A ho-hum backyard will make buyers feel just that – ho hum. Instead, you want to wow potential buyers with a backyard that’s both sleek and relaxing. Whether your backyard is small or you have several acres, there are options to upgrade the appeal of your backyard without breaking the bank.
Clean It Up
You want the inside of your home to be spic-and-span when it’s on the market; the same is true for your backyard. “Start by cleaning up the yard, removing dead branches, dog droppings, weeds and anything broken,” Realtor Margaret Woda recommends. “The most important thing in landscaping is maintenance.” A backyard that’s not clean will look like it requires a lot of work, and most buyers shy away from that when they’re looking for a new place to call home.
Finish Your Flower Beds
Adding fresh mulch to your flower beds brings a beautiful warmth to your backyard, and it will also help you get top dollar when it’s time to sell. Matt Blashaw, the host of DIY Network’s Yard Crashers, makes the observation that mulch is like carpet in your backyard. “Simply by laying like-colored mulch on all flower beds and exposed soil in your backyard, you can give your space a finished, unified look,” advises Blashaw. “As an added benefit, mulch blocks weeds and holds much-needed nutrients for your plants.
Upgrade Your Patio
A plain concrete patio is acceptable, but it lacks that important wow factor. Instead, consider doing an affordable upgrade with one of these options.
- Paint the concrete using a masonry stain in any color you choose. A deep brown or warm honey color will be most appealing to buyers.
- Lay slate tile over the concrete to add a beautiful punch of color that will match any vision the buyer has, and it’s much more durable than the masonry stain.
Save on Furniture
Showcase the size of your patio, and how functional it is, with appropriate patio furniture. Just like staging the home helps buyers see how it could work for them, patio furniture lays out the flow of the backyard for those who are taking a quick look. You don’t need designer furniture for the job, though. “Consider purchasing ready-to-assemble furniture, which is often less expensive than pre-built furniture,” recommends Shannon Petrie of the DIY Network. “Since the manufacturer doesn’t have to pay someone to assemble the pieces, the cost savings are passed on to the buyer.”
Think Beyond Hedges
Add texture and depth to a large, flat lawn with landscaping rocks and boulders. Available in all sizes, you could cluster several together to create a beautiful centerpiece for your lawn. “Don’t be afraid to cut into the lawn to accommodate them and leave some space around for planting colorful perennials or small shrubs,” says Blashaw.
Fire Up the Fire Pit
You might also consider incorporating a fire pit in the design to take your outdoor space to the next level. A fire pit is a gathering place for family and friends. When you situate one into your backyard, potential buyers immediately see a place where they can make memories. “Paired with some comfortable furniture, a fire pit can turn a typical patio into an inviting gathering place,” Petrie says. “If your city doesn’t allow a traditional, open wood fire in a backyard, a natural gas fire pit lets you have fire at the flip of a switch.”
Make It Feel Like a Stay-cation
With a beautiful backyard, potential home buyers will realize there’s no need to jet away to an exotic island resort when they have access to a relaxing outdoor getaway right in their own backyard. During showings, make sure to pull out the barbecue grill and set the patio table so they can envision entertaining in an inviting outdoor space.
