How to Update Your Front Yard

When it comes to remodeling a home, generally speaking, homeowners tend to prioritize the home’s interior. The exterior is often an afterthought; however, it is an excellent way to update your front yard. However, the exterior is the first thing that visitors see when they drive up to the home.

When a home has an updated exterior, it tends to improve the curb appeal of the home. Whether you decide to sell the home or just improve it to maintain it, there are some tips to help to update your front yard.

These are the kind of improvements that will help your home sell faster.

Maintain the Lawn

As we are well into the spring season, it is a good idea to reseed the lawn. Fertilize and ensure that your lawn is taken care of. Weeds are inevitable in most lawns.

Ideally, pull weeds, including the roots by hand, or use a hoe to remove the entire weed.  If the weeds are overgrowing and out of control, you can use an herbicide to kill the weeds. Be sure to read the directions to ensure you don’t damage the existing lawn.

You can also hire a service to take care of your lawn monthly to ensure that it is weed-free and green. There are some late spring tips to take care of your lawn and yard. Hire a landscaper or gardener to help mow the lawn weekly. A green and healthy lawn is very inviting and will make the home and yard look well tended to.

If you have a smaller area where you want to have a lawn and are not interested in the maintenance, consider adding artificial turf. This is a great way to maintain a green appearance.

It is a good idea to research what type of turf, and remember some of it does get hot. This can be problematic if you have pets.

Tend to the Flower Beds

Shrubs and bushes in flower beds should be trimmed neatly to create a neat appearance. If you want to put down mulch around the shrubs, that creates a nice look.

Remember to get the flower beds free of weeds as well. If you have smaller flower beds and want to add annual color, that will add some zest to the home.

Consider adding petunias or marigolds will add some bold color. You can keep them for several months by pruning back on the old blooms.

Flower beds that are neat and orderly definitely create an attractive yard and another way to update your front yard. These landscaping improvements will help to improve the overall home value.

Paint Your Front Door For More Exterior Appeal

After you have cleaned up the front of your home to ensure no cobwebs or leaves are hanging around, consider painting the front door and trim.

It can be a contrasting color to the home, which will add to the appeal of the exterior. Avoid any home improvements that may be too trendy, as they can be a turn-off for a potential buyer.

If you are selling your home, select a color appealing to the majority, as you don’t want the color to be too off-putting. Consider adding a seasonal wreath on the front door and a fresh entryway doormat.

All of these enhancements you are making to your home are considered exterior staging.

Update Your Exterior Light Fixtures

If your light fixtures are in good shape, then go ahead and just be sure to clean them and ensure the light bulbs are operable.

Light fixtures are considered fixtures in real estate as they are attached to the property.  If the light fixture is in disrepair, consider replacing them. Light fixtures are not all that expensive and consider a search at a home improvement store such as Ace Hardware or Lowes.

All of these steps will help you get the home ready for a spring sale should you decide that is the direction you plan to go.

Add an Architectural Mailbox to Help Update Your Front Yard

If you live in a home in an HOA, there may be restrictions on what type of mailbox you can put on the property. If not, some beautiful mailboxes can be added to the property and make the exterior and front yard more appealing.

There are many different mailboxes that you can select. Consider searching online for the type of mailbox you are seeking. There are mailboxes with a post or wall mount that you can select.

Many companies offer an option with the selection of the finish, including an architectural bronze finish. Keep in mind, if you live on the waterfront or ocean that is a more corrosive environment. This can impact the mailbox and cause it to corrode more quickly. Be sure to select a finish that will stand up to the elements.

Update Your House Numbers

Along with your upgraded mailbox, you can also upgrade the house numbers. There are many places where you can order house numbers to add to the appeal of the exterior of the home.

With a farmhouse-style home, many are using house numbers in script style with the house number, and some are even adding the name of the street.

Be sure to order house numbers that will tolerate the elements. The last thing you want is to purchase house numbers only to have them rusting or falling apart within the first few months of having them.

Add Exterior Lighting

There are some fabulous options to add exterior lighting to your flower beds and yard. If you have a beautiful tree as a focal point, then you may want to illuminate the tree. Add lighting in the flowerbeds to showcase the flowerbeds and seasonal flowers.

There are many options with exterior lighting, including solar, which is a great option. They are not difficult to install, and the wires are buried under the soil, which can be a relatively easy DIY project.

Get a timer for the lights and allow them to go on at sunset and stay on until dusk. Not only are the exterior lights aesthetically pleasing, but they also add to the safety of your home. The exterior lighting is a money-saving home improvement tip.

Final Thoughts

There are some fabulous ways to transform your home’s exterior by following the steps above. Be sure to maintain your home to prevent your home from accruing deferred maintenance.

Updating the exterior of the home will create a lasting impression of your home for visitors and buyers if you are selling.  There are many other ways to create a beautiful curb appeal of your home, so be creative and add to the value of your home.

