Staging Your Home for a Summer Sale: Outdoors


It's summertime which means the housing market is heating up just like the weather!  If you are like most people, you want to move during the summer when school is out and the weather is nice.  According to Trulia, the volume of home sales in the month of June is 29% above the annual average.  As your team of experienced real estate agents in Eldon, MO, we pride ourselves on helping homeowners prepare their homes for a successful sale.  During the scorching summer months, a successful sale means staging your exterior spaces as well as your interior spaces.  If you're thinking about selling your home near Eldon, MO, it's time to start prepping your outdoor space for potential summer buyers!

If you plan on selling your Mid-Missouri home this summer, take into consideration why staging is so important for selling a home.  Psychologically speaking, having great curb appeal gives potential buyers an excellent first impression of your home.  On the same note, the attention to detail that you put into staging your home (indoors and out), tells potential buyers that your home has been well-maintained.

4 Main Goals of Staging the Outside of Your Home:

Impress viewers with curb appeal
Make visitors feel invited
Enhance your home’s best features
Eliminate problems and clutter

It is important for you as the seller to recognize that curb appeal is incredibly important in selling your home.  A National Association of Realtors survey found 71 percent of buyers factor in a home’s first impression in their buying decision.  And don’t forget about those buyers who shop online for homes – the visuals need to be stunning on a platform such as that!  Even if your target buyers are those driving the neighborhood looking at homes, they will notice curb appeal first and foremost.  With that being said, here are a few things you can do to stage your outdoor space and impress buyers this summer.

Impress With Curb Appeal

One of the best ways to draw attention from potential buyers is to spruce up your front yard.  If the outside of your house catches their eye, they will definitely want to take a look inside.  Boosting your curb appeal is also fairly easy because a few fresh changes make a big difference.  In the summer heat, it is extremely important to water your lawn to keep it looking lush and green.  Summer is also a great time to take advantage of the blooming flowers.  Updating your garden with pretty flowers adds color to your house and makes it look more inviting.  Additionally, easy fixes such as adding fresh mulch or touching up the paint go a long way.  If you feel like your garden is the showcase of your home, consider adding lighting fixtures within the garden itself, or along walkways, to display your beautiful blooms no matter what time it is. 

Make Visitors Feel Invited

Do you have a wonderful front porch for sitting on warm summer nights?  Consider showcasing it by adding a porch swing or rocking chairs.  This way buyers can imagine themselves sitting together on a warm summer night – envisioning the space as their own will help buyers feel invited. Think about flowers on the porch as well.  To add more color, paint your front door to stand out – and don’t forget to paint your shutters to match!  Small things like new door fixtures or nice, large house numbers are eye-catching and inviting at the same time.  Need a new mat for your front porch?  Think of purchasing something that shows your appreciation for those viewing your home; mats with phrases such as “welcome” or “hello” are always in style, and portray a happy and inviting atmosphere.

Enhance Your Home’s Best Features

Great outdoor spaces are highly valued by buyers, so the summertime is a great time to really play up these spaces.  If you have a patio set, stage it like you would the dining table inside.  Add fresh flowers and a jug of lemonade or water if you know you will be showing your house.  If you have a barbecue set, stage it with barbecue tools.  If you have a pool, that is a huge plus for a summer sale, so make sure it is looking its best.  The pool should be clean and shrubs should be trimmed.  Add patio furniture to create a sense of relaxation.  Outdoor lighting adds a nice touch for buyers viewing in the evenings – even something as small as stringing lights around your outdoor area can make the space feel more warm and inviting.  The idea is to make potential buyers feel like they can picture themselves spending time in the space and seeing the value it adds.

De-Clutter Your Outside Spaces, Too!

Before you list your home for sale, ensure your space is spic and span – and that includes your outdoor spaces!  A deep cleaning of your outdoors could include pressure washing all surfaces, as the exterior of a home can accumulate dirt, dust, and even mildew over the years.  While you are washing your home, it’s a good idea to pressure wash all walkways and porches, too.  Make sure all yard clutter is picked up and stored away neatly.  Make sure your kids’ bikes and toys are put away and your garden hose is neatly coiled and out of the way.  Be sure your garbage cans are tucked out of sight (as much as possible) and are as clean as possible, too.  Your potential buyers will not want to be walking around a property that has flies buzzing around overfilled trashcans!  Make sure minor repairs, such as sidewalk cracks, are fixed and that your flowerbeds are free of leaves and debris.  The goal is for a buyer to know that you perform regular maintenance and upkeep on your home, both indoors and out.


The housing market is heating up this summer and you don't want to miss out.  Buyers are eager to purchase during the summer, but with many houses on the market, you want to make yours stand out. These are just a few easy ways to prepare the outside of your home for a faster summer sale.

Devine & Associates are the real estate experts in central Missouri. We specialize in helping first time home buyers in the Eldon real estate market. We also go above and beyond to help you buy or sell your home in Miller, Morgan, and Camden counties. Contact us or visit our website for more information. We're here to help.


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203 E. 10th St., Eldon, MO 65026
(573) 207-8407
213 N. Main St., Laurie, MO 65037
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