If you’re like millions of other people across the country, you’re in the middle of getting your house ready to put on the market. We all know what to do on the inside to make it more marketable—fresh coats of paint, new carpet, de-clutter and make sure everything is clean—but what about the outside of your house? Good-looking landscaping can increase the resale value of a property by up to 14%–so get outside and get crackin’! You’ll be glad in the end that you spent the time and a few extra dollars.

Clean Up: The first step is easy! Remove all dead plants and weeds, trim your trees and shrubs, and mow and edge the lawn. Gather up any trash and throw it out. Make sure your walkways are clear of plant limbs so potential buyers can easily get to the doorway; you don’t want to make it hard for them to get to the inside of your house.Add Color: You don’t have to remove all your old plants and start over—the goal is to spend the least amount of money for the best return on your investment. Add some colorful potted plants by your entryway and up by the curb where people will see it as they pass by. A few flats of bright annuals and a couple of flowering perennials will be just the touch of color that your landscape needs to draw buyers. Re-Mulch: Applying a fresh layer of dark, shredded mulch does wonders to perk up the landscape. If you already have mulch in your garden, consider adding just a light layer to renew the color. This makes the garden look tended to—and buyers who see it will assume that the inside of your house is just as neat and tidy.Create Vignettes: Don’t spend any real money on this, but if you already have outdoor furniture, clean it up and arrange it in an inviting way on your patio or deck. Hang a hammock in between trees or tuck your bistro table into a corner of the garden. These charming extras will help a potential buyer picture herself and her family relaxing in the garden or entertaining friends.

~Jenny Peterson