Just like in dating, buying a property is sometimes love at first sight, meaning first impressions are incredibly important.
As several surveys have shown, lush green lawns can have a big impact on increasing the “kerb appeal” of a home, and making it more attractive to potential buyers. That’s why most real estate agents will suggest not just revamping your kitchens and bathrooms, but making sure your lawn is well-presented.
Real estate agents claim that an attractive lawn boosts the look and feel of the property, adds relaxation appeal, and is particularly appealing as a safe playing area for families with children.
With the market cooling off, adding value to your home by revamping the lawn is possibly one of the easiest things you can do with the most return on your investment.
Simple regular lawn care like mowing or controlling weeds, can recover around 267% of the cost at the point of sale, according to a US study by the National Association of Realtors.
If you are thinking about revamping your lawn to prepare for a property sale then here are some tips:
- Lay fresh turf if the lawn is past the point of no return, but bear in mind a new lawn will take a few weeks to take root, and will require lots of watering during this time.
- Mow some stripes into your lawn for that regal look. You won’t be able to do this with a standard hover mower, but it will be worth it to make your property look valuable.
- Speak to your local real estate agent to get a sense of whether buyers in your area are looking for lawns, or if they might be more interested in patios. The likelihood is that families will be seeking a soft area for the kids to play on.
- Freshen up your borders by adding a layer of mulch. This will invigorate any existing plants and help the fight against weeds by preventing sunlight from getting through to them. Just make sure you rake away old mulch first before applying new mulch.
- Add a splash of colour with some plants or flowers around your home, ideally in a complementary colour to the masonry on your house. Choose simple block colours that make your property look inviting. If this is not possible, you could try adding some potted plants or hanging baskets around the front door or in a window box.