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Great Gardens!

Putting your home's best face forward is vital to a quick sale at the best possible price. A well-kept, attractive garden makes a great impression. It tells prospective buyers that the owner takes pride in the home and suggests that the whole home is well cared for.

Colourful flowers, hanging baskets and well-groomed shrubs will greatly enhance your home. A garden dresses up your home and makes a strong first impression.

Here's how to make your outdoor space into a selling tool:

Keep everything neat and tidy. Keep paths and porch swept, lawn mowed and garden weeded. Clean all debris from outdoor areas. Prune shrubs and trees in spring for a tidier look and better growth. Condo owners who use the balcony for extra storage should clear it completely.

Remove dead plants promptly. "Dead plants send a message of neglect. Buyers wonder, 'What else has been neglected?'" said one REALTOR®. "This goes for your indoor plants as well. If they don’t look healthy, get rid of them, because they send a negative message."

Trim or remove trees or shrubs that block windows. Overgrown trees and shrubs can block natural light from rooms and can obscure attractive features of your home. Tree removal is restricted in some areas, so check with your local city hall first.

Tone down the outdoor knick-knacks. Your collection of garden gnomes or the red chili pepper lights on your condo balcony might be cute to you, but may turn off buyers.

Use colourful borders. Even if you’re not much of a gardener, it’s fairly easy and inexpensive to plant attractive floral borders along your front walk or front steps and around the base of shrubs. Try using tulips, daffodils, irises, impatiens or pansies.

Dress porches and condo balconies with potted flowers. Create a beautiful first impression with hanging baskets, large pots of flowers, or boxes that attach to balcony railings. You can buy beautiful pre-planted containers at any garden store.

Set a tableau. Capture buyers' imagination with an inviting outdoor tableau – a cosy seating arrangement and a table set with mugs and a magazine. Get ideas by visiting show homes.

Ask for advice. Your REALTOR® will be happy to give you tips on sprucing up your outdoor space. Also, consult with a local garden store for advice on which plants and flowers will work best for the light and soil conditions around your home.