613-277-2663 awinch@kw.com

In just a couple of months, Spring will be here! With Spring comes thoughts of selling and renovations that you may need to do. While inside renovations are always a good thing we often forget about the exterior of the home. Nothing can enhance your listing more than to have a backyard that is attractive to buyers.

Our Anne Winch Real Estate Team has some ideas on how you can create an outdoor oasis that buyers can’t resist. Here are some design concepts that we think can help you– no matter the size or style of your home.

Take the buyer’s perspective

The first order of business is to critically take a look at your backyard through a potential buyer’s lens. Is there enough shade? Is there room for children or pets to play? Is your landscaping comparable to your neighbours? What needs repair or paint and what needs a bit of decluttering?

Keep it small

When deciding on adding a few flower beds, keep it small. Too many gardens can be intimidating. Keep your gardens to small or medium-size. Remember the more you add the more your buyer has to maintain.

Patios and decks

Let’s face it we all want to relax outside when the temperatures turn warm. If you want to add value to your backyard, this is where you will get a return on your dollar. These outdoor extensions of your home can add 10% to 20% to your selling price, depending on the size and age. Opt for new outdoor furniture if yours is dated. Brighten up this area with cushions and potted plants.

Fence

A well-maintained fence is always attractive to buyers especially if they have children or pets. Wood fences are environmentally sustainable and can add much-needed privacy to your landscape. Make sure it is well maintained and appealing to the eye.

Add lighting

Add some LED lighting to your patio area. This will transform the look of your patio and also add some safety and security during the evening hours. Whether you have a glow-in-the-dark walkway or you add some solar panels to fence posts, this certainly will take the look of your backyard up a notch.

Container gardening

If your yard has limited space think about the use of container gardening to add some colour and pizazz. Plant flowers, veggies and even small trees in these containers. Mix shapes and colours because the real advantage is that you can move your container gardens around to suit your taste.

We hope that some of these examples can help you think of how you may upgrade the look of your outdoors. Our Anne Winch Real Estate Team would love to help you get your home staged, listed and sold for the upcoming Spring market. Find out how we can help. After all, Spring is just around the corner.