{"id":2926,"date":"2017-09-28T11:56:47","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T18:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=2926"},"modified":"2024-04-01T10:50:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-01T17:50:23","slug":"watch-yard-crashers-before-you-sell-your-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/watch-yard-crashers-before-you-sell-your-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Watch \u2018Yard Crashers\u2019 Before You Sell Your House"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post is a guest post by Brooke Niemeyer. Brooke is the Partnerships Manager at\u00a0PolicyGenius.com<\/a>. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism from New York University and her work is featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, TIME, The Huffington Post, MSN, FOX Business, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance and other publications.<\/em><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard the old adage \u2014 boost your home\u2019s curb appeal and you\u2019ll boost your odds of selling it. And there\u2019s good reason for that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf the front looks like it needs work, it implies the interior hasn\u2019t been maintained either,\u201d Melanie Cameron, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage in Wilmington, North Carolina, said.<\/span><\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re in the market to sell your home<\/a><\/span>, working on the exterior is a good idea. Not sure where to start? The answer may come from kicking back on the couch, grabbing the remote and enjoying a few episodes of \u201cYard Crashers<\/a>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Watching TV can help sell your home?<\/b><\/p>\n

Well, sort of. Whether you want to just check out a few episodes or settle in for a good binge, tuning in to this HGTV series can give you inspiration on how to improve your property before it goes on the market. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some extreme yard transformations have happened during the series\u2019 17 seasons. We\u2019re talking yards turned enviable retreats, with putting greens, cabana bars and full outdoor kitchens. (There was even an episode where <\/span>Matt Blashaw<\/span> and crew<\/span> turned a Las Vegas yard of dirt into a paradise with a waterfall, fire pit and custom barbecue.) <\/span><\/p>\n

Not all of us can get ambushed by the \u201cYard Crashers\u201d crew while shopping at our local hardware stores, so we have to do these projects ourselves. And, more than likely, you won\u2019t want to do anything as elaborate as what\u2019s on the show when you intend to sell. But you can still get inspiration for some easy modifications that can make your front and back yards more appealing to potential new owners. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are 7 of them:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Eliminate the Problems<\/h2>\n

\u201cPull up any unsightly weeds that you can and keep the grass mowed,\u201d <\/span>Jonathan Apart,<\/span> a Realtor based in Dallas, said. \u201cAnything that sticks out of the sea of green grass has got to go \u2014 large ant hills, tree stumps, even old yard gnomes could use a spit-shine or two.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Get Out the Shears<\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Make sure the shrubs and trees are trimmed back when you\u2019re ready to take pictures for your listing \u2014\u00a0and again when you start showing the house. After all, you want your home to be visible when potential buyers pull up. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt only takes 15 seconds to form an opinion,\u201d Cameron said. \u201cThat 15 seconds could be the amount of time it takes a buyer to park their car, get out and walk to the front door. They haven\u2019t even seen the inside and they\u2019re already deciding if they can see themselves living in the home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Decide What Can Go<\/h2>\n

Many people are <\/span>xeriscaping their yard to cut back on maintenance<\/span><\/a> and the expense of watering a big lawn. You actually see this all the time on \u201cYard Crashers\u201d with the crew turning patches of lawn into rock gardens, filling parkways with gravel or ground cover, and even using stones to create a patio where lawn once was. Depending on the current state of your front and\/or back lawn, a revamp is something worth considering. (Hey, you could even save on your water bill while waiting to sell.) <\/span><\/p>\n

4. Add Something Special<\/h2>\n

Plant some flowers, put together an herb garden<\/a> or replace old ground covers to add some character to the yard. Don\u2019t have any space to seed? Consider adding a planter box or two instead. Or you could even use some of the wall planter ideas you see on the show, like the one where they hang old gutters on a plywood trellis and fill them with different herb plants. <\/span><\/p>\n

5. Brighten the Space<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re adding new fixtures or updating the old ones, the lighting of an outdoor setting really makes a difference. And you can get creative here \u2014 think twinkly lights or paper lanterns. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may also experiment with different colored lights and different placement,\u201d Alpart said. \u201cPerhaps hang some [so they] shine down onto shrubbery instead of having all your lights be on the ground shining up. This will make your yard look like it has more depth, complexity and richness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Update the Chair Cushions<\/h2>\n

If you have lawn furniture out when potential buyers stop by, make sure any cushions on the chairs aren\u2019t sun-faded or torn. Even if you\u2019re taking these items with you, a little clean-up can look good.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Replace Cracked Pavers<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve got a walkway, patio or other space in the yard with pavers, replace any stones that aren\u2019t in good condition. That small job can easily improve the first impression. <\/span><\/p>\n

Bonus Episode: One More Thing to Keep in Mind\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember, any updates you make to your home could mean you\u2019ll need to adjust your\u00a0<\/span>homeowners insurance<\/span><\/a> \u2014 even if you plan to sell. It\u2019s a good idea to chat with your insurance agent or broker to see what they recommend so you don\u2019t go underinsured. Better safe than sorry!<\/span><\/p>\n