In our recent post on the importance of maximising your property's street appeal when you sell, we wrote about building a promise and creating a sense of expectation that entices buyers to see more. Although selling off-market saves money, time and stress, there are no shortcuts with presentation.Many buyers do a drive-by before their first inspection and attention to detail can make all the difference to their level of interest and ultimately, your profit. Never underestimate the power of first impressions. The exterior of your property provides invaluable insight into what lies behind your front door.

The exterior of your property gives buyers an invaluable insight into what's behind your front door

One of the most important components of your landscaping is the greenery in your garden. Grounding your property, trees and plants connect it to the natural world, benefitting our health and well-being. This is why you should never rush your landscaping design. Think carefully about which plants and trees you want to keep, which will go, and which to buy, because the right choices will add value to your property.

Think outside of the box. Your buyers aren't only looking at aesthetic appeal, they want a practical design that complements your property, is functional and easy to maintain. A sustainable garden is also a big draw.

Your design should highlight the attributes of the property, conceal the negatives where possible, and above all, maximise the space.

Those all-important first impressions aren't only about appearance

Of the many elements that buyers consider when buying a property, presentation is on a par with price and location. As we discovered in our research for our recent post about DOM ("days on market") presentation is also a key influencer in how quickly a property sells. Time is money, and not only will a good presentation draw buyers in, but it also gives them an indication of the costs of ongoing maintenance and the property’s impact on the environment. 

When you make your final plant selection, a good understanding of the full scope of their role is critical. If you're like me, and even your artificial plants aren't safe in your care, think about professional advice. We live in an extreme climate and the wrong choices could prove costly. 

Seller Assist helps alleviate financial risk, stress, and a lot of soul-searching

One of the main benefits of our Seller Assist service is that you work with our experienced team when you prepare your property for sale. They are on hand to answer any questions you have about presentation and landscaping and if necessary, will put you in direct contact with local landscaping experts.  

If you decide to sell your home by yourself - and we can help you with that too - research thoroughly before you rush to the garden centre. Think about the type of plants that will complement your property’s style and design and also work with the environment. Ideally, you want your buyer to make that instant emotional connection. 

The ultimate guide to picking plants that will increase your property's value 

So where do you start? We've compiled below a list of critical considerations before you start planting: 

1. Cost – Don't be tempted to over-invest or complicate this aspect of your presentation. In general, a fairly minimalist, "less is more" approach will give you a good ROI when you style your property. You aren't trying to recreate the Botanic Gardens, you are creating a space that shows your property in the best light and conveys the lifestyle you are selling.
2. Functionality – Be practical. Think about how you want the plants to work for you. Are they solely to elevate your property's presentation or do they have a specific function? Are you using them to create borders, screens, or as protection from the sun? Evergreen plants, for example, provide year-round colour, structure, and windbreaks whilst bamboo is a fast-growing and effective plant for screening.
3. The style of your property – Certain plants suit certain styles of property. For example, contemporary homes suit a cleaner, more minimalist look. Houzz suggests plants such as grasses, Japanese maple, birch and frangipani, whereas, for more traditional homes, plants like hydrangeas and magnolias provide some charm. Coastal properties need hardy plants such as salt-tolerant trees and grasses. Designer Trees recommends the Queensland Bottle Tree or cacti.
4. Colour/Texture/Scent – Older properties and those with less architectural appeal may benefit from plants that engage the senses in terms of colour, texture, and scent. Classic plants and flowers such as lavender and rose bushes work well and Grevillia, Banksia and Wattle are native alternatives.
5. Durability – You want your plants to thrive in your garden. Understand your conditions in terms of soil, sun, shade, and irrigation. Native plants have a better chance of survival than non-native, and they also support wildlife and biodiversity. 
6. Sustainability – Native plants local to your area have a better chance of thriving and you can save water by placing plants that need a lot of water together by hydrozoning. Minimising the size of your lawn will also decrease the amount of maintenance and water required.
7. Maintenance – Irrigating, raking leaves, mowing, pruning and trimming are all jobs that must continue while your property is on the market and that can prove tricky if you are no longer living in it. Make it as easy to maintain as possible because you've got a busy few weeks ahead. One of the reasons we sold our last property was the position of a large gum tree in our front yard that drove us mad with the amount of leaf fall throughout the year. When we moved out before the start of our campaign, I never considered the twice-weekly return visits to tidy the garden before inspections.

"Success is in the details" - Zig Ziglar

Good planning and research are fundamental to success and they are even more important when the financial stakes are high. "A little goes a long way when it comes to property renovations and their effect on property sale values," so although the plants in your garden may not rank high on your list of priorities, this level of attention to detail is crucial. Small details like these separate you from the competition and increase more interest. Ultimately, they make a real difference to the value of your property and your eventual sale price.

There's a lot to learn when you sell a property, which is why we offer three different off-market selling services:

•  FREE LISTING 
• SELLER ASSIST
• FIND AN AGENT

These options allow you to choose how much you want to be involved in your sale and to list and sell your property off-market with confidence. 

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