It takes skill and knowledge to sell your home and achieve the best outcome. One thing that is crystal clear when selling a home is that staging has a big impact. Compared to homes without staging, staged homes sit on the market for 80% less time. Anyone who has sold a home before knows time is extremely important for sellers.

When we think of staging people usually think of interior staging. But the effect of outdoor staging can't be understated in that you add curb appeal. Whether gardening, BBQing, playing with the dog on the lawn, or having a campfire, Sarnia-Lambtonians (Lambtonites? Lambtoners?) love spending time in their yards. With that being said, here are 5 Tips for Staging Your Sarnia-Lambton Outdoor Living Space.

1) Show You Have Taken Care of the Property

Dirt & matter buildup on your siding, junk hiding behind your shed, stained hardscapes, and cracked walkways telegraph the idea that you haven't been taking care of your property. A buyer's first thought is either "gross" or "I wonder what else they've neglected?" The solution is a nice fixing blitz. Replace torn window screens, repaint the frames if they're peeling, and whip out the ole powerwasher (which is actually a lot of fun and very satisfying) and make your hardscapes, faded deck or fence revitalized. You know what, just go for a walk around your house and put everything that is unpleasing on a to-do list.

2) Get Ahead With Landscaping

Foresight can make landscaping easier. If you're looking to sell in 6 months, try taking landscaping action now. Get rid of withering, overgrown & dead shrubs, plants & trees. Imagine you're a buyer seeing your property for the first time. Would the property wow you, or the grass seem healthy and vibrant? Make sure to take the time to fertilize, mow, and water your lawn regularly. If you have a dog that digs, you'll need to be extra vigilant to fill holes, re-sod, and seed bare areas. Mow regularly in weeks leading up to your listing (if you're in the growing season.)

3) Plant Flowers

Flowers bring vibrant colour and scent to your property. Flower beds require regular maintenance and balance while bringing an unmatched visual appeal. Your flowers should make good use of the garden space. If they are near overgrown shrubs, be sure to prune the shrubs down so they add to and don't detract from the flowers. Clear out unsightly sticks and plastic that sometimes builds up in gardens. Good flowers colours are red and yellow, as they really catch the eye of buyers.

4) Add a Thoughtful Human Touch

The purpose of staging is to help buyers picture themselves living in the home. This is true for outdoor spaces as well. Adding some homey touches like a welcome mat, or outdoor chairs, tables, a summary wreath on the door, or a grill can warm up the yard and make it more welcoming.

5) Remove Needless Clutter

Organized homes inside and out are more attractive to buyers, while junk-filled disorganized yard makes people think "NOPE!" before they even see the interior. If you've got pool toys strewn about the yard, objects on the lawn killing the grass, and ugly old ornaments that were never even cool back in the day, just put them away, give them away or toss them. Give your yard some thoughtful human touch while you remove or replace junk. Get started early and keep your yard and exterior in good shape well in advance so you enjoy it in the time being and when it comes time to sell, your home will be maximally attractive to buyers.