First impressions are important.  Often Auburn buyers will judge a home from the outside before ever coming in.  It is important to have the outside of your Auburn home looking as spiffy as possible. As we all know, here in the Pacific Northwest and Auburn, we are fortunate to have an abundance of native evergreen plants that grow naturally and look green and nice throughout the year.  Here are some tips for making the outside look as eye-catching as possible.

1. Add splashes of color. Put a pot of bright flowers on your porch or entryway in spring and summer.  In fall, decorate with fall colors and decorations.  In winter, put a small evergreen on the porch.

2. Have the lawn well-manicured with proper edging, mow the lawn every week in the spring & summer (and right before the buyers are scheduled to come), and water consistently as necessary to produce a green lawn.  A green lawn demonstrates tender loving care.

3. Trim bushes so that they do not block windows, doors, and other architectural features on the home’s facade.  It is important to be able to see the home as clearly as possible, and nice bushes that are neatly trimmed catch the Auburn buyer’s eye.

4. Add fresh bark to border areas to enhance the “newness” of a home.  This is comparable to painting the interior of the home.   A fresh, new look is very desirable.  Of course, along with this, weed any flower beds that border the lawn and sidewalk up to the home.

5. Use decorative architectural elements.  A new mailbox, planted window boxes, a park bench, and a low fence are some ideas that can help to create emotional appeal.  An excellent additional is an arbor, if there is room to have one in either the front or back yard.

6. If you have a patio or deck, have a nice patio table and chairs to complement the outdoor living space.

7. Clean the gutters, rake any pine cones in the yard and borders, and stain any fences to look fresh and new.

8. Pressure wash the driveway, sidewalk, and decks.  Here in the Pacific Northwest and Auburn, we tend to have a green moss-like growth that loves this climate, and grows abundantly over the winter particularly in shady areas.

9. On the house, polish or replace the house numbers, install new doorknobs on the front door, and buy a new doormat for the outside of your front door.  As necessary, upgrade your outside lighting with more attractive fixtures.

10. Let them hear the water.  The sound of water appeals to buyers, and you shouldn’t reserve this for your backyard.  A small fountain accented with rocks provides a pleasant splashing sound, blocks street noise, and is affordable.

Please call me for recommendations on local Auburn landscapers and yard maintenance workers. Also call me for price recommendations and other help on preparing your Auburn home for sale. The market is picking up with sales happening in Auburn, and we do not want to miss the spring, as this is normally a very busy time of the year.  Also, with the first-time home buyer incentives available, the Auburn homes are selling, and selling fast if priced properly and are in top condition, both inside and outside.