Landscape improvements can pay off big for sellers

by Christine Ballew-Gonzales

SBJ Contributing Writer

A homeowner who is planning to sell should do more than just spruce up the interior of the home, according to local real estate agents and landscapers.

While the inside of the home is important, potential buyers will never make it beyond a drive-by if the seller neglects to improve the curb appeal of the home.

Sellers are remiss if they fail to make their lawn and the outside of their home look its very best, according to Brenda Morris, real estate agent with Murney Associates Realtors.

"If it looks overgrown on the outside, people will assume that it is unkempt on the inside," Morris said. "The more you can do to the outside, the better."

Morris recommended that home sellers begin with stepping up lawn care basics.

"Make sure all the bushes are trimmed and the weeds are pulled," she said. "If a seller doesn't have any landscaping at all, they can get some bright flowers."

Morris said that flowers don't necessarily have to be planted in beds