Landscaping Mistakes That Make Home Buyers Walk the Other Way

Slide 1 of 12: If you’re selling your home or planning to sell, you know you need to make sure everything is in order. Your paint may need touch-ups, carpets should be cleaned, and all those knick-knacks need to be put away. But what about your landscaping? Since first impressions can make or break a sale, steer clear of these 11 landscaping mistakes that can make home buyers walk—or even run—the other way. Related: Landscaping: A Good Investment

 © istockphoto.com

Your Landscaping Can Help Sell Your Home

If you’re selling your home or planning to sell, you know you need to make sure everything is in order. Your paint may need touch-ups, carpets should be cleaned, and all those knick-knacks need to be put away. But what about your landscaping? Since first impressions can make or break a sale, steer clear of these landscaping mistakes that can make home buyers walk—or even run—the other way.

Slide 2 of 12: Sure, man-made ponds and water features can help create a relaxing outdoor space, but they can also attract insects, such as mosquitoes. Plus, it takes work to keep them clean and well-maintained—work potential buyers might not be up for. Morgan Knull, a broker with Re/Max Gateway, told the Washington Post that buyers are often intimidated when it comes to a water feature’s maintenance, such as dealing with clogged filters and leaky liners.

 © istockphoto.com

Large Water Features

Sure, man-made ponds and water features can help create a relaxing outdoor space, but they can also attract insects, such as mosquitoes. Plus, it takes work to keep them clean and well-maintained—work potential buyers might not be up for. Morgan Knull, a broker with Re/Max Gateway, told the Washington Post that buyers are often intimidated when it comes to a water feature’s maintenance, such as dealing with clogged filters and leaky liners.

Slide 4 of 12: While the right tree may offer shade or some textural contrast in your landscaping, big trees too close to the house can be a red flag. Depending on the size and age of the tree, large trees may cause buyers to worry about damage due to falling limbs. Plus, tree removal can be pricey with extreme projects costing as much as $2,000, according to HomeAdvisor.

 © istockphoto.com

Large Trees

While the right tree may offer shade or some textural contrast in your landscaping, big trees too close to the house can be a red flag. Depending on the size and age of the tree, large trees may cause buyers to worry about damage due to falling limbs. Plus, tree removal can be pricey with extreme projects costing as much as $2,000, according to HomeAdvisor.

Slide 5 of 12: A healthy lawn can be a plus when selling your home, but there can be too much of a good thing. For some potential homeowners, a huge lawn may be overwhelming. Since not all home buyers enjoy doing yard work, big, open lawns may mean an investment in time and energy they just don’t have to offer. If you have a big open lawn, there are some things you can do: Consider installing a large patio, or creating some smaller native plant gardens to break it up, or setting up multiple outdoor living areas, depending on your space.

© istockphoto.com

A Huge Lawn

A healthy lawn can be a plus when selling your home, but there can be too much of a good thing. For some potential homeowners, a huge lawn may be overwhelming. Since not all home buyers enjoy doing yard work, big, open lawns may mean an investment in time and energy they just don’t have to offer. If you have a big open lawn, there are some things you can do: Consider installing a large patio, or creating some smaller native plant gardens to break it up, or setting up multiple outdoor living areas, depending on your space.

Slide 10 of 12: Cracks in your home’s concrete patio or walkways aren’t just unsightly, they can be dangerous. They can also be costly to fix, with HomeAdvisor estimating the cost of filling smaller holes or cracks at $100, if you do it yourself. Large repairs can set you back up to $20 per square foot.

 © istockphoto.com

Cracked Concrete

Cracks in your home’s concrete patio or walkways aren’t just unsightly, they can be dangerous. They can also be costly to fix, with HomeAdvisor estimating the cost of filling smaller holes or cracks at $100, if you do it yourself. Large repairs can set you back up to $20 per square foot.

Slide 12 of 12: For those thinking of selling their home, a messy or unkempt yard may give potential buyers a bad first impression. For sellers, be sure to mow regularly, weed flower beds, keep the yard clutter-free, and put away toys when not in use.

 © istockphoto.com

A Messy Yard

For those thinking of selling their home, a messy or unkempt yard may give potential buyers a bad first impression. For sellers, be sure to mow regularly, weed flower beds, keep the yard clutter-free, and put away toys when not in use.

Article by Rachel Brougham for bobvila.com

Source: 11 Landscaping Mistakes That Make Home Buyers Walk the Other Way (msn.com)

Author: Dennis Hickey

There are no limits to success to those who never stop learning. Learning will nourish your personal growth. I hope you enjoy this website and visit often so you keep learning and growing too!

%d bloggers like this: