Prep the Yard: An Inside Look at Exterior Staging

When we begin down the challenging road of selling our homes, we spend hours upon hours perfectly staging the interior of the house. We burn candles that smell like fresh baked cookies (or, for the particularly dedicated, we bake up a batch of the real thing), we put clutter into rented storage units, we spend days sweeping up loose pet hair. But what about the exterior of the home? Your house’s exterior is the first things that perspective home buyers see when pulling into the driveway. You only get one chance at a first impression, and you want to make sure that it’s a good one. With that in mind, here are three tips on staging your home’s exterior for the maximum “Wow!” factor.

Landscaping

In the world of landscaping, a little goes a long way. Spruce up any outdoor containers that you may have—this will add a large amount of interest to the buyers as they enter and exit your property, as well as adding an element of sophistication. If you use mulch in your flower beds, put down a fresh layer before holding an open house. The lighter, brighter color will add contrast against the plants in the bed and make everything pop.

Finally, if you’re feeling particularly industrious, consider labeling the plants in your garden and around the yard. This personal touch will help buyers feel that they know what they’re getting into, should they purchase your property. It will help them to envision themselves living among and tending to this yard.

Clean, Clean, Clean!

If you don’t own a power washer, ask neighbors to borrow one or head on down to the local hardware store. You’ve cleaned the inside of the house from basement to rafters; don’t neglect the outside! With a little time, effort, and a whole lot of elbow grease, you can take worn-looking and dirty surfaces to shining and brand-new in a single afternoon. Wash down any walkways, driveways, or patios. If it looks dirty, give it a good scrub.

Crank up Curb Appeal

Take a day and remove every weed that you can find. Purchase a quality weed killing agent or hire a professional company and make sure that your lawn looks smooth and silky the moment the buyers look at your home. Rake up any leaves or other yard debris and dispose of it—like with clutter inside the house, you want any outdoor clutter to be off the property. A clean, well-cared for yard makes it easier for buyers to envision themselves living in your house and tending to your yard.

Exactly like with staging inside the house, you want to carefully consider the presentation of the outside of your home as well. But with a little attention and TLC, you can quickly have a yard that will tempt even the most stubborn of homebuyers.

At HelgesonPatzke Real Estate Group, we are proud to be a member of Eden Prairie’s esteemed small business community. Since 1995, we’ve offered the very best in Twin Cities real estate, earning our community’s trust as the #1 Sales Team in the Eden Prairie area. With over 4,500 homes sold, our staff has both the knowledge and experience necessary to ensure that your home ownership goals are delivered. So, if you’re considering buying or selling your Eden Prairie area home this summer, now is the time to enlist the help of a real estate professional who can help you make the most of this season’s extraordinary market.