How to Improve a Home’s Curb Appeal this Winter in Just a Few Steps

You’ve worked hard for the majority of the year keeping a homeowner’s landscaping the envy of the block! Don’t let the onset of winter ruin all of that hard work because it’ll be more work for you once the weather gets nicer.

We have a few tips you can do (or tell the homeowner to do) so that all of the hard work doesn’t go to waste. Plus, these tips will also keep the home’s curb appeal looking top-notch, which is ideal for those clients that are selling their house.

Prepare the lawn

Preparing the lawn for the winter shouldn’t be something you do haphazardly, especially if your clients are proud of the emerald carpet you’ve cultivated for them! Make sure your clients know that they will need to rake the leaves and pick up any debris that may accumulate throughout the season, otherwise new grass won’t grow and the existing lawn could even die!

When you’re going to do the last mowing for the year, make sure the grass is cut shorter than usual. Ideally it should be between two and two and a half inches. Next you’ll want to aerate and fertilize the lawn. The aeration will allow the fertilizer to seep deep into the ground; and, while the grass may not use the nutrients during the winter, it will get the nutrients as soon as the weather gets warmer.

Protecting plants, shrubbery and trees

If your clients have flower beds or gardens, make sure that all the veggies have been harvested and the annuals are done blooming for the season. You’ll want to pull them and either put them in the compost bin or discard them so that there’s no chance of pest infestation. You’ll also want to take the time to pull up any lingering weeds while you’re at it so you don’t have a lot to deal with in the spring!

With clear garden beds, you’ll want to put a protective layer over it. You can use mulch (mulch that matches the house will boost curb appeal during the winter), burlap sacks, and straw.

This is also the time of year when you’ll want to do any pruning to trees and shrubs. However, it’s best to wait until the end of winter so that the fresh cut won’t be exposed to the cold for very long before the new growth starts.

If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, you may want to tie branches of ornamental bushes and low branches on trees together so they won’t break in case of heavy snow. You’ll also want to remind your clients to shake off any accumulated snow or ice throughout the season.

Winterizing isn’t just for homes and vehicles!

Winter can wreak havoc on our landscaping efforts, but when the landscaping is properly winterized, you can rest a little easier knowing you won’t have a lot of work in the springtime. When it comes to making clients happy, especially those who are following the advice from real estate’s year-end insights and are going to sell, a little bit of hard work now will go a long way in the future. Plus, once your clients see new grass growth and healthy garden beds, they’ll appreciate your advice even more.