When preparing their home for sale, most people pay close attention to the house itself, but often neglect to consider the state of their garden. And yet the garden can have a massive impact on the profit of a sale.

In real estate, we refer to the front shot of a property as the ‘dollar shot’. A purchaser’s expectations are established from the moment they set eyes on a property. Most will do a drive-by to determine whether or not to inspect a property. If a buyer drives by and sees rubbish piled high at the side of the house and an unkempt garden they will think, “Not this one. The owners don’t look after it”. Then they will cross that property off their open home list and move on to the next one.

An inviting garden creates a very important first impression
If the front garden is well maintained, the lawns are mowed and neatly edged, the shrubs and trees pruned and the garden beds weeded and filled with vibrant colour or lush greenery, buyers get an impression of a very well-maintained and loved property. It encourages them to feel an emotional connection to the property and imagine themselves living there. This is crucial because, without an emotional connection, a buyer is very unlikely to make an offer. Think of your garden as a marketing tool and a means to enhance the property and ensure it creates an impact. There’s profit in a well-maintained, landscaped garden.

Start early and think ‘less is more’
If you are preparing your home for the market, start as early as possible and adopt a ‘less is more’ approach. Ruthlessly cutting back and pruning your garden over a single weekend just before listing gives the impression that the home has been rushed to market. A better approach would be to take the time to tend to your well-established garden in the months and weeks leading up to the sale.

Consider investing in some beautiful pot plants to strategically place in and around your home. Not only will you be able to take them with you when you move, but well placed pot plants create atmosphere and a stunning visual impact, especially in the marketing photography.

To complement your well-maintained garden, gurney the driveway and have the exterior of your house professionally washed, including the windows. For a few hundred dollars, a professional exterior clean will remove cobwebs, invite the sunshine in, and leave the exterior of your home looking fresh and clean. In most cases, a professional exterior clean and gurney will have your home looking so good that it won’t need repainting.

Don’t underestimate the impact of a garden. Not only does it create a great first impression, but there’s also the potential to make serious profit from it. Look after it and it will look after you.