It’s the home buying season. One of the first things a realtor will tell you is that curb appeal is everything. Prospective buyers form an opinion the moment they spot the home. If a buyer won’t get out of her agent’s car because she doesn’t like the exterior of your home, you’ll never get her inside. Getting your home ready for prospective buyers can mean thousands of dollars in terms of the sale.
“Good landscaping can add up to 28% to overall home value” —Landscape Economist, John Harris
Start with curb appeal when considering the sale of your home.
“Good landscaping can add up to 28% to overall home value”, says landscape economist John Harris. Even taking your landscaping from “good” to “excellent,” in terms of design, condition, and placement, can add 6% to 7% to a home’s value, according to a Clemson University study of homes in Greenville, S.C.
No matter your style or plant preferences, here are ideas to transform your front yard into a beautiful, attractive space.
Larger groupings of plants to create a landscape for curb appeal. People will see the impact of a plant grouping that reflects the shape and lines of the house and walkways. Small flowers will be unnoticed from the street. Other elements like a bench or gate provide a place for a gathering of shrubs and perennials. Think about what is already on the property (or what could be added) and how to highlight it.
Keep it low-maintenance. People don’t want to imagine themselves spending hours deadheading. As you prepare your home for showing, keep it clean: petunias that won’t litter petals everywhere, for example, and shrubs that don’t require a lot of tender loving care. A garden that reads “high-maintenance” can scare people away, so it’s important to keep landscaping neat and uncluttered.
Define the borders and add mulch. Clean edges make the entire landscape look neat and well-maintained. If lawn has crept into your garden beds and created an uneven line, then defining the border can improve the look of the whole landscape. Once you’ve established a neat border, a layer of hardwood mulch adds a refined look. Not only does it help keep weeds down during the selling process, but the bright color is attractive, smooths out an uneven soil surface, and generally gives the landscaping a professional finish.
Trim the shrubs carefully. The only shrubs that should be pruned heavily are those that are flopping over a walkway, blocking the view from the street to the front door, or keeping light from streaming into a window. Even then, it’s better to thin plants gracefully or consider even removing them, rather than scalp them.
Emphasize the entryway. Landscaping for curb appeal is ultimately about getting to the front door and making a great impression on the way.
Add color with containers. If a focal area isn’t drawing the eye as it should (think front door, patio and seating areas), a bold shot of color can be just what’s needed. While the obvious solution is to use container plantings, there are a few important points to remember. First, less is more. Choose just one or two larger pots that have a distinctive color or shape, rather than lots of small pots that can feel cluttered.
Ask for help. If you are anticipating a move, call us to get on our schedule to make the most of your beautiful home. You may not need to re-landscape, even a small investment in the landscape goes a long way towards increasing your curb appeal and making it more likely that buyers will fall in love with your home.
Landscaping is the first thing that potential buyers see, and it reflects well — or poorly — on other homes in the neighborhood. A good first impression can make a world of difference when you’re selling your home. If your landscape isn’t up to market conditions or is out of style, it’s time to call in the pros. By upgrading your curb appeal, you have a chance to influence how potential buyers feel about your home before they even step inside.
