Selling Your Home? Maximize Your Curb Appeal With Proper Landscaping

Getting Top Dollar For Your Home Begins Outdoors

They say never judge a book by its cover, but unfortunately that's all too often the case when house hunting. Potential buyers could take one look at a home from the outside and quickly dismiss it -- without even getting out of their cars. Why? Curb appeal. And this begins with landscaping.

"We can't tell you how many times a realtor has pointed a homeowner to us for help in selling their home," said Ralph Dinizo, President of Truesdale Landscape Services & Nursery of Berkeley Heights, N.J. "Landscaping is generally overlooked when selling a home, but many sellers will discover how quickly they can sell their home with changes as simple as adding some shrubbery or throwing down some mulch."

Curb appeal is the "wow" factor that sets your home apart from others in the neighborhood. And this is exactly what you need when selling your house. Especially in today's market. Very simply, trees, shrubs, flowers and a host of other simple landscaping treatments can dramatically enhance your home's value, and allow you to get your money's worth when selling. So here's a few pointers to begin the curb appeal process:

Green Equals Green
Have a green, lush, well-manicured lawn, and you're well on your way to proper curb appeal. Most buyers want to buy a home that is in move-in condition. And that includes the lawn. It's also a reflection to many -- valid or not -- of the condition of the house inside. For that reason, many potential suitors won't even step foot in your home after seeing a shabby lawn. Proper mowing, watering and fertilizing is a must. Replacing brown patches with new sod is, too.

Trees & Shrubs, Oh My!
The correct usage of trees and shrubs also vastly increases curb appeal. They provide shade, privacy and a sense of overall comfort to the property. And a slew of affordable options are always available. Consult with your local nursery for the best options. Some require direct sunlight, others don't. The last thing you want to do is add new foliage that fails to take, and thus even further diminishes your curb appeal!

Stop To Smell The Flowers
"It's amazing how the addition of a simple flower bed can boost a home's curb appeal," added Dinizo. Indeed, homeowners are presented with thousands of options to add splashes of beautiful, seasonal color to a landscaping scheme. But that can also be overwhelming. That's why a quick visit to your local nursery can empower you with the proper knowledge to make the best decisions on what to plant. Think about adding flowers with particularly pleasant scents, as those make a huge impression on potential buyers walking into your home for the first time. Fountains, ponds, and other garden elements are usually a big hit with buyers, but keep it simple. A "busy" look can make matters even worse. And perennials are likely your most cost-effective flower choice. With proper care, perennials will bloom year after year, while annuals die after one season and do not flower again the following spring.

Don't Forget The Mulch
One of the best bangs for your buck is mulch. A few bags of mulch can give a property a very "clean" look, and makes a terrific first impression. Mulch is truly the glue that holds all of your other landscaping elements together. Use mulch in flower beds, around trees, and along pathways. It adds a polished appearance to your property, prevents weeds, repels insects and offers protection for delicate root systems. And it smells good.

So take the time to look outside your home and put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer pulling up for the first time. With a little time and effort -- and not much money -- you'll soon find yourself at the closing!