For sellers, good landscaping can add curb appeal

Curb appeal is important to many buyers, and a large part of that appeal is a homes landscaping.

That first impression is important, says Frank Lucco, managing director of IRR-Residential Appraisers & Consultants in Houston. If (buyers) dont like the looks of the front of the house, which is mostly landscaping, often they wont even go inside.

A landscaping investment could potentially pay a 215 percent return in home value, says Margaret Woda, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton, Md.

Here are some things to keep in mind when prepping your yard to appeal to potential homebuyers.

Maintenance. Start by cleaning up the yard. Remove dead branches, dog droppings, weeds and anything that is broken. Planning ahead is important.

You cant just decide to sell your house tomorrow and expect the landscaping to be ready, Woda says. If youre thinking of moving next fall, (then) this spring, you should be working on your landscaping.

Eric King, owner of King Landscaping in Atlanta, recommends ensuring that downspouts are clean and functional, and drain pipes are properly buried and operational, so water doesnt pool. Make sure that patios, walkways and fences are level and that roots havent pushed up sidewalks or patio stones.

If your deck has wobbly railings or loose steps, fix them, says King. People dont want a mystery.

Remove overgrown shrubs encroaching on the sidewalk or any that are too big, dont flower or are out of style. They look terrible to anyone except the owner, Woda says.

Plants. In the front yard, the landscaping should pull your eyes to the front door. While the real estate agent is opening the lockbox, buyers will be looking around at the landscaping, so have pots of blooming flowers nearby.

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For sellers, good landscaping can add curb appeal