Life can change in an instant, and sometimes those changes can mean a new residential situation for you or your loved one.

If you find yourself needing to sell your loved one's home, these tips can help lead to a speedy sale:

Prune and plant. Making sure trees and shrubs have a clean, uniform appearance can make a huge difference in a home's aesthetics. If there are gaps, consider planting similar-size shrubs to fill in open spaces, and be sure to include evergreen shrubs if you are listing the home in the winter. When creating a landscaping plan, we recommend nandinas because they keep their leaves and offer a splash of color. We also recommend using smaller, dwarf-type plants for foundation beds that are scaled for the size of the home. Remember that color from annuals, bulbs and window boxes will definitely boost curb appeal for open houses.

Check the systems. If the home has an irrigation system, make sure it is in proper working condition and is programmed correctly.

Maximizing curb appeal can be one of the easiest ways to increase overall interest in a home and get it sold quickly.

For information on how to keep your loved one's yard beautiful and safe, visit www.liftcaregiving.com.

Gary Stockner is president of Stockner's Nursery, and Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.