Whether you are planning on selling your home right now or in the future, there are a few simple things that you can do that will make your home more attractive to potential buyers. Have you ever driven by a home and thought, “Wow, what a great house.”? Homes with a well-maintained yard, pleasant landscaping and well-maintained entryway are more appealing to homebuyers. First impressions are very important. If a home looks like it needs a lot of work, a perspective buyer might not even inquire about the home or they might even think it’s a “fixer upper” that could be purchased at a bargain price. If your shutters are drooping, your mailbox a mangled mess, your lawn is sprouting a crop of weeds and your fence in disrepair buyers are less likely to have a positive impression of your home. Investing a little time now can pay off in large dividends when you sell. 

The next time you pull into your drive, look at it as though you are seeing it for the first time. Do you remember what it was about the home that made you select it when you first bought it? Those are the things that potential buyers are looking for as well. Many people wait until they are about to sell their home before they put energy and attention into improving the landscaping. Then they often get desperate and call in a professional landscaper, spending a lot of money to create great curb appeal for the next owners to enjoy. It isn’t necessary to do this. You can go to the nearest nursery and have them recommend a few plants to brighten up the yard that require little care. A few well-placed blooming plants can improve the look of a home instantly, and a few well-placed shrubs can soften the lines of the home as well. Replace your mailbox if it needs it, fix the fence or repaint it, re-hang those shutters and your home will look as good as new. If a house looks neat and cared for from the street, the initial good impression will carry over as the buyers step inside. 

There is no reason to wait until you are ready to move to enhance your surroundings. Even if you don't want to take on a major project, you can plant a few bushes and bulbs each year. You can get plants that bloom at different times of the year, many of which don't need a tremendous amount of care. There are several benefits to this approach. You are able to enjoy your improvements yourself, and you will profit more from your sale if you haven't invested a lot of money in your yard right before the transaction. Yard work and gardening can be relaxing and rewarding hobbies that can pay off in beautiful flowers--and higher property values. If everyone does their share to make the neighborhood look terrific, the demand for homes like yours will increase among prospective buyers, and nearby homes will also sell for top dollar. When you are ready to sell or refinance, the comparable homes in your neighborhood will support a higher price for your home.