Home Staging Tip #14: Summer Prep – Getting Ready for Season!
We are in the throes of summer; Wonderful hot, sticky, sometimes rainy, glorious sunsets and calm waters of a Key West summer. This is my favorite time of year, but not necessarily the easiest time to sell a home in the sub-tropics.
What to do during this time of year? Start getting ready for season. It is a perfect time to address the most important eye catching, prospect snagging, can’t get that house out of my mind first impression segment of your home. And what is that you ask? Your curb appeal. Your front entrance. Your front door. That amazing back deck/pool area.
In a previous article we have gone into great detail about curb appeal. If you missed this article you can find it here: https://royalpalmsrealty.com/staging-tip-2-curb-appeal/. Today we will assume that you have your basic curb appeal under control; the windows sparkle, the front door hardware is shiny and new, the dirt is washed away from the porch railings or maybe a fresh coat of paint has brought new life to the entrance and you have a landscape service maintaining your yard. Is there still something missing or an area that needs your undivided attention? Hmmm-What about those tired looking plants that need constant watering that sometimes look dead sitting right next to your door, which is the first thing a buyer will see when they drive up to your home. Yep, there they are, all tired and begging to be thrown out. Let’s talk about a remedy.
Let’s start with something maintainable during these hot months, inexpensive and will add a nice pop of color to your front entrance. Potted plants are hard to maintain in the summer if you are not home to water them regularly so going native here is a good alternative. Colorful ornamental grasses such as Fountain grass is an excellent plant that will add color and dimension not only to your front entrance but also on your back deck and around your pool. Fountain grass prefers full sun and can be considered drought-tolerant once established. Its dusty red flower heads bloom summer through fall and will gently sway on a breezy day, maybe even tickling a passer-by with their soft tips.
Succulent gardens are also a good choice as there are so many wonderful, colorful varieties. Succulents mix well with colorful grasses, sweet potato vine and creeping jenny which are all low maintenance and come in a variety of colors. Pictured are several planters with a variety of grasses and succulents that will stand up to the hottest summer and will also thrive during the rainy season. The grasses tassel and bloom and the succulents will flower in purple hues.
If you are fortunate to have a large enough front stoop or garden bed beside the stoop then a climbing plant could be just the ticket to a grant entrance. Consider the beautiful, fast growing Mandeville that showcases profuse pink flowers. A trellis or guy wire is all you need to train this plant where you want it to go. We planted a sister climber, Sky flower, that proudly displays deep blue blooms to frame a walkway. These plants literally grow in front of your eyes! Plant them against our back fence or wall, beside your front door or to hide a trash bin shelter. They will reward you with gorgeous blooms for months. Another climber that is popular in the Keys is Jasmine. The deep green foliage allows the white and soft blue flowers to pop giving off an unforgettable, heady scent that catches the attention of passersby.
There are many more flora choices that are native to the Keys such as bougainvillea with its vibrant red, pink, white, coral and deep fuschia flowers, ginger, sweet potato vine, muhly grass and Japanese Ice Dance that pot well together or as a single plant. If you are struggling with creativity, go to the MARC House gardens and they will help you with your plant selection. They also sell beautiful pottery. Mama’s Garden is also an excellent local resource. If you want strictly natives to plant by your front door or around your pool go to The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden during one of their Saturday native plant sales.
You will not regret adding a little nature to your beautiful home. When you demonstrate to your potential buyer that you care about the outside of your home they will want to see more!
Has this information been helpful? Give us your feedback. Let us know if there is a topic you would like for us to address. Need the assistance from a professional Stager? Contact Vicki Grant, CEO of Grant Home Staging Services, grantstaging@gmail.com or (305) 394-9201, staging Key West homes since 2009.
