Homes that feature an outdoor area for relaxing or entertaining are often hot sellers. For this reason, one of the best things you can to do move your home on the market quicker and at the asking price is to remember the outdoors. For starters, you want to start at the front of the home with what is called curb appeal. This means from the minute a prospective buyer drives up, they are impressed.
Curb appeal does not have to be an overwhelming project nor an expensive one. For this, you want to make sure the lawn is neatly mowed, flowerbed trimmed, weeds pulled, walkways edged, steps swept, and so on. In addition, make sure there are no oil stains on the driveway, that the front door and windows are washed, no cobwebs exist, any damaged or worn areas of the home touched up with matching paint, and that the doorbell works. All of these things will make a huge difference in how well your home is perceived.
Once prospective buyers look out front, they will walk through the home, looking in closets, in cabinets, around corners, and so on. From there, people will head to the backyard area. In this case, your deck or patio needs to evoke an atmosphere of tranquility, it needs to look comfortable, safe, and like home. Therefore, make sure your deck is stained or painted, that any loose nails or handles are fixed, and that you have appropriate lighting. For a patio, this should not have any cracks, pitted areas, or stains.
Whether you have a deck or patio, the best option is that once they are in good
condition, you want to add some things to make the area even more beautiful. For instance, this would be a great time to purchase nice patio furniture. In addition, set some green plants and flowers around, hang up a nice sounding wind chime, or perhaps set up a corner pond with a small waterfall. Finally, if you have a barbecue, we recommend you set it down off the deck or patio so you make these areas appear larger.