First Impressions Count
Rhonda Heaslip | 09 July, 2007

A quick question: What is the first thing you see in a listing photo? Often it's the outside of the house AND the yard. If you are thinking of listing your home, ask yourself if it has that curbside appeal needed to draw the buyers inside. Did you know that a smartly done home landscape design could potentially add 10 to 15% to the value of your home? Don't leave that money lying in the dirt!

The home may be fabulous inside but if nobody is interested in going in because the yard looks poor and unloved all that effort would be lost. A smartly kept yard and exterior tends to reflect the overall care put into the home and people will perceive your home that way. First impressions count and may make the difference in whether your Realtor gets the phone call from that buyer or not. Some garden centers, such as Green Thumb on Hammond Bay Road, offer consultation services for pre-listing. Green Thumb's is approx. $50.00 for a one hour service and could help put some extra cash in your pocket when it comes to the final sale price.

Like home staging, you will not want to personalize your yard; rather you are setting the stage to please the Buyers. You can probably work with a lot of the existing plants that are mature and healthy through pruning and cutting back. Your garden expert can tell you what additions may be needed and what should be removed and can likely keep it within whatever budget you may have set aside for this.

Once you are done, keep the yard trimmed and neat and be sure you get a great photo of the home and yard for the listing. Make sure your first impression counts! Remember: a great photo of your beautiful yard and home = a great drive past = a call to your Realtor for viewing. It can be that simple!

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