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Your front door says a lot about the entire house
It is estimated that buyers develop an attitude about a property within the first 15 seconds of seeing the house. That attitude is then reinforced by everything else they see as they go through the house.
Your lawn is the gateway to your home
Most people overlook their lawns when putting their house on the market. Yet an ignorned lawn or a lawn that has become thin and weedy only detracts from that important first impression.
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Planning for a good lawn
Lawns need 4 things to look good: fertilizer, water, sunlight and good mowing
Having a good looking lawn requires nothing special. In fact, most of it can be provided by Mother Nature. A lawn needs sunlight (about 6 hours a day) to be healthy and vigorous. Less than 6 hours and a lawn will start to thin out and weeds will take hold.
Most lawns require about 1" of water every 10 days or so to remain green. Less than that 1" of water and grass starts to go into dormancy as a way of conserving water. Some grass types such as Kentucky Bluegrass does not do well when temperatures go above 90 degrees for extended periods. It too will go into dormancy and turn brown. A lawn that turns brown does not mean it is dead-- at least not yet. If the lawn can get about 1/2" of water every 2-3 weeks, it will remain alive-- brown but alive. Less than that and the lawn will die and need to be replanted.
Fertilizer is another requirement for a healthy green lawn. However, that doesn't mean that you should just go out and fertilize your lawn and expect it to miraculously turn into a beautiful lawn. Timing of fertilizer application is important. For cool season grasses (bluegrass, fescues, and rye) the absolute best time to fertilize these grass types is in the fall. In fact, if you want a beautiful lawn in the spring, then fertilize it in the fall. Two times is best: early fall and then again in late fall about 30 days before the ground normally freezes.
For warm season grasses such as commonly found in the deep south, you'll want to fertilize the lawn in spring. Check with your local nursery or professional lawn care provider for the best times for your particular grass types. Warm season grasses are very particular about the best time to fertilize them.
The last important element for a great looking lawn is good mowing! This means regular mowing during the growing season and mowing with a sharp mower blade. A dull mower blade will still cut the grass, but instead of it slicing the grass, it smashes it off, leaving a ragged edge that turns brown and gives diseases an opportunity of infecting the lawn. Mowing height is also important. Most grasses grow best at taller heights (2.5" - 3.5"). When grass grows taller, the longer leaf blade is able to produce more food which means stronger roots and more vigorous roots so it the plant can spread out and be a thicker healthier lawn. A very few varieties of grass look better when they are mowed short, but these types are the rare exception.