Making your backyard a selling point for your home

Should sellers start showing their backyards a little bit of love prior to their first open house? According to Realtor.com, “Exterior improvements give more of a return than interior changes when remodeling according to cost versus value.” So, how can you spruce up your backyard before the big sale in an effort to see some return following the big sale?

Clean it up.

Trim the bushes, pull the weeds, mow the lawn and clean up any messes your pets may have left behind. If you have a pool, remove leaves and hose down the deck. Pack away scattered toys, lawn equipment and personalized decorations. Just like on the inside of your home for sale, you want a potential buyer to be able to picture themselves barbecuing and relaxing in your backyard.

Create multipurpose spaces.

Move large furniture and appliances around, allowing the prospective buyer to view the possibility for a range of activities to occur in the backyard simultaneously. For example, add a small outdoor dining table and chairs on the patio, a hammock between two trees and leave an area open for a start up soccer game.

Consider adding a deck.

According to Realtor.com, adding a deck is a relatively safe investment to make, considering the return on this type of project is typically 80% or more. A deck extends livable space from the indoors out, an attractive notion for buyers. By adding a few bright potted flowers, some patio furniture and possibly a grill, buyers can envision many a spring, summer and fall nights with friends and family – right in your (or their soon-to-be) backyard.