Make no mistake about it: when prospective buyers pull up to a property with a “for sale” sign on the lawn, they make a split second judgment call. Will they or won’t they get out of the car? If you are looking to sell real estate this season, it’s very important to put some effort into curb appeal.
Know your own limits when it comes to gardening. If you don’t have a green thumb, you may want to keep it simple. Make sure the lawn is mowed and shrubs are pruned. Get rid of weeds and add some colorful flowers in pots on the stoop. Of course, if you have the skills you can get a bit more serious about landscaping.
Weeds and patchy grass are not popular. You may think that keeping the lawn cut short is a good idea for multiple reasons. First, it will look mowed for longer and save you time. Also, a well-mowed lawn looks like someone truly care for it. However, if you cut the grass too short, more weeds will grow. Also, the sun will create brown spots in the lawn. Keep the grass blades at no less than two inches tall and tend to brown spots with fertilizer.
Protection your foundation. Problems with a home’s foundation are sure to send your would-be buyers running back to their realtor’s car. If you plant too close to the foundation, you are inviting cracks that are expensive to repair. Therefore, if you have large trees close the foundation, be proactive. Talk to someone in the know about the possibility of moving the tree or pruning it to remove future impact on the foundation.
First impressions matter. Besides, if they decide not to get out of the car, they will never see all the work you put into staging the inside!
Joel R. Spivack, Esq. has been providing sound real estate legal advice to buyers and sellers in Camden County, NJ for more than 30 years. Contact him today for a smooth real estate transaction tomorrow.
