When someone visits your house, your garden usually makes the first impression, and we all know first impressions last.
When selling your house, it is even more important to have your garden looking its best.
To ensure you make a great first impression you may find these tips useful.
In General

• Jot down a list of last minute jobs to be done to the garden before each house inspection but make sure this list is not visible during the inspection.
  
• If you feel you do not have the time or a green thumb, consider renting plants for your garden.
  These can add interest to an empty corner and brighten up your garden.
  
• Place large colourful potted tubs around areas that look drab.
  
• Plant a few flowering shrubs a week or so before the first inspection.
  
• Keep your lawn mowed and tidy by raking up all grass and leaves even between inspections.
  Buyers often do a drive by on any day of the week.
  
• Trim trees and shrubs a few weeks before first inspection.
  
• Remove all dead branches before each inspection.
  
• Woody shrubs not in bloom can be made more attractive with flower-filled containers placed in front of them.
  
• Try to make your garden appear as maintenance free as possible.
  
• Spread Wood Chips to cover up unsightly areas.
  
• Kill off and dig up any weeds
• Trim untidy hedges and shrubs.
  

Front Garden

• Clear back to the edges of all paths making sure they are swept and clean
• Prune back any dead branches of trees and shrubs and remove all weeds from the garden and driveways.
  
• Plant borders of flowering annuals or rose bushes along the driveway or main path leading up to the house.
  
• If you don't have a path leading to your front door, consider some quick landscaping to include one as a path can make a huge difference
• Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.
  
• Trim any plants blocking the view from any windows or doors.
  
• De-clutter by removing any garden gnomes, tools or toys.
  

Rear Garden

• If possible, place some colourful hanging baskets at your front door.
  
• If required, plant out some advanced shrubs or a tree to hide next door's shed or clothes line.
  
• If the back yard is open and has little shade, plant a large fast-growing shade tree preferably in the middle of the back lawn.
  
• Plant the area where the lawn has died out under large trees with small colourful shrubs or ground covers.
  

Veranda

• Hang colourful hanging baskets along the veranda.
  
• If shady, add large shade loving plants in pots.
  
• Plant fresh Herbs boxes along veranda edges.
  

Barbeque Area

• Place some terracotta pots around planted with fresh herbs.
  
• Add tomato or strawberry plants in pots near barbeque
• Place large potted tubs around areas that look drab.
  

Written by Jonathon Scully, Turfco www.
turfco.
com.
au