We all know that staging a house helps show the home at its very best to potential buyers. None of the clutter of real life—only the most necessary, perfectly placed furnishings with beautiful, complementary décor. The same approach can work on the outside of your house, too, and it might be even more important than inside staging. After all, the outside of your house is the first thing a buyer sees, and you only have one chance to make a first impression.
Before you make one trip to the home improvement store or the garden center, make a plan. Decide what spaces you’d like to define in your yard—front, sides and back. Clearly defining a sitting area, dining area, or play area will make a big visual impact when potential buyers view your home.
Out front, the first thing to do is neaten things up. Weed, mow, and take out any unhealthy-looking plants or trees. Then get out the mulch—now available in various colors and textures, mulch used in one color throughout your entire lawn, both front and back, ties your landscaping together, gives it a polished look, and adds color to contrast with the green of your lawn.
Additionally, make sure your lawn is green and lush, replacing sod if necessary. Add some colorful flowers, and trim back all remaining bushes and trees for a neat and tidy look. Then step back and decide what you can add to give your front yard some pizzazz.
Consider adding a walkway to your door, either straight or—for more drama—a meandering path. Adding a walkway gives a polished look, and it an easy do-it-yourself project if you use crushed rock instead of bricks or pavers. Use bender board (for edging lawns) to create a frame, then pour in the colored rock 4 or 5 inches deep. Flatten with a plate compactor (available for rent from most garden centers or home improvement stores). You now have an elegant entrance to your front door, adding a pop of color and lots of curb appeal.
If your yard looks too plain and flat, add some height and dimension with large, decorative boulders. Place individually or clustered together, then plant colorful flowers or shrubs alongside for a natural look.
Either the front or the side yard can be a great place for a comfy-looking bench with a table on the side to create the feeling of a serene spot for some quiet time. Don’t be afraid to place pillows or a soft throw blanket on the bench on showing days—you can bring it all inside when potential buyers are gone, but the extra touches will help conjure up the vision of a relaxing seating space. Another easy architectural accent that will complete the look and add sophistication is a trellis draped with a climbing vine.
In the backyard, clear out any weedy areas and make sure your lawn looks healthy. Make sure all patio furniture is clean, and define different areas of the backyard that the buyer can immediately recognize. Consider installing a shed to house toys, tools and any other clutter (even if you take the shed with you when you go). Use placemats and create complete place settings on your dining table, making sure it’s sparkling clean and colorful, with an open umbrella. Near the garden or some colorful potted flowers, place lounge chairs with small tables nearby. Make it easy for a potential buyer to envision relaxing or entertaining friends in this outside space.
It doesn’t take much to make the outside of your home welcoming and alluring to buyers. Healthy greenery, some good mulch, and a few pops of color and architecture may be all you need to make yours the best-looking house on the block.
