Benefits of Flowers When Selling a Home

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This tidy hosta bed where the plants aren't crowded, plants are mulched and a simple garden ornament enhances the look adds curb appeal.

More Than Curb Appeal

Did you know that flowers planted around the outside of your home can actually help you sell your home faster and for more money than without? In today's market, people who are selling homes may want to pay extra attention to this idea.

Sharon McFarland from McFarland Associates Inc said that the exterior of the home really makes a difference because it's a reflection of the inside and how the home has been taken care of which has an impact on the value of the home. The first impression follows into the home and can certainly make a difference when the buyer is picking between several potential homes.

The term that realtors use is "Curb Appeal". Potential buyers only want to look at houses that appeal to them when they drive by. Several web sites on selling homes refer to this and suggest making sure that your home has curb appeal.

The following is quoted from the Oakville Handyman Services website on tips for selling a home.

Drive - up Appeal
One of the frustrations a professional agent has to deal with is after having made an appointment on a home that will meet the buyer's requirements, driving up in front of the home and having the buyer say, "I don't want to look at this. I don't like the look of the front."

It takes a lot to overcome a statement like that, so the first place we're going to start is with the front of the house. Stand at the street and look at the house. If all you can see are trees and shrubs, you have some yard work to do.

Landscaping is to enhance the home, not hide it. One of the easiest things to do is trim the shrubs that are overgrown. They should be lowered to a height near the bottom of the windows. If there is ivy growing on the side of the home, remove it.

If there are branches hanging low in the yard, you'll need to prune them. A simple rule of thumb is to have all the limbs high enough so that you can walk under the tree.

The next thing on the list is to clean out the flower beds and make them look good. This means getting all the weeds out and having a distinct border between the beds and the yard.

Everyone dreams of a "Home & Garden" type home with flowers in the beds. Why don't you invest in a few flats of flowers such as petunias or periwinkles that will last the entire growing season and will add color and beauty to the front of your home?

You might even consider putting some nice looking flower pots on the porch with some red geraniums or some other blooming plants in them.

Next, take a look at the front door and the area around it. If you paint nothing else, at least give it a fresh coat of paint.

If the doorbell is broken, replace it. Wash the mail box. Keep the porch swept. Get an attractive mat for people to wipe their feet.

Even if you are not selling your home, it's enjoyable to live in a home that has Curb Appeal.