Hopefully, you have found my tips for updating your yard to be useful.

A Quick Little Guide on the Fastest Way to Sell a House

Do you need to sell a home fast? If this is your first time selling a house, you may realize that there are different challenges that are waiting for you.

For some people, there is a tendency to feel emotional during the process. This is somewhat normal especially when you lived in that house for a long time.

The memory in the place sometimes makes people question their decisions. But you should not let your emotions cloud your judgment because it may make you commit some mistakes in the process of selling.

Selling a house fast may seem to be a complex process for first-time sellers. This is because there are some parts of the process that you’re not familiar with. For other people, they struggle in the process of showing the house to potential buyers.

You will hear how people will critic and comment about the specific parts of your house. This may also affect you in some ways emotionally.

So before selling your home, you should familiarize yourself with the important things you need to remember.

Understanding the Mechanics of Home Selling

Putting your house in the market requires you to know the mechanics of selling a house. A lot of people commit mistakes and end up waiting for a long time for the property to be sold.

Prices, insurance, real estate agents, and other factors are determinants of the success of your journey as a selling.

Understanding how these factors can affect the whole process will give you enough idea on how to strategize.

So, before you even decide on prices and other stuff, learn about the mechanics of home selling. Know the simple steps and the common mistakes people commit.

Avoid these Mistakes when Selling Your Home

Here are the different mistakes you should avoid to make sure that you will be able to sell your house faster.

Getting Emotional

This is the most common mistake that people who lived in the house for a long time commit.

People usually get emotional in the process of selling a house because of many factors. But this is something that can get in the way of being able to sell it. There are some people who suddenly feel like they are no longer sure if they really want to sell the property.

So before you sell, you have to make sure that you are emotionally ready.

Setting an Unrealistic Price

Another reason why it is usually taking too long before a property is sold is the unrealistic price being set by the seller. To avoid this, you have to check the market and determine the real market value of your property.

You need to pay particular attention to the right real estate comparables. In other words, the homes that are truly similar to yours. Analyzing comps correctly is one of the key ways to ensure your home is priced appropriately from day one.

There are some homes that make really good comps and others that do not. You can also ask the help of real estate experts for this.

Also, keep in mind your home is going to need to pass the buyer’s lender’s real estate appraisal.

Not Carrying Proper Insurance

Most people as mentioned by cash for homes are looking for properties that are insured. One of the common mistakes that sellers make is not having the insurance details while selling.

Buyers also make their own research before buying a house. They know the importance of getting a property that is insured.

Few Simple Steps on How to Sell Your House

To assist you, here are some steps you can take to ensure that you will be successful in selling your house.

Sell Your House to a Wholesaler

A wholesaler is someone who sells houses for the seller at a higher price and gets the difference as his or her part.

There are different reasons why you should get a wholesaler. Firstly, they have quite a great number of prospects and potential buyers. Aside from that, they also ensure that your property will be sold at your asking price.

Find the Right Real Estate Agent

There are several things you should consider when you are looking for a real estate agent.

You have to check their track record and see how they are performing But most importantly, you have to ensure that they are familiar with the neighborhood where your house is located.

Interviewing real estate agents before choosing is one of the best ways for you to be able to get the best one.

Declutter Your Home

This is an important reminder before you even decide to sell your house. Make sure that it is ready to be photographed and featured in the market. Real Estate agents refer to this as staging the home properly. Staging can be everything from removing unwanted items to making repairs, to changing up the furniture, to changing paint colors.

Some folks have so much stuff they need to rent either a self-storage unit or a Pod in order to get their extraneous stuff out of their home.

You can start by eliminating things that are not necessarily important in the selling process.

Consider a Short Sale of Your Home

This option is for homeowners who still have an amount due on their mortgage. If you are financially distressed, the best way for you to be able to successfully get a buyer is to short sale your home.

Many buyers are looking for houses in short shale because of the reduction in the price.

Check Your Curb Appeal

One of the things that people check, whenever they are buying a house, is the external appearance. You have to check if your walkways, yard, lawn, and even driveway look good online and personal. The house should be inviting and appealing.

When it comes to the exterior there are fewer things more important than your home’s curb appeal.

Keep Up with Current Technology

Now that technology has already changed the way people live, buyers are also looking for the newest tech upgrade in houses they visit.

Start with your security features and look for the best gadgets that can ensure this. From securing your front door to some auto blinds, you are certainly putting your house on top of the others in the market.

Write a Great Listing Description

Listing is something that people check. Make sure that your description will make potential buyers interested in visiting your house.

A great listing description is short and catchy. It should contain the most important details buyers should know about your house.

Bottom Line

Selling your house successfully can be achieved with the proper strategy. As the homeowner, you know exactly what should be changed and what to improve in your home.

In taking photographs, be honest and yet be challenged by the fact that there are other houses being sold in the market.