Listing Your House Part 3: Staging Your Outdoor Areas

Staging goes a long way when it comes to selling your house, and what better way to enhance your curb appeal than staging any outdoor sitting areas that you have.  Whether or not your family enjoys these areas, it would be a great idea to show the potential of these areas to buyers.

Before staging any outdoor areas, inspect them for any damage that you would need to repair. Power wash any decks, porches or patios and if necessary, repaint or stain the surfaces to bring new life to the area.

Do you have a front porch? A couple of chairs with weather resistant throw pillows and a small bistro table or side table would really enhance this area. Remember, it is the first area that someone visiting your house is going to see. Making this area part of the usable living space is a great idea. Showing buyers the potential will start a conversation before they even walk through the front door and enter the house.  If your porch isn’t wide enough for a table set, add a few potted plants or planters to the area. Just remember to water the plants and check for weeds periodically.

The same goes for any deck or patio that your house may have. A table set will show potential buyers that there is more to your house than just the interior. It is important to have the right size patio furniture. You should be able to walk around the deck or patio without furniture interfering in your path. Keep these areas clear of any clutter, including outdoor toys that your children may play with. There should be a separate area to store toys. If there is enough room, this is another great area to add some colorful planters.

If your property has a pool, don’t forget to stage this area as well. Planters and some lounge chairs should do the trick. Hide any pool equipment that does not need to be in use during a showing. Potential buyers aren’t going to want to step over pool hoses or nets when touring your property.

Outdoor living spaces should be cleaned regularly. Sweep decks, porches and patios and get rid of any leaves or dirt. Clean off any tabletops and chairs so that they seem used, even if they are not. The purpose of staging these areas is to make them seem like useful space that a buyer’s family can enjoy. If a potential buyer notices outdoor furniture covered in fallen leaves or layers of pollen all of your efforts were for naught.

This brings me to garage space. Although not an area to stage, specifically, it is an area to take into account. Organizing garage space really goes a long way to show buyers this part of your property. If the garage is an area that you keep a lot of belongings in, make sure that boxes and items aren’t just thrown into the space. Take the time to stack boxes up against a far wall.

Staging your outside areas is a great way to show potential buyers the added value that this part of your property provides.

Are you ready to list your house? Contact Stephanie Graham at Mathieu Newton Sotheby's International Realty. ph: 774.293.0407 email: stephanie.graham@sothebysrealty.com