Why Your Yard May Be Turning Away Buyers

Shared by Hello Pam Evans Real Estate

After years of being told that curb appeal is “the thing,” most of us have developed a solid grasp of the fact that the exterior remains one of the most important aspects of any property. Plain and simple, when selling your home, you’re showcasing more than your house—you’re also showcasing your lawn, trees, shrubs, and walkway.

While a healthy, green lawn is almost as essential as a freshly painted interior, it’s important to remember that your yard is what creates the first impression in a buyer’s mind. If they pull up to your lot and think, “Yikes, I have to deal with that?” chances are good that they’ll already be predisposed to find fault within your home as well.

For that reason, it’s worth considering the ways in which your yard may be scaring off buyers from the get-go.

It Looks Unkempt. When buyers like what they see on the outside, they’re drawn into the home with a sense of hopeful positivity that they wouldn’t have if your shrubs are overgrown or your grass is half-dead. While you may not have the money to hire a professional landscape architect or even a regular lawn company to deal with your edging and weeds, you can still make sure your grass is mowed properly.

Make a point to freshly mulch all of your beds and keep shrubs in check, especially if they have a tendency to block your windows. Clear out all dead leaves and debris, and consider re-seeding areas that look patchy and bare.

Your Landscaping Looks Too High-Maintenance. Not everyone likes to garden and yardwork is certainly high on most people’s lists of their least favorite chores, so try to remember this when you’re tempted to get a bit carried away with your landscaping. Yes, most buyers will appreciate a beautiful yard, but if it looks like it will be too much to take care of, you might risk turning them off.

Generally speaking, it’s wise to consider your neighborhood and the type of area you’re living in. If you live in home that will require a higher income, it’s possible that most buyers will not mind writing a check for the services of a professional landscaper. However, if—after consulting with a knowledgeable seller’s agent to assess the situation—you’ve decided that your average buyer will not want to pay for regular lawn care, you might want to reconsider that English garden.

You Have a Water Feature. Sure, a Koi pond may be an exciting and beautiful addition to your backyard, but most buyers will only think about the work involved in its upkeep. Plain and simple, water features can be extremely polarizing as some buyers will not want to deal with them and others will fall in love with your home because of them.

Again, this is another area where you should consult the advice of a reputable agent who can help you make the right decision for your individual situation. A lot of parents may be afraid that small children will fall into ponds or other water features, so you may want to consider the fact that this may detract from your ability to sell as quickly as possible.

Too Many Trees, Too Close to Your Home. While trees tend to be a good value for most homes, especially since they can be esthetically pleasing and save on cooling costs, it’s still worth remembering that they may become an issue if planted too close to the house.

Plain and simple, you don’t want large plants concealing your house and you also don’t want to scare buyers by making them question your home’s stability due to root growth that’s close to the foundation or the possibility of leaks from branches on the roof.

You’re Ignoring Your Agent’s Advice. Familiarity has a funny way of making us overlook little flaws, so if you’ve found yourself regularly looking past the hole in your fence of the bare patches of grass under that big oak tree, it’s wise to listen to your real estate agent when they recommend a little yard TLC.

A good real estate agent understands the fact that a well-cared for yard is like clean carpeting—it shows that you care about the home. Buyers want to see that the previous owners have paid attention to the details, so make a point to listen to your agent if they recommend a few tweaks regarding your lawn.

In the end, while it may seem like a footnote to you, most buyers will see your yard as the front page, so it’s important to give them something worth looking at.

If you want more tips or would like the assistance of a knowledgeable Realtor in the Forsyth/North Fulton County area, please get in touch with me. I’d be happy to answer your questions.

This post was sponsored Hello Pam Evans Real Estate.