Home Seller Tip #4 - Backyard Appearance Should Create a Positive Vibe
This is the Fourth post in my series of home selling tips which are aimed to be short in length and cover items which are many times overlooked by sellers and/or agents. See list of prior seller tip posts with links at bottom of this post. The backyard appearance should not be ignored or forgotten about by sellers.
I have seen on several occasions homes for sale in Katy and the surrounding areas where the backyard was a total or semi mess. Many times it is just junk left lying around such as piles of lumber, tree branches and leaves in piles and other trash strewn in several spots. Most of the time just a simple cleanup will make a huge difference in the yards appearance. The backyard includes behind the garage and side yards. Your yard should not be a substitute for the local County dump!
Clutter left in a patio area needs to be addressed and corrected. If there are flowers beds in the backyard make sure the weeds are all pulled and fresh mulch is added. If you have beds with no plants buy some plants which add color to the appearance. If there is a covered patio make sure the patio ceiling and pillars are clean or have it repainted. Tile on the patio floor needs to be power washed. Windows need to be cleaned so when buyers look out the windows they can easily see the yard. If there is a detached garage check it for spots or sections which need to be replaced or painted. Get rid of all cob webs and other dirt spots.
If there is grass in the back yard make sure it is cut and is neat in appearance. If there are bare spots go buy some grass and fix the all bare spots. If grass will not grow in certain areas consider filling in with decorative rocks. Sprinkler system need to be good working condition in both front and back yards.
If there is a pool in the back yard make sure it is excellent working condition and the water color and chemical readings are proper. All pool related equipment needs to be in good operational condition. If the pool needs to be replaster get it down. There is a home in Grand Lakes right now where the owners are not adding proper amounts of chloride and the there is a serious green algae issue getting worse every day. This home is not for sale right now but the algae issue will cost the owners some big dollars to correct. The price of correcting this issue increases every month as time marches on with no proper action taken.
I make sure all my buyer clients go into the back yard and inspect it carefully. I also walk the back yard with my seller clients to point items which need to be addressed. I have seen cases where buyers who love the home see a trashed out back yard and they lose interest in this home very quickly. The back yard is not seen from the street but should give potential buyers a positive feeling and vibe.
Above picture courtesy of Bing free to modify, share and use pictures.
Here are my other posts in this series :
Home Seller Tip # 1 - Make Sure Front Yard does not Look Like Desert
Home Seller Tip #2 - Good Street Visibility of a Home is Critical
Home Seller Tip #3 - Don’t Forget Front Door and Porch
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