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Yard Art Can Make or Break a First Impression

By
Real Estate Agent with John L Scott Market Center 700512026

Yard Art Can Make or Break a First Impression

 

I take the photographs for all of my listings at Fishhawk Lake and when I do this I also get to have fun taking pictures of the different venues that crop up. Because we have a country/cabiny/woodsy style, there are often sweet little spots outside just begging to be photographed. I also know that they can be tantalizing when thinking of “getting away from it all” and relaxing on vacation.

 9929 Beach Drive Birkenfeld OR 97016-Gayle Rich-Boxman

That’s why the right kind of Yard Art can really make a great first impression. I have a recent new listing that has several welcoming spots, with handmade Adirondack chairs, benches and mini tree houses perfectly placed around the outside of the home, which begs for someone to sit down and take a load off!

 

If you have a leaning towards bears, like another recent listing of mine, then, have at it, but remember, not everyone’s into bears, frogs, dragonflies, pigs, horses, boots,knomes, driftwood or mushrooms, just to name a few themes of yard art in a rural setting.

Yard Art-Gayle Rich-Boxman 2012

 

 

 Keep it simple, less is usually best.Dad's Memorial-Gayle Rich-Boxman 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t hit the prospective buyer over the head with your CountryGirl theme!

Swinging girl-Gayle Rich-Boxman 2012

 

 

It’s like painting every room in your home a different primary color—many will be turned off and can’t see that a new color or a bit of editing could make it theirs at a reasonable price. (I had a seller who did this and it was a big turn-off to buyers. Later the house was bought at auction and remodeled, with new contemporary muted colors and I have it listed again).

 

 

Just like staging the inside of your home, staging the outside is just as important. From farmhouse to cabin,Mist to Fishhawk Lake, keep it clean, be creative but don't go overboard!

 

Home and Yard Art by Gayle Rich-Boxman

 

 

 

  

 

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Hella, it's really a joy to see what kind of things my sellers have in their outdoor areas. I often end up buying miscellaneous items that I fall in love with...for example I've got my sights on two of those adirondack chairs that the owner built himself! (There are seven, so they are willing to let me buy a couple).

Jun 17, 2012 02:07 PM
San Antonio Texas New Homes for Sale
www.sanantoniotexasnewhomesforsale.com - San Antonio, TX
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hill Country

Elk   Sanantoniotexasnewhomesforsale.com

Jun 17, 2012 02:21 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Oh, Robert--STUNNING!

Jun 17, 2012 02:28 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Hi Gayle,

I love your "sweet spots" as you call them. You have the eye for capturing them and buyers love the visuals! I don't blame you for wanting a couple of those hand made Adirondack chairs..they are wonderful!

Jun 17, 2012 02:35 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Dorie~there were so many to choose from that I couldn't make up my mind...it took longer than planned to put this together and frankly there were some photos I couldn't find and others I thought of putting in, but it was too late. We bought 2 Adirondack chairs from an 80+ year old man many years ago, and a tree took one and old age took the other. I love how they feel on my back. Some folks don't like them, but I always have. Good spot for a wine glass on the wide arms, too!

Jun 17, 2012 02:44 PM
Erv Fleishman
Realty Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Luxury Prop Specialist Realty Associates

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

One man's art is another man's junk.

the Adirondack chairs are classic. 

Hope they are teak or they need work. 

Jun 17, 2012 04:24 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Love the yard art Gayle, you've captured some very sweet moments that are very appealing.  Many times, the outside of the home is forgotten when it goes on the market.

Jun 17, 2012 08:42 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Gayle-That first photo with the chairs is great. I like that it is situated so you can see the light in the window. It really brings the inside outside. I remember the tree with the pumpkins from last year you took. I especially like the one with all the trees and I think that is a birdhouse in front of them. COOL!!! I recognize your sweet spot at your house. I carved piece with the fishing pile is adorable. BTW nothing wrong with being a country girl. Now as far as going overboard. What can I say. I do that REAL WELL as you will see when I share pics of the transformation of the backyard and side yard.  A great job putting this all together. It does take more time than most people realize.

