You have to do as much as possible in today’s economy to make your house attractive to buyers and get it sold. There are more sellers than buyers in the market now, and, since this trend is likely to continue for a while, buyers can get away with being demanding and finicky.
One of the things you should not overlook is your backyard. Many homes have very plain yards and that is OK as long as you make sure it is well groomed. Your backyard is part of the house and how it is taken care of reflects on you and how you view your house. It is best to have a complete product (house and yard) that look equally nice and well kept.
However, sometimes people overly decorate their yard with highly personal touches. You might love your backyard’s Japanese garden, but its appeal may limit your chances of selling the home. Your buyer would also need to appreciate that type of landscaping and have the time and skill to care for it. If your home is great but has a yard intricately decorated to suit your individual taste, whoever buys your house must have the same taste, or at least not hate it.
Upgrading your yard to make it presentable for selling your house does not mean you have to spend thousands of dollars. It just means you should have a nice layout that complements the house and also looks comparable to what the other houses have in your area. If all the other houses have nice yards, so should your house.
You need to at least put forth the impression that your yard is well cared for. Often a homeowner neglects their lawn by not watering and mowing it regularly. Obviously, to have the highest opportunity to make a sale, your grass should be green rather than brown. The hard fact is that no one wants to buy a home that looks as if it were ignored, and the condition of your yard can add or detract from the message you send.