Avoiding misperceptions
A sign on the lawn is less likely to attract a buyer as they drive by. Instead, they are pulling their smartphones out of their pockets and scrolling through pictures of the property posted online.
The first one they will see is how the house looks from the street and that image, more than anything else, will influence their decision as to whether it is a home they want to see in person, or simply scroll past to the next listing.
A home’s curb appeal will also say a lot about the homeowner. In fact, it will influence a potential buyer’s perception of the rest of the property. A well-maintained exterior shows pride of ownership. If a seller has invested in the outside of their home, it is reasonable to assume they have extended the same attention to the home’s infrastructure, e.g. maintaining the appliances and addressing any of the typical issues of homeownership as they arose.
“In today’s market, I would consider landscaping to be one of the most important improvements a homeowner can make when preparing to list their property,” says Vanderquip. “Nothing says quality of lifestyle more than a beautiful yard and garden. By performing this type of work, the homeowner is essentially investing in their equity.”
Making the same investment of time and resources in the backyard is just as important even though it may not be visible from the street. The backyard is a homeowner’s refuge and escape from the stresses and worries of hectic days. Without having to drive for hours through traffic on busy highways to get to a cottage, people are turning to their backyards as a place of tranquility and relaxation. Therefore, a seller who pays attention to these important exterior details will almost certainly influence a buyer’s positive perception of the rest of their home.
Denis Flanagan, CLD, is the director of public relations for Landscape Ontario and is a graduate of horticulture in Surrey, England, where he performed landscaping work for the Royal Family and achieved a gold medal at The Chelsea Flower Show. He is a renowned garden and landscape expert in Canada and has been featured on several gardening programs on HGTV. Flanagan, who has taught horticulture at Humber and Seneca colleges, continues to design award-winning gardens. He can be reached via e-mail at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.