Jun 17, 2012 10:44 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Ok, now I really want to move there!  Such great touches and these items really make the home feel extra welcoming :-)

Jun 17, 2012 11:59 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Yard art adds to the country flavor of your wonderful rural and lake setting Gayle. Screams very much an "at home relaxing lifestyle" to me and is like icing on the cake. A very nice finishing touch to a porch or a home.

Jun 18, 2012 12:38 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Gayle... your OR yard art definitely appeals to my senses! I just love the Adirondack chairs, the whimsical beauty in the air, floating on trees, or just there, as part of the beautiful landscape. I've never been to Oregon but it sure looks exciting to me!

Jun 18, 2012 12:55 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Erv~the chairs aren't treated with anything. I will stain mine, but NO PAINTING--a mistake we made ONCE with our old A-chairs, no more!

Roger~Agreed. Do stagers talk about the outside, too?  Hopefully.

Sharon~you keep teasing me! Telling me about your home, your yard, but NO PICTURES YET. I'm still waiting!

Kristin~I may tell you this over and over, but you would SO FIT IN here!

Gary~it's all about relaxing...even for those of us who work here. (Did I tell you AGAIN, how lucky I am?)

Patricia~Oregon is such a truly beautiful state and a very relaxed one as far as lifestyle, friendliness. You gotta get here, girl!

 

 

 

Jun 18, 2012 01:10 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Sorry my friend. I really don't mean to teasse you. The pics of the yard will probably be in September as it is not finished yet and my woman cave kinda got put on the backyard while I am creating the outside. I will just say there is about 140 wheelbarrows full of topsoil thus far to fill all the raised beds. Lots of stone for walkways and lots of red mulch. Not much lawn to mow when done.  Been fun creating. Just a lot of back breaking work and for the next week it will be 90 so too hot to work except in early morn and evening so I will get to play in the pool when it gets to the 90* mark.

Jun 18, 2012 01:26 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I once saw a really quaint thing.  A face on a trace.  Some sort of metal pieces (like Mr. Potato Head worked) on a tree.  It was really neat.

Jun 18, 2012 01:33 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Sharon~I meant it in a sweet way...I'm just excited to see what you've been up to! (You know how visual I am...)

Chris Ann~there is actually a face on one of the trees I have in the first collage, but the size of the collage wouldn't allow me to keep it in the photo. Let me go find one I took of another tree a few months ago.

Tree face at Fishhawk Lake-Gayle Rich-Boxman 2012

Jun 18, 2012 01:45 AM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Hi Gayle,

What a great topic!  Of course, I loved your photos as usual. 

It seems when the owners have a large yard, they can get by with a little more yard art work.  But, sometimes too much is too much. 

Personally, my big pet peave is Christmas lights left up year round even if they are around the back patio or the hot tub.    

 

 

Jun 18, 2012 02:51 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

AGREE. Surprise, surprise - less is more. I saw that little girl swing decoration and thought it was too cutesy. I personally love the "zen" inspired yard art and landscaping.

And Adirondacks Rock! :) ( Nice job promoting your listings with this post). :) :)

Jun 18, 2012 05:00 AM
Robert Bob Gilbert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX
Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Hi Gayle,

Staging inside and outsie are both very important aspects of getting a home ready to be listed. I can tell you that some folks think a pile of junk in back of their garage will not be found or seen by buyers! I always force my buyers to alk the whole property. Very good blog..

Jun 18, 2012 05:18 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Well I hope it will be worth the wait my friend. I am a visual person myself.  It has been fun and I know you are sweet. No doubt there.

Jun 18, 2012 07:40 AM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Wonderful advice, Gayle Rich-Boxman.  Any one trying to sell on Fishhawk Lake or anywhere should heed this great advice!

Jun 18, 2012 08:19 AM