Some things ought to be ‘no-brainers’, but are not.

Today we’d like to give you some suggestions about items that are best not left in your front yard while you’re trying to sell your property. You may find these things necessary and/or charming, but as we’ve said many times before, our goal is to depersonalise your home when placing it on the market. It’s best if your front yard is just as neutral as your living room. The following items are not advisable:

• Non-functional vehicles, whether they are leaking oil on the driveway or not. If they are up on blocks, you’re probably best to call the tow truck.
• Most statues, including but not limited to: kangaroos and other creatures, garden gnomes and tyre swans etc.
• Vegetable gardens (these are totally okay in the back yard).
• Swing sets and other large play equipment.
• Clotheslines (also would be better relegated to the rear of the house).
• Overgrown vines that hide the entrance to your home. Not everybody is up for a jungle adventure!
• Indoor furniture – an old recliner on the front verandah might be comfy but should probably be replaced with something more modern and appealing before your home is photographed for the sales campaign.
• Your hot tub.
• Holiday lights and decorations.
• Flags or signs proclaiming your own political, religious, or philanthropic convictions. (We’re glad you’re proud of your affiliations, but it’s better not to offend a potential buyer whose opinions may lie elsewhere.)

We suggest simple, but attractive front yard treatments.

• Climate Concerns: It’s best to make your landscaping climate appropriate. If you live in the desert, for example, your potential buyers may cringe at the cost and work involved to maintain a tropical-rainforest landscaping plan.
• Architecturally Inspired: A formal English garden may look spectacular laid out before a mock Tudor home on acres, but with a suburban red brick home? Perhaps not so much.
• Too much? It’s preferable not to overdo the landscaping. It’s wonderful to have a few hardy trees, shrubs, and blooming plants, but too much fussy flora may make some buyers baulk. Not everybody loves to garden.
• Too little? A yard that has no plants other than an expanse of grass may seem too sparse and won’t show off your home to full advantage. Keep it simple, but keep it elegant.

Think of your front yard as a little black dress – it should be classic and quietly beautiful. Consider a few elegant potted plants on the patio or near the entryway. A well-defined walkway or stepping stones to the front door, along with a tree or two and a few plants in bloom, should do the trick.

If your front yard reflects your love of gardening – unless we’re talking about climbing beans and tomatoes – by all means, let it be. Just keep your exterior well maintained and looking as if it’s really no trouble to maintain in order to appeal to the buyer who doubts his/her ability.

Your best friend in front yard matters is your home stager. This specialist in property styling for sale can advise you about which plants – even what colour flowers — appeal most to potential buyers. The key is to have everything outside – just like everything inside – in tip-top shape, in order to present your home in the most appealing way possible.