4 Yard Mistakes to Avoid While Trying to Sell Your Home
You’ve probably heard that it’s best not to judge a book by its cover. But that’s rarely the case when it comes to selling your house.
The state of a yard is usually a good indicator of the state of the home, so an unkempt property can be all it takes to turn away potential buyers—regardless of your recently upgraded, all-white kitchen. Experts agree that the best way to get top dollar for your home is to put its best foot forward, both inside and out.
Do yourself (and your house) a favor and keep these four things out of your yard while you're looking to sell.
Clutter
“If you want to offer a little charm, consider keeping one neutral item, such as a small wind chime or flag,” says Dianna Worthington, vice president of operations at The Grounds Guys, told Realtor.com. But that’s it. No bikes, children’s toys, or lawn ornaments. Sorry, y’all!
The same thing goes for yard equipment. It might seem harmless to leave your wheelbarrow out after a strenuous round of weeding and mulching, but experts advise keeping your yard as tidy as possible—even when it’s not being shown.
“Buyers are going to drive by your home outside of open house and showing times, so it’s important to keep things in shape, especially during the time your house is on the market,” Samira Tapia, a real estate agent with Compass in Beverly Hills, California, explained. “[This] tells buyers that you don’t have enough storage space and that is not the message you want to convey.”
Dead Plants
Do yourself a favor and do away with that sad shrubbery before you list your house. Dead trees and plants not only look bad, but they can be dangerous.
WATCH: How Landscaping Added Instant Charm to this New Birmingham Home
Dirty Surfaces
We get it, dirt happens. Even though you might be used to seeing your grimy siding and lawn furniture, it’s certainly won’t do you any favors.
Trash Cans
Leaving your trashcans out is another big no-no. It’s just, shall we say, unappetizing. If you’re opposed to storing them in your garage while you’re showing your house, consider keeping them in the backyard until there are no potential buyers in sight.
