Greenbook: A Local Guide to Chesapeake Living - Issue 6 | Page 9

seller tips

Leaving Backyard Photos Out
of Your Listing
This is a rookie mistake. If you
leave out photos of your backyard, homebuyers will think that
you have something to hide. If
you have a gorgeous yard, why
wouldn't you want to showcase
it in your listing? Are you hiding
any skeletons in the closet?

greenbook
J. Melvin Premier properties

Hidden backyard deal breakers
that are lurking on your property
By Nick Caruso - This post was contributed by patioproductions.com.

Every time a prospective
homebuyer walks onto your
property, there are a few
things that they will absolutely not put up with. These
deal breakers can be anywhere in the home, but there
is one area that we often
forget about: the backyard.
The backyard is very
important to family life.
After all, this is the place
where children will enjoy
their childhood and play in
a safe and secured
environment. Most home
buyers prefer single-family
dwellings solely because of
the usable outdoor space!
Take some time to focus on
your backyard. After all,
there are ways that you can
update your backyard with
out spending money.
Pool in the Backyard
To many buyers, a pool can
be seen as an expensive
maintenance fee that they
will have to pay for on top
of the mortgage. Once they
see a pool, they're going to
start doing some calculations
in their head thinking, "Now
how much is this going to
cost me?" Whether it's above
or below ground, a pool can
raise a flood of concerns over
child safety.

Size of the Plot
The appraisal of your home is
typically made in two elements,
the plot size and the actual value
of the physical home. That said,
the size of your yard comes
into play so you want to make
sure that you spend a generous
amount of time prepping your
backyard for visitors. Getting
rid of clutter and opening up the
yard to make your lot feel larger
will help you when it comes time
to sell.
Pet Products
Hide dishes, play toys, and
photos of your pets as this may
make the buyer feel like the
home is dirty, especially for a
homeowner that doesn't like the
idea of having pets inside the
house. This will be a deal breaker
if the buyer is allergic to cats
and/or dogs.
Landscaping
With the price of water rising
rapidly and droughts in California, grass isn't as appealing as
it once was. When frugal buyers
see grass, they see a sky-high
water bill that will eventually
lead to a dead yard and a new
project to be undertaken. Think
about landscaping trends like
xeric landscaping, native plants,
and artificial turf to make your
home more appealing to all home
buyers.

Noisy Neighbors
Now this may be seen as something outside of your realm, but
it may be worth a knock on the
door to let your neighbors know
that you will be showing your
house at a given time. Rowdy
neighbors can be an instant turn
off to potential buyers. Make sure
your neighbors' parties are held
on a different day than your open
house to give buyers a better
peace of mind. After all, they will
share a fence with these neighbors for an indefinite period of
time.
So What Are Home Buyers
Looking For?
A survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders found that new homebuyers
are looking for exterior lighting,
lots of trees, a deck or patio, and
a fenced in yard. Beyond the
basics, an outdoor amenity that
is rapidly gaining in popularity
is the outdoor fireplace/fire pit,
outdoor kitchens, and the outdoor
living room.
Investing in the backyard can net
you some of the highest returns.
Knowing what real estate appraisers (and homebuyers) are
looking for will help you sell your
property faster. That said, the
exterior of your home is just as
important as the interior of your
home. Many people assume that
the front and backyard aren't
crucial to the buying process so
they overlook these pitfalls. Make
sure that your backyard does not
have any hidden deal breakers
that could steer away new bids!
greenbook | fall & Winter 2015

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