If you make the decision to sell your home, regardless of the reason, there are a handful of tasks you are probably adding to your to-do list. There are several common steps that are taken in order to get your property ready to be put on the market including choosing a real estate agent, applying a fresh coat of paint, and making small repairs. One factor that should be on your list of “musts” when it comes to getting your home show ready is your lawn. While it might be easy to overlook getting your yard market ready, there are several things you can do to it to help raise your property value.
Curb Appeal
One reason your lawn is such an important factor in selling your home is that it is one of the main aspects of your curb appeal. When new buyers pull up to your property for the first time, the lawn is going to set the tone for the rest of the visit. Too often, sellers put too much emphasis on the moment when buyers walk through the door into the foyer, entry hall, or opening room, but the clock starts well before this moment in terms of your virtual sales pitch. The lawn, the front porch, and the door all paint a picture for a new buyer, and the impressions given in these moments are crucial to their house shopping experience.
Things to Consider
When it comes to assessing your lawn, there are a few factors to keep in mind. If your house is a part of a neighborhood, using the lawns around yours as a guide can be a good place to start. Every lawn is different, as is every neighborhood. If you live in a more established community with larger, more mature trees, the lawns will be quite different than those in a new development. Go with the flow of the neighborhood. Though, regardless of the setting, an overgrown lawn is never a good look when trying to sell your home. At the very last, tidying up the space (ie – removing any garbage or unappealing ornaments) can go a long way. When it comes to selling your property, less is more! Simplicity goes a long way!
Tips on Improving your Lawn
If you think your lawn is past the point of repair, it’s very possible that you just need to make a few changes to see some big improvements. Greener grass could be possible in just a couple of weeks!
- Don’t Over Cut Your Grass. A super common mistake in trying to make a sharper looking lawn is cutting your grass too short. In reality, you will want to set your mower blade as high as it can go when cutting. This will allow your grass to grow properly, utilizing the soil, roots, and sun through photosynthesis.
- Water Enough for Good Growth. When watering a lawn, you should give it enough water to moisten the top 6-8 inches of soil. Throughout the week, your lawn should receive about 1 to 1½ inches of water, whether that is from a hose, sprinkler system, or rainwater. This might take a little effort to figure out the right equation for your specific lawn, but once you have it, your lawn will likely appear more alive in no time!
- Water at the Right Time of Day. It might seem like as long as you water your lawn at some point, it shouldn’t matter what the hour is. However, when you water your lawn is almost as important as how much you water it. The best time to water your lawn is in the morning before 10 am as this allows the water to set in and be absorbed by the roots before the sun does its role in growing your grass.
- Consult a Professional. It is important to remember that there is not a one size fits all approach to lawn care, as various climates and soils require different approaches. If you are wanting to get your lawn looking great but don’t know where to start, you may want to consult with your real estate agent on finding a local lawn specialist. This small investment into your home will likely be the factor that boosts your property value, making it easier to sell your home at the price you want!
