Sometimes we focus all our efforts on staging the house and forget that many people are buying one instead of a condo, because they want to have usable outdoor space. It is important then, to make your backyard as attractive for potential buyers as any other part of the home. An unforgettable one can even be your selling point.
How to Stage your Backyard for a Quick Sale
Keep it neat
Just like any other part of the house, the first thing to do in the backyard is – clean. You should clean and freshen up everything, starting with anything thrown around, dog toys, children's things, gardening tools, bikes, etc. You can buy outdoor boxes to store them, plus then they are ready to go when you are moving. Also, you should trim your grass and keep any plants you have tidy. Clear pesky weeds and anything that is not neat, should go.
Keep it simple
While it is true that many may dream of a flower garden or a pool, they may also have your backyard lose some points. For your Kitsilano home, a pool can be a tough sell, just as the rest of Canada, short summers make the cost often unreasonable. For the garden, on the other hand, everyone does love seeing beautiful flowers and landscape, but they also mean a lot of maintenance. Taking them down or letting them die might make a person feel bad, but investing a lot of their time to keep them healthy, might be a task they are not willing to do.
Instead, you can use potted bloomers for accent and colour – this will give the potential buyer ideas but also options. Also, add a water feature that is not too high-maintenance or leave a space where it can be added.
Keep it cozy
Remember, that most potential buyers will want to spend time in the backyard. Of course, for everyone this might be different, but giving some options is a good idea. If you know that most people in your neighborhood have children, then sprucing up some child activities is a good idea. At the same time, an outdoor eating area can be a great selling point. Set up your backyard furniture in such a way that it is welcoming and cozy, but leaves space for imagination.
Make it for everyone
It's probably best to put away the gnomes and extravagant garden sculptures when showing the house. While you may love them, others may see it differently. Same goes for anything that is very personal or that's coming with you, for example children's slides that are very age specific or pet items that won't be there when you leave. Let the potential buyer imagine what their backyard might look like, give them a little hint of the options they have. However, don't overbear them with your personal style as this may make it hard for them to picture themselves living in the house.
If you would like further assistance in selling your Kitsilano home, please don't hesitate to call me.