your property right away. Therefore, curb appeal is very important, and it is something that you should never neglect when thinking about what you can do to improve the value of your home.

Many homeowners hesitate to spend money when they know they are just selling their home soon. They don't want to pour a lot of cash into a property that is ultimately someone else's to enjoy. While it is true that the new owners will benefit from your work, you are going to benefit, too. Your home will sell faster and sell for more money if there is good curb appeal.

If you want to improve your curb appeal, take the following tips to heart.

1. Thin Out Your Plants

While plants are beautiful and can increase curb appeal, it doesn't help if they are overgrown. Therefore, thin out your bushes and shrubs so that your home looks well taken care of. This isn't easy work, so if you know someone that can help, see if they will provide a little assistance.

2. Paint

If your paint looks terrible, the potential buyer is going to assume that a lot of work needs to be done on the property. Therefore, make sure to freshen up all of your exterior paint. Doing so shows that you care about the way that your home looks, and the potential buyer is likely to believe that you put that same care into other areas of the home as well. Painting won't take you a long time and it doesn't cost a lot of money, either.

3. Set Boundaries

Make it clear where your property ends and another property begins. While this might not seem like a big deal, a buyer wants to know what they are purchasing from you. Putting up a fence is one way to do this. If you already have a fence, make sure that any broken boards are fixed. A nice stain is a good idea, too.

4. Brighten Up The Exterior

When you have bright and cheerful plants lining the exterior of your home, it just looks better. However, you don't want to go overboard. Select colors that will complement the exterior of your home; you generally can't go wrong with blues and yellows, for example. If you don't have a lot of time, opt to hanging some baskets or pots. They will add a splash of color but don't require a lot of physical labor. This can be a big help when selling a home suggests David S of Ready Steady Sell.

5. Hide The Bins

You likely have several bins lining the side of your home, like your garbage bin and your recycling bin. These are an eyesore, so make sure to hide them if someone is coming to look at your house. You can also figure out an inexpensive way to block them from view as well, like with a bin store.

6. Give Your Driveway Some Love

It doesn't take much for a driveway to start to look worn down. This can make a terrible first impression on a buyer, so think about what you can do to fix the situation. Obviously, getting it re-laid will cost a lot of money. Instead, look into companies that can help you make the driveway look better without spending a ton of money.

Posted in Homeowners on Jan 12, 2017