Backyards: Preparing for Sale

By: Kevin And Gretchen Koitz

There are several aspects of selling a home that need to be taken care of prior to listing the home. With all the work that needs to be done sometimes the focus shifts and much of the home's exterior is overlooked. This is unfortunate as the yard that comes with the home is part of the overall package and will definitely be considered by potential buyers. Naturally you will have spent some time cleaning up and beautifying the front of the home as curb appeal is important in home sales, but have you spent the same time and effort in the backyard?

Yards are a real selling point for homes, especially where families with children and pets are concerned. In fact, it is one of the most important things when these variables are considered. Let's start with the fence if there is one. A fenced yard is a good selling point, it offers privacy and security as well as creating an area where children can be supervised. Is the home's fence old and dilapidated? A shaky fence can also be a safety concern as a collapsing fence can easily injure someone or allow the family pet to roam loose. Not only that but a new and sturdy fence simply makes the yard look better.

If you are lucky enough to have a sizeable yard with a lawn, you should make sure that the lawn is trimmed and mown regularly during the sale process. Buyers like to see that a home is well maintained, in all areas. They like to see that the owner has a sense of pride about the property because that usually means that the property, in all aspects; is well cared for. The same theory holds true for backyard gardens. If the gardens are overrun with weeds and are unkempt, what does that say about the rest of the home?

Perhaps the most important thing that a seller can convey to a potential buyer is the fact that the home is, and has always been tended to. The impression that the yard leaves on a buyer is a huge part of this feeling. Buyers don't want to purchase a home that was not important to the owners. The feeling of neglect is extremely difficult to overcome in real estate sales. If the yard is neglected, the home might be too. If the home is neglected then what might be wring with it? These are questions that buyers will ask themselves when viewing a home. don't let your home create this kind of negative opinion.

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