Selling your property can be a challenge, in some places more than others. Perhaps one of the biggest struggles a seller can have is not merely selling their property, but getting the best possible value for it. You may be given several offers, but if they’re not for the number you need or want to see, chances are that you won’t be selling your property anytime soon.

There are many issues that come into play when trying to get the best possible value for your property, some of which are out of your control. You can’t affect the surrounding area’s value, but you can do things to ensure that your property itself drives the best possible asking price. The question, of course, is how?

Consider what you look at when deciding whether or not to buy a property. The fact is that you will be affected by the appearance of a property, regardless of its actual value. Everyone is drawn to the cleanest, most polished properties in a good area, just as they’re drawn to certain colors and trimmings. Furthermore, you’ll probably be swayed by “extras” that competing properties don’t have.

You may be tempted to add some swanky amenities like a pool or a tennis court. But a standard tennis court measures 78 feet in length, and you may simply not have the space.

The fact is that lots of people take in mind what they can do with a property in the future — though of course, they’ll want some things to be finished for them well before they buy it. One thing is for certain: in an increasingly competitive real estate market, you’ll have to think outside of the box in order to get your asking price or more. With that being said, we’re looking into a few of the creative ways that you can increase your property’s value.

Build A Shed

There’s a lot more to a shed than what may initially meet the eye, and your potential buyers may take that in mind. A shed may seem like a bit of investment for someone who is about to sell their property, but that’s not the case.

A shed can be rather easily placed in a backyard and built for a relatively low amount of money. However, a shed can then be converted into anything from a simple storage space to an art studio, with the most popular size being 10 feet by 12 feet. It’s less the initial purpose of a shed that will add value to your property and more what it can be used for in the future.

Tend To Your Foliage

Investors aren’t just buying a property. They’re also buying the land on that property, which includes the shrubs and trees in the area. If those plants are in poor shape, potential buyers may try to talk down your property price. It’s important for you to maintain your shrubs and trees and ensure that they are in the best shape they can be. It’s estimated that good-looking shrubs and trees can up a property’s value by as much as 14%.

You don’t have to be excessive about it. Nobody is expecting you to trim your hedges into odd shapes or plant new trees on a property that lacked them previously. But you should make sure that there isn’t any overgrowth and that the foliage is healthy. It doesn’t cost much to invest in the maintenance of your shrubs, and you’ll almost definitely see a good return in the long term.

Try Artificial Grass

Clearly, there’s a lot of value in maintaining the overall appearance of your property. But should you go as far as to add in fake plants? Well, not in terms of the types of fake flowers you may be familiar with, which obviously aren’t going to pass as real on a large scale in someone’s yard. But artificial grass has long been relied upon by commercial property owners, who want their plots to look as clean and attractive as possible.

But in some areas, it’s become increasingly relied upon by residential property owners as well, particularly in hotter areas like Florida and California. In these locations, grass often ends up dying, resulting in a yellowed, ugly lawn. Artificial grass is a welcome alternative, giving a lush look to an otherwise scrubby property. The benefits of an artificial lawn extend beyond appearance, too.

After all, an artificial lawn doesn’t need to be watered like a real one does, which is why a “fake” lawn can save property owners 660,000 gallons of water over 15 years. In turn, those property owners end up saving a lot of money as well.

Many people are making changes to the way they sell their properties, and they’re seeing results. Realtor.com reports that right now, properties are selling almost 10% faster than they were the same time last year. They’re averaging 63 days on the market, which means that they’re selling a week faster than they did in 2019. But this kind of change also equals more competition, so think about how to set your property apart.